New wireless monitoring patch unveiled

Prototype version of ST+D's electrode patch

A wireless electrode patch that can be worn by a patient and tracked from any internet connection in the world is being developed by vital signs monitoring specialist ST+D technology, funded by the Wellcome Trust.

The patch is being trialled at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, with a view to going to market next year.

ST+D’s chief executive, Michael Caulfield, said: “Doctors will be able to click onto a website and review the state of their patients’ health.

“The breakthrough is based on a disposable adhesive electrode patch, worn on the patient’s chest. A small electronic unit with wireless technology is attached and this sends processed signals back to the doctor.”

The pilot project has been funded by medical research charity, the Wellcome Trust, through one of its translation awards.

Ted Bianco, director of technology transfer at the Wellcome Trust, said: “Our translation awards are designed to facilitate the development of medical products in areas of unmet need in healthcare.

“They aim to bridge the gap between a good idea and an innovative tool with the potential to improve the lives of patients. This device certainly has the potential to change the way doctors monitor their patients’ hearts.

“Testing it in a hospital environment is the first step to validating the technology and gaining useful insights into how it might best be deployed, both in the clinical setting and beyond.”

ST+D say the new product will help enable patients to monitor their own conditions. It also claims it has the potential to reduce the time they spend in hospital, free up beds more quickly and cut down on medical appointments.

Caulfield added: “It won’t matter whether the patient is in hospital, at home recuperating - or holidaying in, say, Spain or South Africa. With the right authentication, clinicians anywhere can check on their condition.”

Links

ST+D Technology

Wellcome Trust