Wearables
Reference design speeds development of medical wearables
Developers of heart rate and blood oxygen (SpO2) monitors can now accelerate their efforts using the ultra-small MAXREFDES117# reference design from Maxim Integrated Products. This optical heart-rate module reference design incorporates red and infrared LEDs, a sensor, power subsystem, and logic level translation. Measuring 13mm x 13mm, this tiny, low-power board can be placed on a finger or earlobe to accurately detect heart rate and SpO2 v...
Space-saving sensor for fitness trackers
The IR Topled D5140 photodiode from Osram Opto Semiconductors requires considerably less PC board space than before, allowing for more compact sensors to be embedded in a design. The spectral sensitivity of the D5140 has been optimised for visible light and allows precise heart rate measurements using red or green light.
Analogue front end suited to wearable applications
The AD8233 analogue front end (AFE) for heart monitor devices from Analog Devices is now being shipped by Mouser Electronics. The AD8233 AFE is a fully integrated, single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) front end designed in a compact, easy-to-use component. The low-power biopotential AFE enables smaller, lighter, and less obtrusive cardiac monitoring devices with longer battery life.
Microfluidic 'lab on the skin' developed for sweat analysis
A Northwestern University research team has developed a first-of-its-kind soft, flexible microfluidic device that easily adheres to the skin and measures the wearer's sweat to show how his or her body is responding to exercise. A little larger than a quarter and about the same thickness, the simple, low-cost device analyses key biomarkers to help a person decide quickly if any adjustments, such as drinking more water or replenishing electrol...
Skin patch might someday track your health
A type of acoustic sensor that resembles a small Band-Aid on the skin can monitor your heartbeat and other health measures, researchers say. The sensor may one day offer a way to painlessly and wirelessly track an individual's health. The patch, which weighs less than one-hundredth of an ounce, can help doctors monitor heart health, stomach condition, vocal cord activity, lung performance and potentially many other bodily functions, research...
Simplify wearables with ultra-low power microcontrollers
Designers can now easily develop high-performance fitness and medical wearable devices with enhanced functionality using the MAX32630 and MAX32631 ARM Cortex-M4F microcontrollers from Maxim Integrated Products. With the fast-growing market for personal wellness and medical wearable applications, new complex demands are being placed on the internal electronic components of devices.
Tracking physical activity with wearable health devices
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed an energy-efficient technique for accurately tracking a user's physical activity based on data from wearable devices. One goal for wearable health technologies is to identify and track physical activity by the wearer. However, accomplishing this goal requires a trade-off between accuracy and the power needed for data analysis and storage, which is a challenge, given the limited ...
Wearable THz scanning device for medical applications
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a portable and wearable terahertz scanning device made using arrays of carbon nanotubes, for non-invasive inspection of three-dimensional objects without requiring bulky peripheral optical components. The device is expected to have wide ranging applications including the noninvasive inspections of medical and drug delivery equipment such as syringes, as well as in medicine for imagin...
'Back to the Future' inspires solar nanotech-powered clothing
Marty McFly's self-lacing Nikes in Back to the Future Part II inspired a UCF scientist who has developed filaments that harvest and store the sun's energy—and can be woven into textiles. The breakthrough would essentially turn jackets and other clothing into wearable, solar-powered batteries that never need to be plugged in.
Wearable platform wins multiple prominent industry awards
It has been announced by NXP Semiconductors that its Hexiwear IoT and Wearables Development Platform has received recognition on multiple fronts, winning the 2016 ECN IMPACT Award for rapid prototyping, as well as accolades from the ARM TechCon Innovation Challenge winning 'Best Internet of Things (IoT) Product', 'Best in Show' and 'Reader’s Choice' Awards.