Tiny Technologies That Have a Big Impact on Human Health

Tech innovations are paving the way to revolutionise healthcare delivery and make data more accessible to patients and doctors

Products and Innovation|June 24, 2022

Over the last century, health care has evolved drastically and dramatically; Devices such as a USB stick-sized heart monitor that keep you connected to your doctor, or a pea-sized device that can close heart openings even in babies that weigh less than 700gms, may be hard to explain to a nineteenth-century doctor and a nurse because the technologies available today may seem surreal.

With the constant tech innovations and IOT application in healthcare, one thing that has stayed stable is the human factor. The centre of the health tech miniaturisation universe is always the patient and the healthcare practitioners. Miniaturisation is also supporting newer trends in medical wearables and portables, digital health, remote patient monitoring, and drug delivery. Making devices smaller and more flexible also helps to minimize patient trauma, faster recovery time thereby reducing the length of hospital stays and reducing costs.

Making data accessible through tech miniaturisation
When a medical device or technology is worn by or implanted in a patient, building it in the right size and shape is crucial for its effectiveness and comfort. The technology has to be tiny enough to be implanted, or the right size to be held by the patient and the physician and minimally invasive to reduce patient trauma. One of the main reasons to make medical devices smaller and introduce IOT application in healthcare is also because they are being designed for mobile apps which need integration of wireless tech.

It may not seem obvious as to what's exactly happening inside your heart, and irregular heartbeats may come and go only to have severe complications after a while. But when your doctor has access to the correct information through an Insertable Cardiac Monitor and the heart rate is kept in check through an Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator which is connected to an application where all data is recorded - a heart condition is manageable, a life is saved, and there is no room for uncertainty.

It is essential to monitor one’s glucose levels when it comes to managing diabetes - be it type 1, type 2, or gestational. A continuous glucose monitoring device monitors your glucose levels in real-time and gives actionable trends and insights that make diabetes management and intervention easier. This provides the doctor an opportunity to adjust your diet and medication thereby giving you access to better diabetic care.

A life of endless possibilities
A heart pump that can work for more people — even kids. A continuous glucose monitor tracks your body's response to food, exercise and daily routines. Today, tracking or checking your glucose levels is as easy as checking the weather app. An occluder so small it can fix the hearts of the very tiniest babies born with a congenital heart defect, opening the vastness of what life holds ahead.

Modest in size, these tiny tech inventions are helping people around the world reach their ambitions, get better healthcare delivery, and live their lives on their terms.

Disclaimer: This publication/article/editorial is meant for awareness/educational purposes and does not constitute or imply an endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation of any products. Please consult your doctor/healthcare practitioner before starting any diet, medication or exercise.