Functionality, Wear & Comfort: Advancing Vital Sign Sensing in Medical Wearables

At Holst Centre, we empower industries by sharing our advanced research platforms for wearable technology. Our flagship solution, the multi-vital sign platform, focuses on transforming healthcare through precise and reliable monitoring of key health parameters. By addressing critical challenges-accurate signal quality, optimal placement for active lifestyles, and extended usage times-we enable the development of cutting-edge solutions for healthcare providers and patients. These understandings provide accelerated design developments, turning concepts into practical solutions.

Empowering Mobility with Real-Time Vital Sign Monitoring

Vital sign sensing wearables will revolutionise healthcare by enabling early prevention, personalised care, and greater patient autonomy. These devices provide continuous, real-time data, and are suited for different types of end users: from critically ill patients to those focused on preventive care. Monitoring patient health wirelessly with clinical grade signals, even in challenging conditions such as showering and high intensity exercise, can support personalised treatment plans in hospital settings. By tracking vital signs during surgeries and procedures like heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiration, our solutions help identify health issues early and allow for timely interventions.

The Benefits: Technological Innovations

Wearable technology uses innovative ways tailored for a diverse audience, providing real-time data-driven personalization in healthcare. Key features of this technology include:

• Sensor Selection & Integration: Sensor selection and integration in wearable devices focus on balancing signal accuracy, comfort, and energy efficiency. Sensors must provide reliable data while being compact, lightweight, and suitable for extended use and high-activity levels. Effective integration ensures continuous monitoring without compromising comfort or usability.

• Material build-up: Material buildup in wearable medical devices can impact their performance, comfort, and hygiene. Over time, sweat, oils, and debris from the skin can accumulate on the device, potentially affecting sensor accuracy, device functionality, and user comfort. This buildup may also lead to skin irritation or infection if not properly managed. To address these issues, materials used in wearable medical devices must be durable, easy to clean, and resistant to contamination, while also being skin-friendly. Innovations in antimicrobial coatings and breathable, moisture-wicking materials can help minimise buildup and maintain the device's effectiveness and comfort over extended use.

• Design: Designing wearable devices requires a balance between functionality, comfort, and aesthetics. Additionally, the design must consider power efficiency, ease of use, and adaptability to different body types and activity levels, ensuring that the device remains effective and practical in real-world settings.

• User-perception and compliance: User perception plays a critical role in the adoption and success of medical wearables. Comfort, ease of use, and design aesthetics are key factors influencing how individuals interact with and trust these devices. Users often prioritise devices that are discreet, non-intrusive, and easy to incorporate into their daily routines. Perception of reliability and accuracy also affects willingness to rely on medical wearables for health monitoring. To ensure widespread acceptance, wearable devices must meet both functional needs and user expectations.

Smart sensors, smarter healthcare

The integration of advanced technologies is transforming the landscape of healthcare. By providing accurate, continuous, and personalised health data, these innovations offer significant improvements in patient care and comfort. Holst Centre’s expertise enables the creation of smart, adaptable medical wearables designed to monitor health in real-time, ensuring patient safety and mobility. By bridging the gap between innovation and practical application, Holst Centre ensures its wearables meet both current and future healthcare demands. As we look to the future, Holst Centre continues to pave the way for smarter, more accessible medical wearables, ultimately enhancing healthcare outcomes and quality of life for a diverse range of individuals.