IIT Guwahati develops cost-effective wearable device to monitor ‘comatose patients’

IIT Guwahati researchers developed a wearable device:

Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati's researchers, developed an affordable, gel-based wearable device, that can record motion signals and have healthcare applications.

The sensor is placed on comatose patients:

The organohydrogel sensor is placed on patients who are comatose or in a similar state through a wireless device, along with a smartphone, and can keep track of small movements for a long time.

It helps healthcare professionals understand a patient's health condition, allowing them to take the appropriate interventions, according to officials.

Crucial for improving human capabilities:

Flexible and wearable electronics are crucial for improving human capabilities, performing functions such as artificial skin and prosthetics to aid in human movements or integrating with clothing and the body in areas like bioelectronics, wearable sensors, energy storage, and stretchable optoelectronic devices, as shared by Debapratim Das from the chemistry department at IIT-Guwahati.

Wearable devices used to detect minute body movements:

Flexible wearable devices are beneficial in detecting minute body movements.

While it is essential to monitor minor limb motions like comatose patients or similar conditions, stretchable gels are utilized.

Present gel technologies have drawbacks:

Still, the mechanical properties of present gel technologies have drawbacks - lacking extreme stretchiness and the capacity to self-heal.

Moreover, they frequently lose sensitivity in extreme temperature conditions, according to him.

The new material has incredible features:

According to Das, the new material shows outstanding features such as incredible flexibility (1000% stretch, maintained for more than 100 cycles), the capability to heal on its own, resistance to freezing, conductivity, and exceptional strength and adhesion, even after it is kept at minus 20 degrees Celsius for a prolonged duration.

Biman B Mandal's view:

Biman B Mandal from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at IIT-Guwahati said that, with its broad adaptability to different environmental conditions, it is suitable for use in extreme situations like sub-zero temperatures.

Connected to a smartphone:

Moreover, the researchers created a device, that can be connected to a smartphone using Bluetooth that signals when the smart gel is deformed, indicating its potential as a wearable device