Healthcare Applications of IoT – A Digital Lifeline for Patients

In this article, we will go over various IoT applications used in the healthcare sector. We shall first look at how IoT can help save people’s lives and then at ten fascinating healthcare applications of IoT. So buckle up, and read till the end of the article!

IoT Uses in the Healthcare Sector

IoT has transformed healthcare in various ways over the past years and will do so in the years to come. It has changed so much that an entire domain is named after it – the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT).

Even though remote patient monitoring is one of the most known IoMT examples, there are several examples of IoT in the healthcare industry. The value of IoMT is predicted to reach 176 billion dollars by 2026.

Let us look at ten mind-boggling IoT devices that are changing the healthcare industry.

Monitoring Patients Remotely

Since we touched on this topic and also because it is the most well know IoT application in healthcare, let us kickstart the discussion with “remote patient monitoring”.

As the name suggests, these IoT devices monitor patients remotely by automatically collecting health metrics like heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and so on from patients not physically present in a healthcare facility.

These devices collect the patient’s data and forward it to a software application. Through this application, healthcare professionals and/or patients can view it. When you pair these devices with AI and ML algorithms, they can even analyse the data to recommend treatments or generate alerts.

Monitoring Heart Rate

Heart rate monitoring is a challenging task. It is a huge challenge even for patients who are present in healthcare facilities. Why? Well, regular devices used for continuous cardiac monitoring in hospitals require patients to constantly be attached to wired machines. Also, periodic heart rate checks don’t protect against rapid fluctuations in heart rates.

Nowadays, many small IoT devices are available for heart rate monitoring, allowing patients to move around freely instead of being hooked up to some system. However, obtaining ultra-accurate results still remains a challenge.

Monitoring Glucose Levels

Like heart rate monitoring, keeping a tab on glucose levels has been hard for more than 70 million diabetic patients. Why? Because checking glucose levels and manually recording results are inconvenient, this method gets only the patient’s glucose levels at the exact time of the test.

However, thanks to IoT, smart devices can now provide continuous and automatic monitoring of glucose levels that can also alert patients and doctors when the glucose levels are problematic.

Monitoring Hand Hygiene

Until recently, there has not been any way to ensure that patients wash their hands to minimise the risk of spreading contagion. But today, most hospitals use IoT devices to remind people to sanitise their hands. However, one drawback is that these devices are only capable of reminding people to sanitise their hands and not do it for them.

Monitoring Mood

Another data that has proved challenging to gather is the mood of patients. Previously, doctors and other healthcare providers had to ask patients how they were feeling but could not anticipate sudden mood swings.

But today, “Mood-aware” IoT devices solve these problems by collecting and analysing information about blood pressure and heart rate. In addition, these devices can also conclude information about a patient’s mental state.

Even more advanced IoT devices track data such as the movement of a patient’s eyes. The main challenge for these devices is that data like these cannot predict depression symptoms or causes for concern with accuracy, but neither can humans.

IoT devices can also be used to fight depression. For example, Apple has designed watches that help patients cope with depression as the app tracks a patient’s episodes outside of their scheduled appointments and helps to monitor cognitive and mood functions.

Monitoring Parkinson’s Disease

To treat Parkinson’s disease, doctors must first assess how the severity of their symptoms varies throughout the day.

IoT devices make this task extremely easy, as they continuously collect data about Parkinson’s symptoms. At the same time, they give patients the freedom to go about their lives instead of spending prolonged periods in the hospital.

The six examples mentioned above are the various monitoring systems in IoMT that use IoT devices. Let us now look at some other aspects of it.

Robotic Surgery

Surgery using robots is another well-known application of IoT in the healthcare sector. In this procedure, small connected robots are deployed inside the human body, and surgeons can perform complex procedures. These procedures are usually difficult to perform using human hands.

These robots are extremely handy as they are capable of reducing the size of incisions required to perform surgery. It leads to a less invasive process and faster healing for patients.

Ingestible Sensors

Having cameras and probes stuck into your intestine through your mouth does not sound very good, does it? Furthermore, such methods of collecting data from inside the human body are incredibly messy and disruptive.

Thanks to ingestive sensors, this process becomes much cleaner as they collect information from the digestive system and other systems in a less invasive manner. For example, these IoT sensors collect various data like stomach PH levels and also find internal bleeding.

Connected Inhalers

Those who have or live with asthma or other breathing problems will know that attacks of asthma and COPD often come suddenly, with very few symptoms.

But with IoT-connected inhalers, patients can be aided as these inhalers monitor the frequency of attacks and collect data about the environment in order to help doctors understand what triggered an episode.

The notification these devices send patients when they leave the inhalers at home is the cherry on top!

Connected Lenses

Smart contact lenses are another fascinating way to collect healthcare data passively and non-intrusively, as they include micro-cameras. These cameras effectively allow wearers to take pictures with their eyes, which is why companies like Google have already patented smart and connected contact lenses.

The health aspect comes later, but IoT lenses promise to turn human eyes into a powerful tool for digital interactions.

These examples are only a few examples in the world of IoMT. Also, there are various existing and new upcoming technologies in the healthcare sector for treating humans.

Cancer treatment

Treatment for cancer varies on many factors, like height, age, weight, lifestyle, and fitness levels. IoT enabled Activity trackers to track a patient’s movements, fatigue levels, appetite, etc.

This collected data before and after the treatment will tell healthcare professionals what adjustments need to be made to the recommended treatment plan.

Health insurance companies

Even health insurers use IoT devices to their benefit. How u ask….well health insurance companies can leverage data captured through health monitoring devices for their underwriting and claims operations.

The data gathered from the users will enable the companies to detect fraud claims and identify prospects. IoT devices will ensure transparency between insurance companies and customers. Companies may also offer incentives to their customers for using and sharing health data generated by IoT devices.

Summary

You have now learned many applications where the healthcare sector uses IoT to treat humans. This article has seen ten fantastic examples: heart rate monitors, robotic surgery, glucose monitors, connected lenses, hygiene monitors, ingestible sensors, and more.