Medical / Health Care
Living Healthier with Technology
Having the ability to accurately monitor your health, anytime and anywhere, can help detect illness at an early stage. Inertial measurement units (IMU) perform an essential function in wearable devices, sensing and tracking human movement with high degrees of accuracy to support biometric measurements. Further, by connecting to the network, your physician will be able to watch over your health right along with you.
Ways that sensing can protect people’s health
Stephane Poste
MEMS BG,
InvenSense
Florence Gris
MEMS BG,
InvenSense
TDK’s inertial measurement unit (IMU) combines three types of three-axis sensors—an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer.
The IMU can retrieve different types of data that provide information on the human body. For example, if the IMU is worn on the body, it will be able to automatically detect such things as movements that are out of the ordinary, a sudden change in physical condition, or a fall, and send that data to a physician. This holds great promise for a remote monitoring system for doctors.
In addition to serving as a healthcare management device, the IMU could be used to help companies ascertain if their employees are feeling fatigued or stressed. It can also help prevent traffic accidents by detecting the physical condition of a long-distance bus driver before they grip the steering wheel.
Solutions using sensors are likely to roll out in many fields in the future.
FAQs about Medical / Health Care
Find answers to frequently asked questions about Medical / Health Care.
Q:
How can wearable technology help in monitoring our health?
A:
Wearable technology, such as sensors embedded in smartwatches and fitness trackers, can help monitor our health by measuring information such as distance moved and heart rate. Through remote monitoring, wearables can quickly give health diagnostics and detect changes in health conditions.
Q:
What is an IMU in wearable devices?
A:
IMU stands for Inertial Measurement Unit, which is a sensor unit combining accelerometers and a gyroscope. It measures the amount of activity by accurately detecting a person's movement, rotation, inclination, and other biometric measurements.
Q:
How can IMUs and wearable technology benefit health care?
A:
IMUs and wearable technology can benefit health care by providing accurate and continuous monitoring of patient movements and biometric data. This data can be remotely accessed by healthcare providers, enabling early detection of health issues and more personalized treatments.
Q:
How is data and technology being utilized in the medical/health care field?
A:
Data and technology are being utilized in the medical/health care field to bring forth innovations such as daily health management through wearable devices, online consultations via the internet, image diagnosis using AI, the development of new drugs, surgical support robots, medical services using AR/VR, and personalized medicine and treatments. The trend of Industry 4.0, which uses the IoT, AI, big data, robotics, and other technologies, is also embracing the field of medicine/health care.
Q:
What is the importance of early detection of illness in health care?
A:
Early detection of illness is essential in health care as it can lead to more effective treatments and better outcomes for patients. Wearable technology and remote monitoring, such as IMUs, can enable early detection of health issues, allowing healthcare providers to intervene before the condition worsens. This can result in better management of chronic conditions, reduced healthcare costs, and improved quality of life for patients.
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