More than 75 percent of the adult population in the U.S. uses a smartphone. Researchers across the globe are finding innovative ways to utilize this technology for more than just posting pictures online and getting a high score on Candy Crush.
Researchers in Switzerland have developed a device that allows patients to self-monitor when undergoing anticoagulant therapy. This is just one of many technological advances demonstrating how we can use smartphones in healthcare.
Smartphone performs blood tests
Blood clots can lead to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Those with a high risk of blood clots often use anti-coagulants for treatment. However, this requires patients to visit a hospital frequently in order for healthcare professionals to monitor their blood flow.
The device created by researchers in Qloudlab aims to eliminate the need for such visits.
A small single-use film, only a few micrometers thick, is attached to the screen of a smartphone. When blood enters the film through capillary action, it detects if the molecule that initiates coagulation is in the blood.
The phone then interprets the results by analyzing electric interferences on the surface of the screen. The results are sent to a specific app, also designed by Qloudlab.
This data can be sent directly to a doctor, who determines whether or not to alter a patient’s treatment.
Qloudlab is awaiting a patent for the device, but hopes they’ll be able to move toward commercialization by the end of the year.
Smartphone App for Automatic Gait Assessment
University of Illinois researchers have developed a smartphone app that could eventually replace the “six-minute walk test” performed in specialized clinics. A person’s gait can be an indication of an underlying disease, but the walk test is done so rarely it’s can’t effectively detect new or worsening conditions.
The GaitTrack app can run the walk test continuously as long as the patient is carrying the phone. It periodically collects and analyzes the data, alerting the patient or patient’s doctor when it detects a change in the gait that could indicate a decline in health.
The app can record a person’s heart rate and blood oxygenation level, in addition to their gait, for a better picture of their overall health.
When testing the app on 30 COPD patients, researchers found that the app accurately predicted a person’s FEV1 test (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second) used for pulmonary function testing.
Researchers are now testing the app in larger trials, and hope to have it available for downloading later this year.
Stroke App Aims to Improve Patient Care
Dr. Claude Nguyen of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine created another smartphone app. The app aims to provide more effective care for patients who have suffered from acute stroke.
A doctor can enter data about a patient, such as symptom onset time, demographics, and their score on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stroke Scale. The app can then relay the clinical trials for which the patient is eligible.
In addition, the app has a stopwatch feature to track and record treatment times, a phonebook for quick contact of study personnel, and access to inclusion and exclusion criteria for clinical trials.
Dr. Nguyen’s main goal is the app will help identify patients eligible for clinical trials, he considers that a vital step to finding better stroke treatment.
Do you foresee smartphones becoming more involved in medical treatment in the future? If you’re an M.D. or D.O. would you consider using smartphone apps for treating certain patients or conducting tests? Please join us inside Sermo to discuss further.
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