Startups

These 6 smart tech companies are shaping the future of healthcare wearables

These wearable device companies are producing smart technology, from vests and shirts to bracelets and watch-like trackers, to continue growing the healthcare wearable industry.

In a world of growing technology, the world of wearables is growing exponentially. BeBop Sensors, which won the 2015 Frost and Sullivan North American Technology Innovation Award last month, develops sensor-embedded fabric technology. Its fabric sensors have the ability to measure a force, location, size, weight, shape, motion and a presence of people and objects.

The company’s sensor map can be applied to the wearables industry as well as automotive, manufacturing, sports and healthcare industries. In healthcare alone, the fabric is used as hospital bed sheets, so that when a patient is laying on them, it can provide information about patient. It is also used on chairs to collect data to provide information on how to correct poor posture.

Musical instrument inventor Keith McMillen is behind the senor embedded fabric technology launched last year.

BeBop Sensors is just one of the companies shaping the world of healthcare wearables. Here is an overview of five more.

JUNE Bracelet

The wearable bracelet includes UV sensors that track sun exposure and connect the data to an iOS app which informs the wearer of the UV radiation they are taking in then makes sunscreen and sunglasses recommendations.

In order to get accurate results, users fill out a questionnaire about physical traits like skin tone and eye color for a custom set of recommendations.

Motus Global

This sports biomechanics company developed a sleeve to reduce the risk of baseball pitchers straining the ulnar collateral ligament and is being assessed for physical therapy.

As far as use for baseball players, the sleeve has a 3D motion sensor that collects data like arm speed and pitch counts and sends it to trainers and managers through a smartphone app. The data converts to body changes, like muscle deterioration, in the user of the sleeve.

The wearable technology is also being applied to tennis, football, basketball and golf athletes. The company is developing a sleeve for general consumers, which is expected to come out sometime this year.

CarePredict

This health tech business produces the Tempo tracker. The watch-like wearable device for seniors tracks the daily activities and behavioral patterns of users and records them in a rhythm journal. After they’re recorded, loved ones are alerted when things change.

“The device provides a more sophisticated read on well-being by combining activity data and location,” according to CEO Satish Movva.

Hexoskin

Hexoskin creates shirts that record heart rate, breathing and movement to monitor the user’s health. The sensor-embedded shirts were also used by Canadian olympic athletes, space agencies and military organizations.

ZOLL Medical

ZOLL created the Life Vest, a wearable that responds to around 920,000 people who are expected to suffer from a heart attack.

According to the company’s website:

The LifeVest wearable defibrillator is worn by patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), providing protection during their changing condition and while permanent SCA risk has not been established. The LifeVest allows a patient’s physician time to assess their long-term arrhythmic risk and make appropriate plans.

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