2016's Top 10 Life-Changing Wearable Medical Devices File for IPO

Many media outlets and research institutions have identified digital health as one of the most “profitable” sectors in 2016. This is primarily because the growing demand for better and faster healthcare services has driven new medical devices to incorporate more robust data collection and analytics capabilities.

Over the past period, WT VOX (an influential wearable technology website) has reviewed more than 20 medical wearable devices. Some of these are still in the development and research phase, while others have already been launched on the market. Below is the list of “Top 10 Medical Wearable Devices of 2016” compiled by WT VOX (the following products are listed in random order and do not imply any ranking).


1, Embrace Smart Wristband

Embrace Watch is a smart wristband launched by the U.S. startup Empatica, specifically designed for patients with epilepsy to help predict seizures.

Small electrodes are embedded in the wristband to deliver weak electrical currents through the skin, measure sweat gland stimulation, and combine with other methods to detect epileptic seizures.

The Embrace wristband can monitor patients’ psychological stress, sleep, and physical activity, and issue alerts during epileptic seizures. Via the Embrace app (compatible with Android and iOS), these alerts are sent to family members or nearby caregivers.

Additionally, the Embrace smart wristband can help prevent potential seizures by vibrating when it detects excessively high physiological stress levels in the patient, enabling timely intervention to avert an epileptic seizure.

Embrace is equipped with a rechargeable battery that offers over a week of battery life. It is currently priced at $199.99 ($368 for two).



2, Scanadu Urine Urinalysis Tool

Scanadu Urine is a urine testing tool developed by Scanadu, a U.S. startup that produces medical and health devices. It was initially designed specifically to monitor the physical health of pregnant women. Subsequently, Scanadu planned to expand its application to a broader range of women’s health screenings, including the detection of kidney disease and diabetes.

This smart device is primarily designed to detect chemical components in urine samples and monitor changes in urine color; therefore, Scanadu Urine must be used in conjunction with the dedicated Scanadu app and a smartphone camera.

The entire testing process takes less than a minute to complete. Users take a photo of their urine, and the app automatically analyzes the urine color to generate test data. Users can then share this data with their physician for review and to receive guided recommendations.



3、iTbra Women's Smart Lingerie

iTbra is a smart bra developed by the startup Cyrcadia Health specifically for breast cancer detection in women. Resembling a sports bra in shape, it features built-in temperature sensors and offers more convenient and faster detection than conventional X-ray screening.

iTbra works by detecting breast temperature and blood flow to assess the user's risk of breast cancer. Since tumor tissue in the breast has a higher temperature than normal tissue, iTbra can perform daily monitoring using temperature sensors.

Detection data can be viewed via the app on the iTbra smart bra’s mobile terminal. Additionally, the app provides users with tips for maintaining breast health.

According to the official website, iTbra smart bras have undergone more than 500 clinical wear trials, achieving a detection success rate of 87%. The product has not yet been officially launched on the market, and we look forward to this new life-changing technology.



4Helius Smart Pills

Helius Smart Pill is developed by the startup Proteus Digital Health (for detailed coverage, see VCBeathttp://www.vcbeat.top/13895.html) a swallowable smart pill developed by.

Helius Smart Pills are essentially ingestible microchips. Once swallowed with medication, these chips are absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. In conjunction with an external patch adhered to the skin, Helius can monitor various physiological signs in real time, such as heart rate, respiration, and medication adherence.

The collected data is transmitted to the user’s smartphone, enabling physicians to monitor patients’ physical status and medication adherence in real time. This facilitates disease monitoring, the formulation of more personalized treatment plans, and the establishment of efficient goal-directed therapy.

Initially, the smart pill was used in patients with heart failure and hypertension. Currently, Proteus plans to further apply Helius to more complex conditions, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.



5, Valedo Back Therapy Device

Valedo is a wearable back medical device developed by the Swiss medtech company Hocoma, primarily designed for individuals suffering from back or lower back pain and related conditions. The operation of this smart device requires two sensors, a gaming platform, an intelligent connectivity module, and a cloud platform.

Users need to attach two small sensors to their back and chest, access the gaming platform via an Android or iOS app, and perform corresponding movements based on in-game demonstrations to conduct back exercises that alleviate patient pain and prevent disease.

Motion data from the game is transmitted via smartphone to a cloud-based platform, enabling physicians to assess patient status through data analysis. To date, Valedo has been utilized in the management and treatment of chronic kidney disease and spinal cord injury.

Valedo is currently priced at $343.90 on Amazon.



6, WRISTOX2 Wrist Pulse Oximeter

The WristOx2 wrist-worn pulse oximeter is a widely used device specifically designed for patients with asthma, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is extensively utilized in hospital settings and is developed and manufactured by Nonin Medical, Inc. in the United States.

Of course, in addition to hospital settings, this device can also be used at home to monitor your heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. If its connectivity and memory capabilities are optimized, it would serve as an excellent “life-saving device.”



7, QUELL Pain Relief Device

Quell is a pain relief device developed by NeuroMetrix, a company based in Boston, USA. It is primarily designed to alleviate pain for individuals suffering from chronic pain conditions, such as arthritis and frozen shoulder. Worn on the calf, Quell works by delivering electrical impulses that stimulate sensory nerves. These nerves then send signals to the brain, prompting it to release natural analgesics to mitigate pain.

Clinical trials have demonstrated that the Quell pain relief device is highly effective for painful diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, sciatica, and pain caused by osteoarthritis, with effects felt in as little as 15 minutes.

The Quell pain relief device has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It can be worn for extended periods, with a battery life of up to 40 hours. The device integrates with an iOS app for sleep monitoring and automatically reduces electrical intensity at night. When worn during sleep, it can alleviate pain by 80%.

Currently, this device is priced at $249. However, it is not suitable for all users. Patients with implanted metallic or electronic therapeutic devices, such as cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators, are prohibited from using the Quell pain relief device.



8, TMG-BMC MC Muscle Sensor

TMG-BMC is an emerging technology company specializing in biomechanics and human kinesiology. It primarily leverages medical devices to help individuals achieve more effective exercise and medical rehabilitation training, thereby optimizing the training and recovery processes. The company’s flagship product is the MC Muscle Sensor, specifically designed for professional athletes to detect changes in muscle mechanics under varying levels of pressure and during exercise, thus optimizing their training regimens.

This muscle sensor can also provide individuals with feedback on the speed of muscle contraction and relaxation, and can even detect the force generated by each contraction.



9Bodytel Home Smart Diagnostic System

BodyTel provides convenient home diagnostic services for users with chronic diseases. The system includes a GlucoTel (glucometer), PressureTel (blood pressure monitor), and a central module. All devices are connected via Bluetooth, enabling the transmission of user test data to their mobile phones.

If you wish to gain a deeper understanding of your condition, you can transmit your data to your physician. In addition to reviewing this data, physicians can configure the system to automatically send them alerts under specific conditions. When data exceeds or falls below a preset threshold, physicians will receive notifications (via SMS, email, fax, etc.). For instance, in cases where a diabetic patient’s blood glucose levels are excessively high or low, medical personnel can promptly provide emergency care.



10Medtronic MiniMed 530G Artificial Pancreas System

The MiniMed 530G artificial pancreas system was developed by the American medical technology company Medtronic. The system consists of three components: a glucose monitor, an insulin pump, and a safety controller. The entire system mimics pancreatic secretion by continuously delivering insulin. When the monitor detects an elevation in the wearer’s blood glucose levels, it signals the insulin pump to administer the corresponding dose of insulin; once blood glucose reaches the preset threshold of the safety controller, insulin delivery automatically stops to prevent hypoglycemic events.

MiniMed can also lower users’ A1C (glycated hemoglobin) levels and reduce the risk of complications affecting the nerves, vision, and kidneys. The device has received FDA approval, with a starting price of $7.35 for the insulin pump only.