A pioneering health tracker being developed for stroke survivors will use the body to transmit data and accurately monitor progress, particularly to encourage spasticity & flaccidity decline.
A team of researchers in the United States are developing a revolutionary way of tracking body movements using Body Channel Identification sensing technology.
There are three components to this – small tags, or ‘smart stickers’, which are placed on everyday objects around the home; these are activated by a wearable wrist device; these are connected by the wearer’s body to create a closed-loop circuit.
This system can help give a comprehensive picture of a survivor’s movement post-stroke, and is currently being trialled in the world-leading Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.
“Human skin is made out of conductive material, so you can think of it as a wire,” Dr Lee explains.
“We were the first group that has demonstrated that humans can be actually used as the power transfer medium. And if the power can be transmitted, that means data can be also transmitted because the wire is the same wire.”
Through accurately monitoring mobility, it can support patient progress, he adds, especially when the survivor returns back to the community again.