Microsoft, Digital Health Summit Laud Body Sensors, Bionic Hands
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title=Smart Pills, Robotic Limbs Take a Bow}
PhiloMetron
A maker of wireless diagnostic body sensors, PhiloMetron demonstrated its
Calorie Monitoring Patch, resembling a flat saucer of foam, at the Digital
Health Summit.
"The first incarnation of this body sensor is going to deal with one of
the country's biggest issues, which is obesity," Gilbert said.
Although details were scarce on PhiloMetron's Website, the device, made of
sensors, electrodes and accelerometers, sends your calorie data by Bluetooth to
your smartphone, where the company's mobile app compiles the data and makes
health recommendations, Technology Review
has reported.
With heart sensors similar to this wireless calorie monitor now on the
market, Gilbert expects to see expansion in this category.
Proteus
Biomedical
It may seem more like the year 3011 rather than even 2011 when a company
embeds sensors the size of a grain of sand inside pills, but that's exactly
what Proteus Biomedical does.
The so-called smart pill could be on the market within two years, reports AOL
Health.
The pill incorporates ingestible event markers powered by the fluids in your
stomach. After ingestion, the pill could send a notification to your cell phone
from inside your stomach to document when the pill was taken-something that's
an opportunity for many people to lie about, according to Gilbert.
"There's no lying in this, there's no way to trick anyone-it's just an
unbelievable development in health," Gilbert said.
"If anything takes the challenge of medication management away, this
was one of them," she added.
RSLSteeper
This company makes robotic limbs that are more lifelike than other
robotic-looking prosthetics, Gilbert noted.
RSLSteeper's Bebionic prosthetic
limbs use myoelectric technology to generate electricity from muscle fibers. A
cosmetic, high-definition cover fits over the limb to make it appear lifelike,
according to the firm.
In addition, RSLSteeper's Bebalance software allows clinicians to customize
the prosthetic device, including the robotic hand's grip speed and range.
The limbs are also more responsive to muscle movements than similar
products, according to Gilbert.
"They have smarter software and are utilizing wireless technology to
make it a better experience for those people who have to use these types of
prosthetics," she said. "They're doing amazing things, and it's being
utilized now."
