[tt] Better Monitoring With Smart Medical Devices

[Hughes, James J.]

http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/62375.html?welcome=1207134717

April 3, 2008 04:00:46 PM

Better Monitoring With Smart Medical Devices

By Harry Wang

TechNewsWorld

04/01/08 4:00 AM PT

Medical monitoring devices already constitute a multibillion-dollar
business, and with an aging population, the segment is likely to grow.
Some devices are now being designed with network connectivity to allow
doctors to monitor patients and patients to track their progress.

About 90 million people in the U.S. suffer from one or multiple chronic
conditions, with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory
conditions having the highest prevalence. These conditions are also the
most suitable for medical monitoring devices.

Glucose meters and test strips are a multi-billion dollar business in
the U.S. (industry data pointing to annual revenue of more than US$3
billion). Blood pressure monitors are another widely used monitoring
tool for patients with cardiovascular risks.

Digital weight scales can serve both conditions, and their popularity is
on the rise. Over the last few years, manufacturers of these mass-market
medical diagnostic tools have begun to add a USB Latest News about USB
(Universal Serial Bus) interface and expand internal memory so that
users can download measurement data to their home computers.
Tracking Progress

Software accompanying the devices can help users to perform basic
charting and trend analysis on the computer, completing a
"Do-It-Yourself" kit.

Less understood and lower-volume home diagnostic devices include
cholesterol test tools, pulse oximeters, body fat meters,
electrocardiograph (ECG) monitors, and spirometers.

An emerging category is focused on using motion and environmental
sensors to detect accidental falls, night seizures, urinary
incontinence, mindless wandering, and disruptive sleep patterns,
conditions that are most detrimental to a senior's life quality.

However, these devices are built on the latest technologies, which means
that they are less mature and reliable and usually come with a higher
price tag.
Networking Benefits

The benefits of connecting these devices to a network Save up to $500
off top-selling HP printers. and transferring health data for remote
monitoring and diagnosis are multifold. First, the data will be put in
the hands of a professional who can make a better judgment of the
patient's conditions.

Second, patients with multiple chronic conditions will be examined based
on a complete set of information coming from multiple device readings.
For instance, an irregular reading of ECG data plus an abnormal weight
gain can point to a greater need for clinical intervention versus ECG
readings alone. Connectivity helps synchronize data collection so that
caregivers can have the right information at hand to make a decision.

Third, connectivity makes real-time data collection possible.

Fourth, continuous data collection can reveal better patterns than
episodic measurements, another means for caregivers to make an informed
decision. For example, human blood pressure fluctuates throughout the
day. Episodic measuring only gives isolated data and may miss the peak
and trough points that deserve physicians' attention for cardiovascular
care.
Better Recommendations

Based on continuous data, physicians can make better recommendations to
their patients on the timing and dosage of anti-hypertension drugs and
the amount of cardio exercises during the time of the day. Finally,
connectivity improves patient compliance.

Manually saving and forwarding data can be a hassle for the users of
multiple measurement devices. Inconvenience can lead to low compliance,
which undermines the benefits of home monitoring. Automating the process
and making it portable anywhere the patient goes through connectivity
solutions will make patients more willing to cooperate with the
monitoring regimen.

Connected medical monitoring devices serve three types of patients well:

    * Seniors with chronic and aging conditions
    * People with one or more chronic conditions
    * People with a strong desire to stay fit and well

These three segments have considerable overlapping portions. The
Medicare population, for instance, encompasses all three segments.

On the other hand, not all people in these segments are qualified users
of the technology. Those with a considerable disability are perhaps
better off in the hands of home care aides, living in a nursing home or
being treated at the hospital.

Patients with severe dementia symptoms are not a good fit due to their
lack of cognitive ability to use the devices properly. Therefore,
although the potential market is big, the total addressable market for
connected medical monitoring devices is smaller.
Growing Market

Parks Associates Latest News about Parks Associates estimates that
between 22 million and 25 million people were the appropriate target
population of this application in 2007. As demographic trends favor this
application and consumer awareness is on the rise, we expect the total
addressable market to continue expanding over the next five years,
reaching between 44 million and 48 million people in 2012.