Health monitoring accelerates the arrival of the first year of wearable smart devices

There was a view in the industry that just as smartphones destroyed flip phones and tablets destroyed traditional personal computers, the rise of wearable smart devices will destroy smartphones and computers. We dare not make a rash judgment on this, but wearable smart devices are indeed leading the next technological revolution.

　　Wearable smart devices are booming with the help of mobile Internet. Google Glass and Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch are the most widely discussed examples of wearable devices. There are also Pebble smartwatch launched by Pebble Technology, SmartWatch launched by Sony, and Toq smartwatch launched by Qualcomm in the fourth quarter of 2013. Apple cannot be left out. Although the long-rumored smartwatch iWatch has not yet been released, Apple is using the new version of iPhone5s equipped with M7 motion sensor chip to redefine the wearable smart device market, which may bring health monitoring and fitness applications to a new level.

　　Wearable smart medical monitoring devices can monitor patients in real time, and the data fed back can help improve the accuracy of diagnosis. This health monitoring mode outside the hospital and away from the doctor's office is more cost-effective. As China increases its investment in healthcare, using today's advanced technology, workflows and preventive health care models will gain many advantages such as high cost-effectiveness.

　　Steve LaJeunesse, market application manager of Maxim Medical Devices, said that the integration of multiple technologies such as ultra-low power analog measurement circuits, complex signal processing technology, and ultra-low power microcontrollers is the development trend of wearable smart devices.
 

Steve LaJeunesse, Medical Device Market Application Manager at Maxim Integrated

　　Maxim is actively developing new markets

　　The original intention of wearable devices is to explore new ways of interaction between people and technology. In the field of personal health and medical management, the application of wearable devices has taken the lead. This type of equipment is currently mainly concentrated in the consumer-oriented sports, fitness and health care market, tracking personal health and sports, providing data analysis and sharing. These devices can provide detailed information on tracking, monitoring and health care. Among them, health monitoring is a key direction. According to ABI Research market research data, the wearable monitoring device market will reach an annual average of more than 100 million sets by 2016.

　　In response to this huge emerging market, as early as September 2012, Maxim launched a new type of repeatedly washable vital signs monitoring suit (Fit), which enables professional medical staff to frequently monitor patients' physical condition at low cost and provide more effective preventive health care. The highly integrated monitoring suit design can be used to measure three-lead ECG, body temperature and movement status, and in the future it can also measure ECG with more leads (5 to 12). All diagnostic tools have been integrated into the shirt without affecting the wearing comfort. The new "Fit" integrates dry electrode ECG measurement technology, complex signal processing technology, temperature sensor, motion sensor, ultra-low power microcontroller and wireless communication unit. In addition, Maxim has developed three different application versions for individuals, hospitals and nursing homes, and will develop evaluation kits in the future, which users can use to evaluate their own designs. This monitoring suit has opened a new era of preventive health care and reduced health care costs by more than 10 times.

　　The solution has four built-in contacts in the sleeves and abdomen of the clothes, which are connected to the sensor via wired means. The sensor then transmits the data to the mobile terminal via Bluetooth. It can detect basic vital signs such as heart rate and body temperature anytime and anywhere, providing continuous and real-time medical diagnostic data.

　　The solution includes eight chips, of which four are from Maxim, namely MCU, PMU, temperature sensor and USB protector. In view of the low power consumption requirement of wearable devices, Maxim uses ultra-low power MAXQ622 and MAX6656 in this design and carries power management IC MAX8671. In the future, Maxim plans to further integrate the solution so that it only includes four devices, making the product smaller, with longer standby time and cheaper price.

　　This design includes:

　　The ultra-low-power 16-bit microcontroller MAXQ622 can easily connect to multiple devices and is easy to program.

　　The MAX8671 power-management IC provides low-noise power, efficient switching between multiple sensors, and a PMIC with built-in USB charger and protection circuitry.

　　The MAX6656 ultra-low-power temperature sensor and voltage monitor supports plug-and-play system integration.

　　The MAX3204 USB protector provides safety protection for electronic circuits from damage caused by vibration and ESD.

　　Huge demand for health monitoring promotes the development of wearable devices

　　With the increase of aging population and the implementation of the government's policy to increase medical insurance coverage, it is expected that by 2020, China's healthcare expenditure will increase from the current 4.6% to 7% of GDP, and China will become the world's second largest healthcare market. The huge market demand for health monitoring is vigorously promoting the rapid development of wearable smart medical monitoring equipment. At present, health monitoring and fitness applications have become the "killer" applications in wearable computing technology.

　　Wearable smart medical monitoring equipment is widely used, including personal health management, remote patient monitoring, on-site professional medical care, etc., and has a promising future. The huge market has enabled many companies to see the opportunity of combining mobile information technology and medical technology. Now many start-ups and professional companies are also developing wearable devices that provide network medical application services, including GE and Philips. Manufacturers integrate many technologies such as sensors, computing, communications and power management into electronic circuits, and perfectly integrate low-power products and wireless connection technologies into products, which has greatly promoted the great changes in wearable devices.

　　At this stage, although there are still many problems with wearable smart devices, with technological breakthroughs, cost reductions, and the perfect application of cloud computing and big data, the popularization of wearable smart devices is gradually approaching.