Applications of IoT in Health care

Globally, the healthcare sector is facing a number of challenges which has unlocked the doors of new technologies for us. Not all individuals can afford the healthcare services to shield themselves from the lethal illnesses, even basic health facilities are out of reach for many. Other than that, there has been a significant increase in the number of chronic diseases making people more vulnerable than ever. The population around the globe is aging which means without proper health care services many people will become unproductive. Thus, it has become crucial for service providers and doctors to come up with lifesaving treatments and quality services that improve people's health.

The Internet of things (IoT) has considerably eradicated the aforementioned issues with its innumerable benefits. Let’s see what role IoT is playing and discuss some of the new technologies or devices that have been introduced in the healthcare industry.

1. Robotic Surgery

Medical practitioners can now perform complex surgeries through the internet-based robots which can be embedded in the human body. These small IoT devices are less painful for patients, results in quicker healing as the incision is smaller and requires minimal human interference. Such robots allow surgeons to diagnose the illness and proceed with the surgery. With precision, complex internal issues can be detected and doctors can make better decisions.

2. Ingestible sensors

Collecting data related to the unseen internal human body parts is a very complex procedure. The insertion of a camera or a probe inside their digestive organs is a risky way. With the help of ingestible sensors, medical experts can monitor their PH level, check their heart rate, and can also tell about the internal bleeding etc. These are ingestible and non-invasive pills with sensors inside them that detect digestive disorders, once the patient swallows it.

3. IoT connected inhalers

There are some conditions i.e. asthma, bronchitis or emphysema in which the attack can be triggered by factors such as pollution, dust mites or cold etc. The cause of such sudden attacks can be detected by IoT connected inhalers which monitor and gather data from the environment that is useful for pulmonologists to diagnose their patient’s illness. They can even learn about the intensity of the attack and in case patients forget to take their inhalers when going outside or do not use it properly, it automatically alerts them.

4. Detects depression 

There are certain disorders whose symptoms cannot be interpreted easily and gathering such data is also cumbersome for medical practitioners. For example, sometimes patients are not able to articulate or express their feelings and if they do, those are not accurate. So, psychiatrists use a mood aware device backed by IoT technology which allows them to check their pulse rate, eye movement, body temperature and blood pressure. This clearly tells them about the condition the patient is suffering from. Other than that, they can perform brain scanning to better understand their mental condition.

5. Reminders for hand hygiene

In hospitals we often see boards with instructions or reminders to wash our hands frequently in order to prevent the spread of diseases. Many hospitals now use advanced IoT technology and devices to remind people who enter the hospital to wash their hands and how to properly sanitize them. This has significantly reduced the spread of diseases and infection rates.

IoT has been very much beneficial for the healthcare sector. It is not just assisting the healthcare professionals but also informs people about the preventative measures they should take, thus saving lives of many individuals.