Long-term remote monitoring of vital signs using a wireless patch sensor

Abstract

Remote monitoring and wearable technologies could help to effectively manage health, monitor safety and reduce the staggering health care costs. The present study is designed to investigate the efficacy of disposable wireless HealthPatch™ sensors for continuous and long-term monitoring in senior subjects over consecutive 50-days in their home setting. Patch sensor is worn on the chest that allows remote and real-time monitoring of vital sign measurements and falls. Patch data and nightly questionnaire responses were obtained in 76 participants (age 59–85 years) over 3603 days using 1333 patches, collectively. The performance of heart rate, respiration rate and skin temperature was assessed on day-1 and day-4 that estimated the mean absolute errors to be <3 beats/min, <3 breaths/min and <1.2 °C, respectively compared to their respective reference devices. The vital signs showed no significant differences between start and end of a 3-day wear cycle. False positive rate of fall detection was 0.0027 falls/day. The participants reported the patch wear very/fairly comfortable for 88.2% of days of wear. The wireless patch sensors have demonstrated high performance over its 3-day wear cycle, great compliance, and positive user feedback on wearability and usability. Thus, the patch sensors are very efficient and suitable for remote long-term monitoring at uncontrolled home setting.