Wearable Sensor Patch Research Articles

Direct Printed Silver Nanowire Strain Sensor for Early Extravasation Detection.

In this study, we presented a wearable sensor patch for the early detection of extravasation by using a simple, direct printing process. Silver nanowire (AgNW) ink was first formulated to provide necessary rheological properties to print patterns on flexible plastic sheets. By adjusting printing parameters, alignments of AgNWs in the printed patterns were controlled to enhance the resistance change under stretching conditions. A resistive strain-sensing device was then fabricated by printing patterned electrodes on a stretchable film for skin attachment. The designed sensor pattern was able to detect forces from a specific direction from the resistance change. Moreover, the sensor showed excellent sensitivity (gauge factor (GF) = 100 at 50% strain) and could be printed in small dimensions. Sensors of millimeter size were printed in an array and were used for multiple detection points in a large area to detect extravasation at small volumes (<0.5 mL) at accurate bump location.

Real-time monitoring of plant stresses via chemiresistive profiling of leaf volatiles by a wearable sensor

<h2>Summary</h2> Determination of plant stresses such as infections by plant pathogens is currently dependent on time-consuming and complicated analytical technologies. Here, we report a leaf-attachable chemiresistive sensor array for real-time fingerprinting of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that permits noninvasive and early diagnosis of plant diseases, such as late blight caused by <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>. The imperceptible sensor patch integrates an array of graphene-based sensing materials and flexible silver nanowire electrodes on a kirigami-inspired stretchable substrate, which can minimize strain interference. The sensor patch has been mounted on live tomato plants to profile key plant volatiles at low-ppm concentrations with fast response (<20 s). The multiplexed sensor array allows for accurate detection and classification of 13 individual plant volatiles with >97% classification accuracy. The wearable sensor patch was used to diagnose tomato late blight as early as 4 days post inoculation and abiotic stresses such as mechanical damage within 1 h.

An Inkjet-Printed PEDOT:PSS-Based Stretchable Conductor for Wearable Health Monitoring Device Applications.

A stretchable conductor is one of the key components in soft electronics that allows the seamless integration of electronic devices and sensors on elastic substrates. Its unique advantages of mechanical flexibility and stretchability have enabled a variety of wearable bioelectronic devices that can conformably adapt to curved skin surfaces for long-term health monitoring applications. Here, we report a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)-based stretchable polymer blend that can be patterned using an inkjet printing process while exhibiting low sheet resistance and accommodating large mechanical deformations. We have systematically studied the effect of various types of polar solvent additives that can help induce phase separation of PEDOT and PSS grains and change the conformation of a PEDOT chain, thereby improving the electrical property of the film by facilitating charge hopping along the percolating PEDOT network. The optimal ink formulation is achieved by adding 5 wt % ethylene glycol into a pristine PEDOT:PSS aqueous solution, which results in a sheet resistance of as low as 58 Ω/□. Elasticity can also be achieved by blending the above solution with the soft polymer poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Thin films of PEDOT:PSS/PEO polymer blends patterned by inkjet printing exhibits a low sheet resistance of 84 Ω/□ and can resist up to 50% tensile strain with minimal changes in electrical performance. With its good conductivity and elasticity, we have further demonstrated the use of the polymer blend as stretchable interconnects and stretchable dry electrodes on a thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate for photoplethysmography (PPG) and electrocardiography (ECG) recording applications. This work shows the potential of using a printed stretchable conducting polymer in low-cost wearable sensor patches for smart health applications.

Wireless Remote Home Monitoring of Vital Signs in Patients Discharged Early After Esophagectomy: Observational Feasibility Study.

BackgroundHospital stays after major surgery are shorter than ever before. Although enhanced recovery and early discharge have many benefits, some complications will now first manifest themselves in home settings. Remote patient monitoring with wearable sensors in the first days after hospital discharge may capture clinical deterioration earlier but is largely uncharted territory.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the technical feasibility of patients, discharged after esophagectomy, being remotely monitored at home with a wireless patch sensor and the experiences of these patients. In addition, we determined whether observing vital signs with a wireless patch sensor influences clinical decision making.MethodsIn an observational feasibility study, vital signs of patients were monitored with a wearable patch sensor (VitalPatch, VitalConnect Inc) during the first 7 days at home after esophagectomy and discharge from hospital. Vital signs trends were shared with the surgical team once a day, and they were asked to check the patient’s condition by phone each morning. Patient experiences were evaluated with a questionnaire, and technical feasibility was analyzed on a daily basis as the percentage of data loss and gap durations. In addition, the number of patients for whom a change in clinical decision was made based on the results of remote vital signs monitoring at home was assessed.ResultsPatients (N=20) completed 7 days each of home monitoring with the wearable patch sensor. Each of the patients had good recovery at home, and remotely observed vital signs trends did not alter clinical decision making. Patients appreciated that surgeons checked their vital signs daily (mean 4.4/5) and were happy to be called by the surgical team each day (mean 4.5/5). Wearability of the patch was high (mean 4.4/5), and no reports of skin irritation were mentioned. Overall data loss of vital signs measurements at home was 25%; both data loss and gap duration varied considerably among patients.ConclusionsRemote monitoring of vital signs combined with telephone support from the surgical team was feasible and well perceived by all patients. Future studies need to evaluate the impact of home monitoring on patient outcome as well as the cost-effectiveness of this new approach.

A Design of Mobile Application for Ultrasound Bladder Monitoring System Based on Usability Engineering

Patients with voiding dysfunction need continuous treatments as well as bladder ultrasonography, surgical procedures and medication. Ultrasound bladder monitoring healthcare system can help non-invasive treatment as a bladder training. This system uses wearable patch sensor so that patients can monitor their bladder volume as an indicator of voiding and be recommended voiding at a proper time. In this study, the mobile application for the system is designed and evaluated based on optimized clinical workflow and safety. This study included the design of clinical application models for users and the development of user interface complying with usability engineering process.

A Rigid-Flex Wearable Health Monitoring Sensor Patch for IoT-Connected Healthcare Applications

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a new communication paradigm that can connect elements from various fields through the Internet. One of the most attractive IoT applications is in the modern healthcare area, as the traditional healthcare system has an increasing demand for social resources, including doctors, nurses, hospital beds, and health monitoring devices. In this article, the design of a compact wearable sensor patch is presented for measurements of different physiological signals, such as the electrocardiogram (ECG), photoplethysmography (PPG), and body temperature. As ECG and PPG sensors are integrated with the same device, the proposed sensor patch can be used to estimate blood pressure (BP) continuously based on the pulse arrival time (PAT) without extra wires and devices. The sensor patch consists of a center board for signal acquisition and processing, a power board for energy supply and charging batteries, and three sensors for vital signs monitoring. All the components are designed in a rigid-flex structure, which can be easily attached to the human body for remote health monitoring applications. The sensors can be detached from the center board for customized measurements of a certain physiological signal (e.g., ECG) to reduce power consumption. Experiments are conducted to validate the performance of the proposed sensor patch by comparison with a commercial reference device. With the integration of a miniaturized Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) module, the proposed sensor system can transmit physiological measurements wirelessly to a gateway. Data encryption is applied on both the sensor patch and gateways to protect data for privacy and security purposes during transmission. Both a mobile gateway (based on smartphones) and a fixed gateway (based on portable computers) are designed as the bridge between the wearable sensor system and the Internet cloud, where health data can be stored and further analyzed. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the overall platform for IoT-connected healthcare applications.

Feasibility of a digital medicine program in optimizing opioid pain control in cancer patients (SWOG S1916).

TPS12126 Background: The undertreatment of pain in patients with advanced or metastatic cancer is well described in cancer research. Overcoming barriers that prevent successful use of opioid analgesics for cancer pain requires a clear understanding of how individuals use oral medications at home. The Proteus Discover is a digital medicine program (DMP) consisting of an FDA-approved ingestible sensor made of dietary minerals co-encapsulated with patients’ medications, a wearable sensor patch, and a mobile device app that enables patients to electronically transmit their medication adherence patterns. Use of the DMP has demonstrated improved clinical outcomes vs. usual care in patients with diabetes and hypertension, shown superiority over directly-observed therapy in tuberculosis and has been studied in the treatment of patients with hepatitis C, HIV, cancer and severe mental illness, but it has not been previously studied with opioids or in monitoring cancer-related pain. Methods: We are conducting a multicenter pilot study at SWOG NCORP sites to test the feasibility of using the DMP to monitor opioid use in the treatment of metastatic cancer pain. Eligible patients must have a diagnosis of metastatic cancer, have a baseline Brief Pain Inventory worst pain score of ≥3, be deemed by their physician to need initiation or up-titration of oxycodone-acetaminophen for pain control, and be able to read English. Primary outcomes include: (1) study accrual of 60 patients within six months of study activation at all participating sites; (2) patient retention defined as ≥50 patients completing the study, and; (3) adherence to the DMP defined as ≥66% of patients wearing the sensor patch for ≥28 days of the 42-day observation period. Secondary outcomes include change in Brief Pain Inventory pain scores, opioid medication consumption, number of safety alert triggers for high consumption, hospital or emergency room visits for pain, activity levels, and frequency of changes to the pain control regimen. The study will enroll patients at six sites; the first patient was enrolled on 1/20/2020. If successful, this study will inform design of a randomized controlled trial of the DMP vs. usual care in optimizing medication utilization and controlling cancer-related pain. Clinical trial information: NCT04194528 .

Printed Wearable Sensor Patch for Multi-Analytes Detection in the Sweat Range

Printed Wearable Sensor Patch for Multi-Analytes Detection in the Sweat Range

A Wireless Wearable Sensor Patch for the Real-Time Estimation of Continuous Beat-to-Beat Blood Pressure.

This paper proposes a wireless wearable sensor system for the continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) monitoring. The real-time BP can be estimated utilising a 2-parameter regression model based on the pulse arrival time (PAT) and heart rate (HR). The PAT is defined as the time interval between the electrocardiogram (ECG) R-peak and the corresponding maximum inclination point of photoplethysmography (PPG) signal. A wireless wearable sensor patch designed to be attached to the subject's chest is used for the measurement of ECG and PPG signals. The sensor data are transmitted through a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) module to a computer for the real-time online estimation of BP. To verify the feasibility and performance of the proposed system, a 5-day period experiment is conducted on two healthy male subjects for the training and validation of the BP estimation model. On each day, there are two 15 minutes offline sessions for data collection from the sensor patch, which are compared with the reference BP to calibrate the estimation model parameters. After that, a 10 minutes online session is carried out to validate the regression model against the reference BP device. Eventually, the 5-day period data are combined together for an overall BP estimation model, which has good correlation (r=0.82) with the reference BP measurements. The experimental results show the proposed sensor patch with the BP estimation model is capable of the online real-time BP monitoring after an initial calibration procedure.

PIN42 THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL MEDICINE PROGRAM ON ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS FOR HCV COVERAGE EXPANSION FROM A STATE MEDICAID PERSPECTIVE

Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) are highly effective, yet costly cures for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Many Medicaid programs have restrictions using liver fibrosis stages, alcohol use, or prescriber restrictions. A novel digital medicine program (DMP), consisting of digital medicines (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir packaged with ingestible sensors), a small wearable sensor patch, and a mobile application, has shown >97% ingestion adherence rates and >99% sustained virological response at 12 weeks post-treatment in real-world HCV studies. This study estimated the economic and public health impact of the DMP when Medicaid programs with current limited treatment access are expanded to full access. We used the Medicaid epidemiology data as a base for percentage of patients with access to HCV treatment. A cost-comparison analysis was conducted to estimate the per-patient-per-month (PPPM) savings associated with DAA+DMP in comparison with DAA alone. Combined with annual disease transition probabilities and cost for each disease state obtained from published literature, a Markov model was developed to assess the economic and public health impact in two scenarios for 1,000 hypothetical Medicaid HCV patients under: 1) current limited access, 2) full access with DMP. Annual and cumulative costs, and the numbers of progressed disease states avoided were calculated. Even with the current access restrictions, the use of DAA+DMP yielded total savings of $2,043 PPPM compared to DDAs alone, which would allow additional treatment coverage of 24% patients annually. By granting full access and with DMP, Medicaid can achieve cost-savings within 4 years, and prevent progression of 57 decompensated cirrhosis, 76 hepatocellular carcinoma cases and 4 liver transplants by Year 5 for every 1,000 HCV patients. The DAA+DMP provides significant savings in treating HCV compared to DAAs alone. Full access to HCV therapy for Medicaid patients with use of DMP can be economically beneficial, while preventing life-threatening complications.

2220. Wirelessly Observed Therapy with a Digital Medicines Program to Optimize Adherence and Target Interventions for Oral Hepatitis C Treatment

BackgroundReal-world data on adherence to new oral hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapies are limited. Suboptimal adherence can lead to unnecessary treatment failures. Usual methods to measure adherence are inaccurate, and do not allow for opportune intervention. The digital medicines program (DMP) consists of DigiMeds™ (medicines with an ingestible sensor), a wearable sensor patch that confirms ingestion, the Proteus Discover® mobile app, and secure web portal to allow for timely assessment of adherence, prevent missed doses, and maximize the likelihood of sustained virologic response (SVR), or cure. This study evaluated adherence and virologic outcomes in chronic HCV patients treated with sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) using the DMP.MethodsThis was a single-arm, prospective, open-label, pilot study at two sites. SOF/LDV tablets co-encapsulated with ingestible sensors allowed the DMP to record ingestion adherence rates (number of ingestions detected/number of expected ingestions). Other outcomes were medical interventions, SVR 12+ weeks after end of treatment, patient satisfaction, and safety.ResultsAll 28 subjects (age 59 ± 7 years [mean ± SD], 61% male, 39% Caucasian, 93% treatment-naïve) had HCV genotype 1; 27 completed treatment. Most (82%) had <$25,000 income/year, 46% had psychiatric comorbidities, and 32% had a history of drug abuse. The DMP was used for 92% of expected days; mean ingestion adherence was 94%. Providers used the DMP data for same-day adherence interventions in 39% of patients. SVR was achieved in 26 of 28 subjects (2 had failed prior therapy). One subject who did not achieve SVR had high adherence (≥95%), suggesting viral resistance; the other was non-adherent (<90%). Most (92%) agreed the DMP helped them feel more involved in managing their healthcare and easy to use in their daily routine; 85% agreed the DMP helped them understand the importance of taking medications regularly. Four subjects reported four nonserious adverse events of rash/pruritus, which resolved and were consistent with use of adhesives.ConclusionThese data suggest that the DMP may be used to support adherence to therapy through targeted, same-day adherence interventions, and optimize SVR rates, including in those with risk factors for nonadherence and in those who previously failed treatment.Disclosures M. Bonacini, Proteus Digital Health: Investigator, Research support. Y. Kim, Proteus Digital Health: Consultant and Employee, Consulting fee and Salary. C. Pitney, Proteus Digital Health: Research Contractor, Research support. L. McKoin, Proteus Digital Health: Research Contractor, Research support. M. Tran, Proteus Digital Health: Employee, Salary. C. Landis, Proteus Digital Health: Investigator, Research support.

Reliability of wireless monitoring using a wearable patch sensor in high-risk surgical patients at a step-down unit in the Netherlands: a clinical validation study

Background and objectivesIntermittent vital signs measurements are the current standard on hospital wards, typically recorded once every 8 hours. Early signs of deterioration may therefore be missed. Recent innovations have...

Reliability Analysis of a Wearable Sensor Patch (WSP) to Monitor ECG Signals

Abstract Flexible Hybrid Electronic (FHE) devices interface flexible sensors and circuits with conventional rigid electronic components. This work reports preliminary results for the reliability aspects of a project aimed at fabricating a Wearable Sensor Patch (WSP) to monitor ECG signals. The device was fabricated by interfacing flexible electroplated Cu circuit lines and an ECG sensor on a Kapton® polyimide (PI) substrate with rigid electronics connected using SnPb solder (reflow temperature: 204 °C), making it a FHE device. Phase I of this project faced reliability issues as Cu circuit lines were susceptible to failure due to cracking near the front-end signal conditioning chip. This issue needed to be resolved in Phase II of the project to produce a robust device fit to be used in real world applications. The effect of changes in Cu trace thickness (2 and 6 μm) and Kapton® PI thickness (2 and 5 mil) on device robustness was tested. Effect of the use of low reflow temperature SnBi solder (reflow temperature: 175 °C) on device reliability was also tested. Multiple devices fabricated using different configurations of Cu trace and Kapton® PI thicknesses and either SnPb or SnBi solder were bend tested to single out the most robust configuration. Improved solder pad design for Cu traces at solder joint sites was also tested. It was observed that only devices with 6 μm thick Cu traces, 2 mil thick Kapton® and SnBi solder had no defects as a result of thermal cycling during fabrication. They also performed best during bend testing. Some of the factors contributing to robustness of this configuration might be lower CTE mismatch due to lower solder reflow temperature as well as greater strength under bending due to increased thickness. Improved solder pad design for Cu traces also improved device robustness considerably.

Effectiveness of Digital Medicines to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Uncontrolled Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes: Prospective, Open-Label, Cluster-Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial

BackgroundHypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus are major modifiable risk factors for cardiac, cerebrovascular, and kidney diseases. Reasons for poor disease control include nonadherence, lack of patient engagement, and therapeutic inertia.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the impact on clinic-measured blood pressure (BP) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) using a digital medicine offering (DMO) that measures medication ingestion adherence, physical activity, and rest using digital medicines (medication taken with ingestible sensor), wearable sensor patches, and a mobile device app.MethodsParticipants with elevated systolic BP (SBP ≥140 mm Hg) and HbA1c (≥7%) failing antihypertensive (≥2 medications) and oral diabetes therapy were enrolled in this three-arm, 12-week, cluster-randomized study. Participants used DMO (includes digital medicines, the wearable sensor patch, and the mobile device app) for 4 or 12 weeks or received usual care based on site randomization. Providers in the DMO arms could review the DMO data via a Web portal. In all three arms, providers were instructed to make medical decisions (medication titration, adherence counseling, education, and lifestyle coaching) on all available clinical information at each visit. Primary outcome was change in SBP at week 4. Other outcomes included change in SBP and HbA1c at week 12, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at weeks 4 and 12, as well as proportion of patients at BP goal (<140/90 mm Hg) at weeks 4 and 12, medical decisions, and medication adherence patterns.ResultsFinal analysis included 109 participants (12 sites; age: mean 58.7, SD years; female: 49.5%, 54/109; Hispanic: 45.9%, 50/109; income ≤ US $20,000: 56.9%, 62/109; and ≤ high school education: 52.3%, 57/109). The DMO groups had 80 participants (7 sites) and usual care had 29 participants (5 sites). At week 4, DMO resulted in a statistically greater SBP reduction than usual care (mean –21.8, SE 1.5 mm Hg vs mean –12.7, SE 2.8 mmHg; mean difference –9.1, 95% CI –14.0 to –3.3 mm Hg) and maintained a greater reduction at week 12. The DMO groups had greater reductions in HbA1c, DBP, and LDL-C, and a greater proportion of participants at BP goal at weeks 4 and 12 compared with usual care. The DMO groups also received more therapeutic interventions than usual care. Medication adherence was ≥80% while using the DMO. The most common adverse event was a self-limited rash at the wearable sensor site (12%, 10/82).ConclusionsFor patients failing hypertension and diabetes oral therapy, this DMO, which provides dose-by-dose feedback on medication ingestion adherence, can help lower BP, HbA1c, and LDL-C, and promote patient engagement and provider decision making.Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT02827630; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02827630 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6rL8dW2VF)

Stress measurement in surgeons and residents using a smart patch

BackgroundStress may negatively affect surgeons' performance during surgical procedures, jeopardizing patient safety. For measuring stress, complex methods are used that cannot record stress real time. This study reports stress measurements in surgeons and residents using a novel patch sensor to identify activities and risk factors of stress. MethodsIn this explorative study, surgeons and residents wore the HealthPatch™ during all daily activities for 2–3 days. The patch recorded heart rate variability (HRV), and real time stress percentage using a validated algorithm of heart rate (HR) and HRV. The patch was compared with self perceived stress reporting using STAI. ResultsA significant increase in HRV and stress percentage was shown in twenty surgeons and residents during surgery in comparison with other activities. Consultants showed lower stress levels while operating compared to fellows and residents. Stress according to the patch did not correlate with STAI outcome. ConclusionsContinuous stress monitoring using a wearable sensor patch reveals relevant data on actual stress of surgeons and residents. Stress was highest performing an operation, particularly in fellows and residents.

Flexible Hybrid Electronics: Direct Interfacing of Soft and Hard Electronics for Wearable Health Monitoring

The interfacing of soft and hard electronics is a key challenge for flexible hybrid electronics. Currently, a multisubstrate approach is employed, where soft and hard devices are fabricated or assembled on separate substrates, and bonded or interfaced using connectors; this hinders the flexibility of the device and is prone to interconnect issues. Here, a single substrate interfacing approach is reported, where soft devices, i.e., sensors, are directly printed on Kapton polyimide substrates that are widely used for fabricating flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs). Utilizing a process flow compatible with the FPCB assembly process, a wearable sensor patch is fabricated composed of inkjet‐printed gold electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes and a stencil‐printed nickel oxide thermistor. The ECG electrodes provide 1 mVp–p ECG signal at 4.7 cm electrode spacing and the thermistor is highly sensitive at normal body temperatures, and demonstrates temperature coefficient, α ≈ –5.84% K–1 and material constant, β ≈ 4330 K. This sensor platform can be extended to a more sophisticated multisensor platform where sensors fabricated using solution processable functional inks can be interfaced to hard electronics for health and performance monitoring, as well as internet of things applications.

Flexible Piezoresistive Sensor Patch Enabling Ultralow Power Cuffless Blood Pressure Measurement

Noninvasive and real‐time cuffless blood pressure (BP) measurement realizes the idea of unobtrusive and continuous BP monitoring which is essential for diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular diseases associated with hypertension. In this paper, a wearable sensor patch system that integrates flexible piezoresistive sensor (FPS) and epidermal electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors for cuffless BP measurement is presented. By developing parametric models on the FPS sensing mechanism and optimizing operational conditions, a highly stable epidermal pulse monitoring method is established and beat‐to‐beat BP measurement from the ECG and epidermal pulse signals is demonstrated. In particular, this study highlights the compromise between sensor sensitivity and signal stability. As compared with the current optical‐based cuffless BP measurement devices, the sensing patch requires much lower power consumption (3 nW) and is capable of detecting subtle physiological signal variations, e.g., pre and postexercises, thus providing a promising solution for low‐power, real‐time, and home‐based BP monitoring.

Research on the Application of Health Information System in Community Residents Based on the Internet of Things

This article introduces the services and development of the Internet of Things, and analyzes the application of Health Information System in Community Residents Based on the Internet of Things. The Internet of things has particularly novel implications in the area of public health. This is due to (1) The rapid and widespread adoption of powerful contemporary Smartphone's; (2) The increasing availability and use of health and fitness sensors, wearable sensor patches, smart watches, wireless-enabled digital tattoos and ambient sensors; and (3) The nature of public health to implicitly involve connectivity with and the acquisition of data in relation to large numbers of individuals up to population scale. Of particular relevance in relation to the Internet of Things and public health is the need for privacy and anonymity of users. It should be noted that Internet of Things capabilities are not inconsistent with maintaining privacy, due to the focus of public health on aggregate data not individual data and broad public health interventions.

The Internet of Things and Next-generation Public Health Information Systems

The Internet of things has particularly novel implications in the area of public health. This is due to (1) The rapid and widespread adoption of powerful contemporary Smartphone’s; (2) The increasing availability and use of health and fitness sensors, wearable sensor patches, smart watches, wireless-enabled digital tattoos and ambient sensors; and (3) The nature of public health to implicitly involve connectivity with and the acquisition of data in relation to large numbers of individuals up to population scale. Of particular relevance in relation to the Internet of Things (IoT) and public health is the need for privacy and anonymity of users. It should be noted that IoT capabilities are not inconsistent with maintaining privacy, due to the focus of public health on aggregate data not individual data and broad public health interventions. In addition, public health information systems utilizing IoT capabilities can be constructed to specifically ensure privacy, security and anonymity, as has been developed and evaluated in this work. In this paper we describe the particular characteristics of the IoT that can play a role in enabling emerging public health capabilities; we describe a privacy-preserving IoT-based public health information system architecture; and provide a privacy evaluation.