RMIT University

FaceHeart from Taiwan has obtained regulatory approval in the United States for its AI-driven contactless technology for measuring respiratory rate. It obtained a 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for the respiratory rate measurement component of its software development kit. WHAT IT'S ABOUT FaceHeart offers a SDK that utilises a smartphone's camera to capture vital signs – including heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate variability – and measure them within 50 seconds. It does this using computer vision, rPPG (remote photoplethysmography), and deep learning. Citing FDA's evaluation, the company shared that its SDK's respiratory rate component demonstrated consistent deviations within ±2 breaths per minute across devices. This FDA approval is the company's second following the 510(k) clearance for the heart rate component of the FaceHeart SDK in 2023. The Taiwanese company's SDK can be integrated into common edge devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and desktop or laptop computers, and conducts analysis using edge computing without a cloud service to maintain security and eliminate network latency. The technology has use cases in preventive health, telemedicine, elderly care, and chronic disease management. MARKET SNAPSHOT Several smartphone-based applications that utilise PPG signals to gauge vital signs have also come to the market in recent years. Noteworthy among them is Google Fit. In Asia-Pacific, notable players include MFine from India and listed company Advanced Health Intelligence (formerly Advanced Human Imaging) from Australia. The National Taiwan University Hospital in Taiwan and its partner, FocalTech Smart Sensors Co., also developed a mobile app that measures heart rhythm by scanning a user's fingertip via a smartphone camera. Meanwhile, Canadian company NuraLogix's Anura vital signs measurement app has been made available in Singapore. Another popular use of smartphone cameras for health screening is to detect and predict stroke, such as the inventions of Penn State University and Houston Methodist Hospital in the United States and RMIT University in Australia.

Just a few decades ago, for a patient to gain insight into their current health prognosis, they would have to set up an appointment with their provider. They would then get lab tests, wait for the doctor to read them, and then communicate the results to the patient. Long, drawn-out processes limit immediate care opportunities. For those who manage chronic diseases and may be living at home or in a nursing facility, the use of wearable health tech can drastically improve patient-doctor care. It may even help to save a person’s life over time. A study from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, found that the use of wearables within a healthcare setting and at home for chronic disease management improved odds. Wearable devices, such as a glucose meter device or a defibrillator and pacemaker, can provide valuable and real-time information to a healthcare provider so that decisions can be made to protect the patient. These devices typically provide a very specific type of service, such as capturing the blood sugar of a patient. They link to Wi-Fi and transmit data directly to a healthcare provider, and that provider can take action if needed to bring the patient in for care. Sponsored Post The Funding Model for Cancer Innovation is Broken — We Can Fix It Closing cancer health equity gaps require medical breakthroughs made possible by new funding approaches. By Eve McDavid - CEO of Mission-Driven Tech Innovations in wearable health tech for chronic conditions Science and technology come together with wearable devices, providing a clear benefit to anyone who may need careful and tedious management of disease symptoms. Gone are the days when a simple heart rate monitor or pedometer would provide the only information about a person’s health and well-being. Today, they can accomplish a wide range of tasks: Determine sleep quality and quantity Provide a heart rate and rhythm analysis Measure blood glucose levels Provide respiration management Monitor blood pressure Complete electrocardiograms Check for fevers presented by Market Trends to Watch for Health Systems and Their Specialty Pharmacies The future looks bright for the integrated specialty pharmacy model – for health systems, providers, and most importantly, for patients. By Jake Gaffey, MBA, Chief Strategy Officer at Shields Health Solutions Consider the benefits. For example, the use of a glucose meter can capture a patient’s blood glucose figure and transmit that information to the person’s healthcare provider. If that patient is just coming on board for treatment through medication, this type of wearable technology enables doctors to pinpoint what’s causing the blood sugar spikes or if a specific medication level is appropriate. When choosing a glucose meter, it’s crucial to consider various factors such as accuracy, ease of use, and data sharing capabilities to ensure seamless integration with overall health management Another example could center around sleep. Instead of a patient visiting a medical center for a sleep study that is fully uncomfortable and challenging to maintain, they can use a wearable device at home. These devices can track sleep quality and quantity, allowing medical providers to have more insight into what the patient’s complications may be. Benefits of wearable health tech for patients Many types of diseases change in severity from one appointment to the next. Yet, there’s often a lot of leeway in between those situations. Consider a few examples of how wearable health tech is transforming the way healthcare providers monitor and support chronic health conditions. Improve patient engagement – Not only do devices communicate valuable health data, but they also help patients to routinely monitor their own health data. This helps patients to remain engaged in their health. Reduces healthcare cost – Fewer trips to the emergency room or urgent care, along with improvements to efficient management of chronic conditions, and reduced overall costs. Patients get help when they need it, sometimes before there is a medical emergency. Health monitoring over time – Those with chronic disease face an ongoing risk of the condition worsening. With a wearable device, documents can see the slow progression or climb of the health complication, providing a way for the patient to get help sooner. Wearable technology is better than relying on human information – If a patient’s blood sugars must be monitored to determine proper medication, it is easier to count on wearable technology to support this process instead of assuming a patient will document their information. Improved health – Another side benefit of the use of wearable technology is that it offers patients more insight into their own health. For example, a notification that they are not getting good sleep may help a person to change their habits. Increasing step counts could also be helpful here. Wearable health technology challenges and limitations Numerous potential factors cloud the benefits wearable health technology seems to offer, at least if no other steps are taken to mitigate those risks. Some of the most common challenges with healthcare wearable technology include: High initial cost – It can be challenging to get insurance providers to consistently pay for these wearable devices. New programs are emerging to make them more accessible. Data privacy concerns – If the system is not secured and maintained over time, this can lead to serious loss of personal information. Modern solutions utilize encryption to eliminate such risks. Accuracy and reliability factors – Utilization of high-quality and reliable tools and then educating patients on how to properly use them is critical to finding success with wearable technology. Future trends in wearable health tech for chronic disease management The world of technology continues to flex and change, bringing with it new opportunities for advancement in wearable technology. Studies show that wearables empower users to get better care and take responsibility for their health. In the future, such tools may provide more hands-on recommendations, such as dosing for insulin shots based on monitored levels. They can also incorporate more data-rich insights to allow doctors and patients to get a better idea of how their health is trending. Wearable technology provides a clear opportunity for improving overall health and well-being. That is especially true in the area of chronic disease management. Photo credit: Sitthiphong, Getty Images Steven John CumperSteven John Cumper, B.App.Sc. (Osteo.), M.Ost., is a businessman with a strong background in biomedical science and osteopathic medicine. He founded Medshop & ScrubsIQ while studying at RMIT University in Australia, expanding its reach to markets in Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and Malaysia. In September 2021, the Bunzl Group acquired a majority stake in Medshop, but Cumper remains involved as the Managing Director (Medshop Group). His journey from Zimbabwe to the UK and Australia reflects his dedication to academia and entrepreneurship, combining diverse knowledge and experience.This post appears through the MedCity Influencers program. 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TUESDAY, Nov. 19, 2024 -- As climate changes sends summer temperatures higher worldwide, new research finds most urban residents don't have a key source of cooling shade: trees. A study of eight cities around the globe found that only two -- Seattle and Singapore -- reached even the minimum recommendation of 30% of their buildings having adequate tree canopy nearby. The other six cities -- New York City, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Denver, Sydney and Melbourne -- failed this test. New York City was especially lacking, with near 0% of buildings having enough trees to make a difference in shielding folks from the heat of the sun. “Studies say we actually need at least 40% canopy cover to substantially lower daytime air temperatures, so the ‘30’ metric is the absolute bare minimum -- and most buildings we studied don't even reach that goal," said lead researcher Dr Thami Croeser , of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. His team published its findings Nov. 19 in the journal Nature Communications . As the researchers explained, humans don't need trees just for physical comfort. They can help calm the mind, too. “Previous research has shown depression , anxiety, obesity and heatstroke are more prevalent in urban areas that lack access to shady tree canopy and green open spaces,” said Croeser, from RMIT’s Centre for Urban Research. Experts in urban environments have come up with what they call the "3-30-300" rule: Every house, school and workplace in a city should have a view of at least three trees, be in a neighborhood with at least 30% tree canopy cover, and be within about 300 meters (1,000 feet) of a park. In their research, Croeser's group tested that metric out on more than 2.5 million buildings in Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Denver, central Melbourne, New York City, Seattle, Singapore and central Sydney. Only Seattle and Singapore met or exceeded the goal of having at least 30% of buildings within 300 meters of good tree canopy. Forty-five percent of Seattle's buildings met that threshold, as did 75% of buildings in Singapore. Most folks also have poor access to a shady park, the team found. The best-performing cities in that regard were Singapore and Amsterdam, while Buenos Aires and New York City scored poorly. With 2023 being the hottest year on record globally, the findings don't bode well for the physical and mental health of the world's people, Croeser said. “Canopy cover doesn’t just increase cooling, it can also reduce flood risk as well as benefit mental and physical health and support urban biodiversity," he noted in a university news release. Too often, he said, trees are cut down or not planted because planners prioritize cables and pipelines on city streets, instead. “Currently, we put trees last, and if it gets in the way of cabling or pipes, we remove the tree or replace it with a sapling," Croeser said. "Designing trees into streets early, and then figuring out win-win solutions to get in utilities and traffic access, is one of the big changes we need to make a difference.” Even those trees that do get planted often struggle to survive. “The soil is compacted, there’s asphalt over them and when it rains, the water runs off into the gutters instead of into the soil," Croeser said. “Earlier research shows that if urban trees are planted in better quality soil with enough space for them to grow, where rainwater can run directly into the soil, it will help trees grow bigger faster, to address our lack of canopy cover." “30% canopy cover seems like a high bar if we keep doing things the same way, but it’s totally achievable if we change a bit of our practice," he added. Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.