New Devices Meet Health Care Needs
Consumer Technology Expands to the Health Care Arena
International CES, the consumer electronics trade show of the Consumer Electronics Association was held in Las Vegas January 7 to 10, 2008.
The first thing one might envision when thinking about this popular event is the 150 inch television exhibited by Panasonic this year. However, each year, more and more medical and health care related products are also being showcased at this event.
This year, some of the health care related products showcased included medication delivery devices, a low vision device, a hearing instrument, identity and electronic medical records devices, software solutions for PDAs, and a home monitoring device.
Medication compliance is a huge issue in promoting health and wellness and preventing disease and complications. For many seniors or disabled individuals, remembering to take medications and /or how to take medications can be a problem. This can be an influencing factor in whether or not the person can live independently in his own home or require supervision and assistance.
At least two companies exhibited smart pillbox devices designed to help promote medication compliance. Each of them also provides information which can be accessed remotely by health care providers and/or family members or caregivers. This can allow caregivers or health care providers to tell whether or not the individual has taken his medications as well as produce a variety of reports concerning the medication compliance.
One such device is from MedSignals, and another is from InforMedix. InforMedix won a Best of CES Award for their product.
Other products which won Best of CES Awards in the healthcare arena include Home HealthPoint, a device that allows remote visual monitoring so that caregivers or health care providers can monitor seniors or the disabled in their home, while allowing them to continue to live independently.
Vuzix Corporation has a new device coming to market which will enable those with low vision from conditions such as Macular Degeneration or Retinitis Pigmentosa to read or watch television.
Opticon, Inc. also received an award for its newest line of hearing devices, the Opticon Epoq.
Identity Pal is a USB drive with Plug & Play capabilities. It comes in a small metal capsule which is both waterproof and shockproof. Built-in software allows for identification information, medical records information and any other information the user wishes to provide. Templates are adaptable. It can be password protected. Children, animals, seniors, anyone can use this device for ID and emergency situations. It can be worn around the neck, on a key chain or pet collar, or secured in a pocket where emergency responders would look for identification.
Several companies demonstrated software solutions for PDAs which allow health care practitioners to wirelessly access such information as drug information and formularies, diagnostic information, treatment options, and medical dictionaries.
Technology continues to meet the needs of the consumer, and helping consumers meet their health care needs is high on that agenda.
