What's New in Health Care Devices?

The Consumer Electronics Show is known more for it's computing and e

Jan 14, 2007

What kind of health care devices would you expect to find at the Consumer Electronics Show?

I recently attended the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV. Although health care devices were not the major focus of the show, there were many companies represented who were showcasing products whose focus is on fitness, wellness and health status. These companies featured such devices as pedometers, weight scales, body mass measurement instruments, TENS units and vital signs monitors.

While there wasn't really anything new to be seen in the basic function of these products, there were new designs and fashion to them including color, size, touch and feel. Many offered newly designed touchpad operations and some with computer interface options.

The products with the biggest draw to attendees were those which offered pain and stress relief to those weary from walking the miles of booths spread out over the Las Vegas Convention Center, several hotels and the Sands/Venetian Convention Center. Shuttle busses and taxis carried visitors to and from the various venues with long lines to board the vehicles. The event required long periods of standing and walking. Collecting literature from the various exhibitors required carrying bags or pulling wheeled totes along as well.

TENS units and the various massage chairs and foot massage devices drew many curious visitors looking for a moment of relief. One such chair was from the Body Care Resort, Inc. Their NEOX massage chair (Model TS-5000) offered the usual various forms of massage including kneading, rolling and tapping, but it also offers an inversion stretch therapy of the spine and legs. After a 10 minute demonstration, I was quite revitalized and very grateful for the opportunity to try the chair.

Combining eastern and western approaches to health care, traditional and alternative measures can offer important means of symptom control. For example, pain control can be achieved through a combination of traditional medicine including medications and surgical interventions as well as alternative measures including acupressure, electrical stimulation, massage and manipulation.

The copyright of the article What's New in Health Care Devices? in Health Field is owned by Kathy Quan . Permission to republish What's New in Health Care Devices? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.