Wearables for healthcare - Physiological parameters, technologies, challenges

Wearables, or wearable connected devices, refer to solutions based on miniaturized sensors integrated on or around the human body, which can be connected to a remote service for the collection of measured data. Based on essentially mechanical, electrical, optical or biochemical principles, these sensors can measure physiological parameters, in particular vital signs, including physical, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological or biochemical parameters. They are available in more or less invasive forms, from implants to wearable devices in the form of clothing or accessories.

As part of the Internet of Things (IoT), wearables are now ubiquitous, with a wide range of applications. New products are constantly being developed in response to medical, recreational and sporting needs. This evolution is also associated with technological advances in both hardware and data management (storage, processing, Big Data, etc.).

This article is divided into two parts. The first describes the main physiological parameters that can be measured: physical parameters including temperature and movement, cardiovascular parameters (heart rate and variability, pulse wave, blood pressure), respiratory parameters (breathing rate and blood oxygen saturation) and biochemical parameters (glucose, pH, lactate). The main associated sensor technologies are also presented. A second section looks at the challenges and issues involved in developing a wearable connected device in a rapidly evolving technological environment (architecture, wireless communication, power solution, integration, ethical and regulatory aspects).