Simply monitoring cough and wheezing in asthma sufferers does not always provide an accurate assessment of the severity of their symptoms.
Currently, the application of spirometers, commonly used to measure lung capacity and the response of breathing during therapy, is limited in the developing world and in remote regions because of the high cost of the instrument and a lack of specialist health care workers trained in its use.
Recently scientists have developed an inexpensive web-enabled device that can enable doctors to remotely measure lung function in patients with asthma and other disorders, and to quickly instigate medical attention in an emergency. The system is an easy to operate spirometer that can be quickly hooked up to an internet connection through built-in web and data encryption software.
The new portable spirometer developed comprises of a pressure sensor for detecting airflow. The spirometer using MEMS technology can measures the flow and volume of air moving in and out of the patient''s lungs.
The use of mass production techniques for making the MEMS technlogy based sensor, means the device can be inexpensive, small, and thus portable. Embedded electronics and software to allow it to connect to a computer and the Web make it ideal for remote monitoring by a patient's health care worker. "Not only can the remotely located patient consult a specialist," the researchers say, "the specialist too can instruct the patient for specific test procedures and treatment.
Currently, the application of spirometers, commonly used to measure lung capacity and the response of breathing during therapy, is limited in the developing world and in remote regions because of the high cost of the instrument and a lack of specialist health care workers trained in its use.
Recently scientists have developed an inexpensive web-enabled device that can enable doctors to remotely measure lung function in patients with asthma and other disorders, and to quickly instigate medical attention in an emergency. The system is an easy to operate spirometer that can be quickly hooked up to an internet connection through built-in web and data encryption software.
The new portable spirometer developed comprises of a pressure sensor for detecting airflow. The spirometer using MEMS technology can measures the flow and volume of air moving in and out of the patient''s lungs.
The use of mass production techniques for making the MEMS technlogy based sensor, means the device can be inexpensive, small, and thus portable. Embedded electronics and software to allow it to connect to a computer and the Web make it ideal for remote monitoring by a patient's health care worker. "Not only can the remotely located patient consult a specialist," the researchers say, "the specialist too can instruct the patient for specific test procedures and treatment.
2 comments:
dear ravi..
i would like to tell you some good facts
mems is commercial concept and in fact many devices like mems accelerometer, pressure sensor, micromirror are commercially available. so mems is a concept that has been implemented and used.
whereas nano is growing. its now available commercially. but not as mems, just because of the fact that its growing and new concept whereas mems is around 15-20 years old.
Good to know that MEMS is technology is also helpful to "Asthamatic patients" , i have also heard that MEMS is also being used or will be used somewhere in 3G Multimode Mobile Handsets. Is it correct ?
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