The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) into healthcare is revolutionizing patient care, medical research, and health management. As technology advances, healthcare providers and device manufacturers are increasingly leveraging connected systems to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance the overall patient experience. From remote monitoring to smart sleep solutions and medication management, IoT’s role in medicine continues to expand, offering promising prospects for the future of health services worldwide.
IoT in Healthcare
IoT applications in healthcare encompass a wide array of devices and services designed to connect patients, providers, and health data seamlessly. These innovations include medical wearables, public health monitoring tools, sleep technology, medication adherence systems, and remote diagnostic solutions. Companies across the globe are pioneering ways to embed IoT into everyday healthcare routines, transforming traditional practices into smarter, data-driven processes that support better health outcomes.
IoT Medical Devices
Location: Chelmsford, Massachusetts
ZOLL offers an array of wearable and portable devices aimed at supporting patients’ health on the move. Their cardiac monitors continuously track heart rhythms and record arrhythmic events, providing critical data in real-time. These devices facilitate automatic alerts to healthcare providers during cardiac events, ensuring timely intervention and ongoing patient monitoring without the need for frequent clinic visits.
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Elemental Machines develops a cloud-based platform combining hardware and software to optimize laboratory operations in research and diagnostic settings. The LabOps Intelligence Platform captures vital data such as temperature, humidity, and equipment performance, offering insights necessary for maintaining rigorous standards in clinical environments. The system’s ability to integrate various data sources enhances operational efficiency and data accuracy.
Location: Mountain View, California
AliveCor specializes in portable heart monitoring devices, including the KardiaMobile, which is conveniently small enough to fit inside a wallet. Cleared by the FDA, this device records electrocardiograms (EKGs) and generates summaries that patients can easily share with their healthcare providers. Its ability to detect six common arrhythmias makes it a valuable tool for early diagnosis and ongoing cardiac care.
IoT in Public Health
Location: San Francisco, California
Collaborating with Google, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the University of Texas at Austin, Aclima operates its Mobile Sensing Platform to analyze urban air quality. Monitoring air pollutants linked to transportation emissions and weather patterns helps health officials identify and prevent disease outbreaks. Accurate environmental data is crucial for combating respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, emphasizing the importance of IoT in preventive health strategies. For more insights, you can explore this guide on health-related environmental regulations.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Nexleaf’s technologies are designed to improve health infrastructure in developing countries. Its ColdTrace system enables remote temperature monitoring of vaccine refrigerators, ensuring cold chain integrity crucial for vaccine efficacy. Similarly, StoveTrace provides real-time data on cookstove usage, encouraging safer and more sustainable cooking practices that reduce carbon emissions. These solutions exemplify how IoT can enhance public health efforts in resource-limited settings. Discover more about effective health management techniques here.
Location: New York, New York
Pfizer has integrated IoT into its vaccine research and distribution processes. Collaborating with IBM, Pfizer utilizes sensors and digital technology to monitor the cold chain for COVID-19 vaccines, guaranteeing proper storage temperatures during transit. This application of IoT ensures vaccine safety and efficacy on a global scale, demonstrating the technology’s critical role in managing large-scale immunization programs.
Location: Springfield, Massachusetts
SystemOne specializes in transmitting diagnostic data from infectious disease tests directly to healthcare providers. Their systems have facilitated over 10 million results for diseases such as TB, Ebola, and HIV worldwide. By providing real-time data exchange, IoT devices help public health officials respond swiftly to outbreaks, ensuring timely treatment and containment.
IoT for Smart Sleep
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
WHOOP produces wearable devices that track biometric data continuously, offering insights into sleep quality, respiratory rates, and daily activity. These devices, worn on the wrist, provide comprehensive sleep analysis, including sleep stages and optimal bedtimes, helping users improve their rest and overall health through data-driven recommendations.
Location: New York, New York
Eight combines a comfortable mattress with a smart sleep app that analyzes environmental factors like temperature, light, and sound to optimize sleep conditions. The system can sync with smart home devices such as lighting and locks, creating a personalized sleep environment. Optional mattress covers enhance the system’s accuracy, measuring metrics like heart rate, HRV, and respiratory rate to foster better sleep hygiene.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Happiest Baby’s SNOO bassinet is equipped with features designed to promote longer, safer sleep for infants. Its gentle rocking, white noise, and cry-responsive adjustments are controlled via a dedicated app, which also provides sleep logs, alerts, and customizable settings based on the baby’s age and needs. This IoT-enabled solution aims to reduce sleep disturbances for both infants and parents.
IoT for Medication Refills
Location: New York, New York
Patients prescribed specialty medications often receive an AdhereTech smart pill bottle that functions like a standard container but includes reminders for missed doses through texts or calls. The device supports personalized medication management, improving adherence. According to industry reports, AdhereTech’s system has increased fill rates and adherence by 15%, leading to better health outcomes and more efficient medication usage.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Aeris offers a platform connecting medical device companies and healthcare providers to monitor patient compliance remotely. Sensors track medication intake and other health parameters, enabling at-home care and reducing hospital visits. This real-time data supports more frequent assessments, timely interventions, and improved insurance reimbursement processes.
Location: Rockville, Maryland
Otsuka’s Abilify MyCite is an innovative digital medication that combines an aripiprazole tablet with an ingestible sensor. Once ingested, data is transmitted to a wearable patch and then to a mobile app, allowing patients and providers to track medication adherence, activity levels, and mood. This technology enhances mental health treatment by providing real-time compliance data and fostering better communication with healthcare teams.
IoT in Monitoring
Location: Woodbridge, New Jersey
Miku’s smart baby monitor tracks a child’s sleep patterns, breathing, temperature, humidity, and environmental sounds. Its contact-free design ensures safety and privacy, while encrypted data processing offers health insights and personalized recommendations, supporting parents in caring for their infants more effectively.
Location: Fully Remote
Philips’ Capsule Medical Device Information Platform connects various hospital medical devices to electronic medical records (EMRs) seamlessly. The vendor-neutral system allows for efficient vital sign monitoring and clinical surveillance, enabling healthcare providers to respond promptly to high-risk situations and improve patient outcomes.
Location: Waltham, Massachusetts
Stanley’s AeroScout Link is a cloud-based environmental monitoring system that tracks temperature and humidity within healthcare facilities. Maintaining optimal conditions for sensitive medical equipment and medicines reduces waste and enhances patient safety. Its successful deployment at Buffalo Surgery Center demonstrated energy savings and improved environmental control within just one week.
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Honeywell’s Genesis Touch creates a connected environment enabling remote monitoring of patients’ vital signs. The platform supports video visits, integrates with biometric devices like oximeters and blood pressure monitors, and provides real-time data to care teams. This interconnected approach streamlines patient management and promotes continuous care outside traditional settings.