"New-Fashioned" heart monitors

monitors are developed by a team of environmental engineers, from the Northwestern University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They described in the journal Nature communications,  "a medical device that combines colour-changing temperature indicators (the crystals) with "wireless stretchable electronics". The patches are for people with heart problems and they are recently developed but not introduced nor launched.

The crystal-infused patch picks up subtle changes in temperature to indicate blood flow rate. Credit: Shutterstock

What does it do and how does it work? The crystals of the patches measure the blood flow and change of colour when they are impacted by temperature. Beside that, the tiny crystals are liquid and placeable on a stretchy and soft surface. So it's possible to wear them, like clothes. The crystals have a warning function and the wireless electronics transmit data. For now you need a combination of the electronic information with data from a digital camera to make this info understandable.
Why  does it work like that? What makes it new? The combination of the crystals with the wireless electronics is really genius, because the crystals have a warning function and the electronics an informational. Both will make it possible to warn and monitor heart patiënts full time. This is really modern, because usually doctors have to use heavy devices with big screens and lasers to monitor a patiënt. These patches are wireless and react directly. You don't even have to visit a hospital to know the state of your heart.
What makes it innovative? It's a pleasure to me I can call these patches "new-fashioned". Not only because the way they work - warning and informational- but also by the fact they will be wearable.
What is its future growth potential? For now I only have positive thoughts of the future potential of those patches. At first we need them because they can safe your life in time. Two, as a heart patiënt you not have only checks in a hospital but also in your daily life and three the patches are challenging "fabrics" for the fashion industry.
How does it improve quality of life? May be the question is, "how does it not improve quality of life?". It can be a life saver, because you can check the state of your heart any where, any time. This will bring less stress for heart patiënts, because a heartattack or disease will be noticed much earlier when this is not only possible at places with heavy devices.
Why is it cool? After all this devolopment is mind blowing, because it's not only wearable but it also transmits (very important) information! Who ever thought clothes will may be the biggest live safer of heart patiënts? Well I don't.

For more information, visit the used source:
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-09/25/skin-patch-diagnoses-health/viewgallery/338799
visited 26-9-2014