2.2 The generic paradigm for connecting wearables

M. Alam and Ben Hamida [6] propose a generic paradigm, which can serve as a platform for many existing and future applications, such as healthcare, disaster recovery, people safety and more. The key advantage is its wearable Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) capabilities, enabling remote and ad hoc deployment of networks. Envisioned applications in this context, range from the popular medical field, continue with entertainment, lifestyle, gaming and ambient intelligence. Applications, such as disaster recovery, rescue, safety, wearable technology can also play a role to protect critical and valuable assets. The network is designed in such a way that the coordinating device communicates with implanted and on-body

Figure 1. The generic paradigm.

sensors, transmits the collected information to a remote monitoring station. Figure 1 depicts the advantages of wearable communications to enhance the readiness and alertness of the wearers, devices and vehicles to act as an integrated unit, regardless of their physical location and distance from the occurrence. Enhancing this composition, we may implant cameras in the wearables and provide real-time information to all who involved in a given situation. We may assume that this architecture is the right architecture and infrastructure for any wearable-based functions.

is a complete and precise report about the patient's medical history, which can be shared with other specialists. Optimum decisions: the doctor can analyze the data to make better clinical decisions, to enhance the patient's quality of life. Saving healthcare cost: remote healthcare using wearable devices means saving time and

Wearable Devices and their Implementation in Various Domains

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86066

Recent emergence of new materials accelerates the development of non-invasive

Several researchers proposed wearable-based solutions for specific diseases [11],

1. Sleep apnea: interruptions or a decrease in breathing for few seconds up to a minute. The treatment types depend on the severity of the case and ranges from weight loss to surgical operations. DT is a wearable oral device for following the prescribed therapy for sleep apnea. It measures the

temperature, movement and head position of patients by determining the

2. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a common lung disease that leads to shortness of breath. An ear wearable monitors the physical activities that allow patients to continuously evaluate their condition at home. It reduces

enough insulin, and the control of blood glucose levels is essential for diabetic patients. A wearable artificial pancreas for monitoring glucose level. It is composed of a flexible core system as a brain and three wedges for insulin delivery, glucose sensing and glucagon delivery. Another wearable to measure blood sugar levels in diabetics is the smart contact lens that

4. Cardiovascular diseases: it is related to the heart, veins, venous thrombosis, heart failure and cardiac dysrhythmia. Various wearable sensors exist for providing real-time heart rate measurements, such as the wireless blood pressure wrist monitor, which monitors blood pressure in connection with a smartphone. It was shown that the accuracy of the measurements was

5. The Vega GPS bracelet is a wearable sensor for ensuring the safety of people by monitoring their location with the use of GPS and global system for mobile

physiological signals in epileptic people in real time to alert family members.

communications positioning. Embrace is a wristband for monitoring

in good agreement with the reference clinical measurements.

3. Diabetes mellitus. A chronic disease whereby the body cannot produce

skin-based wearable devices [10], which are expected to be compatible with human skin: flexible, stretchable and less irritating, and comply with: sensitivity to changes in body temperature, changes in the body and an adequate detection limit. Following are several examples of skin-based devices in healthcare applications: predicting a sudden attack and providing the means to cope with it; detecting genetic cancer syndromes or rapid changes in heart-beat rate; early evidence of vascular events; detecting abnormal respiration rate; monitoring body temperature and biosensing clothing. Wearable strain sensors are used for detecting and monitoring of movement-based signals, such as heart-beat rate and respiration rate. It

is lightweight, reliable, flexible, stretchable and aligned with the diverse

to assist in curing or relieving the symptoms of a list of diseases as follows:

spatial orientation of the device in the mouth.

Google/Verily Life Sciences owns.

healthcare costs for patients that can be treated at home.

mobility.

healthcare applications.

3.2 Diseases

117
