MEMS and the Future of Medical and Nursing Care

Devices Enabling Medical DX

In the medical industry, as mentioned earlier, preventive medicine is also important. To prevent epidemics among patients and support their health more effectively and efficiently, rapid data collection, study, and analysis are required. And, in order to implement medical DX, and various technological reforms are underway.

For example, a stethoscope can now record and play back heartbeats and other sounds that previously could only be heard by a physician, thanks to the advent of digital stethoscopes equipped with MEMS microphones. The ability to record audio information that could not be recorded in the past has made it possible to display the results on a PC monitor or other device, thereby improving the accuracy of diagnosis and facilitating the sharing of information.

Medical Equipment Supporting Decentralized Medicine

Conventional testing equipment is large and extremely expensive, limiting the number of medical institutions that can provide it. However, the use of MEMS has made it possible to downsize and mass-produce these devices, making them accessible to small clinics and hospitals.

For example, a spirometer used to test lung function was a large device that could only be used with the assistance of a nurse. Now, however, with the advent of small spirometers that utilize MEMS technology, it is possible to perform tests at home. The acquired data can be linked to the attending physician over the Internet, leading to early detection of diseases. In this way, tests and medical examinations that were previously available only at certain medical institutions are becoming more accessible through decentralized medicine.

Another example is insulin pump therapy, which was developed as a treatment for diabetes and uses a portable medical pump instead of conventional insulin injections. The pump is controlled by a variety of MEMS sensors, and patients only need to stick a needle connected to the pump once every few days to receive a steady dose of insulin. This not only reduces the burden on the individual, but also lowers the risk of forgotten injections and sudden drops in blood sugar levels. In this way, decentralized medicine is helping to improve the quality of life (QOL) for everyone.

The use of decentralized medicine is also expected to play a key role in rural and remote areas where there are no specialist physicians, and the development of testing equipment with AI-based analysis functions is underway. The widespread use of medical devices is essential to make such treatments and examinations possible, and MEMS is playing a major role in the development of decentralized medicine as a technology for enabling miniaturization and mass production.

Advanced Sensing for Reducing Work Burden

In the nursing care industry, to reduce the work burden on nursing care staff, advanced sensing technology is being used for monitoring patients, and sensor systems that detect abnormalities in a patient’s body are being utilized.

For example, pressure sensors can be attached to beds to analyze a patient’s heart rate and respiration, or ultrasonic sensors can be attached to patients to measure the shape of their bladder. These sensors can be used to reduce the work burden and improve the efficiency of nursing care staff in monitoring and making rounds for checking on patients, thereby helping to alleviate the labor shortage.

In addition to reducing the work burden on nursing care staff, these sensors must also be comfortable for patients. The use of MEMS technology in the development of nursing care equipment will become increasingly important for easing the restrictions on the patient’s actions and body.