Wearability of Biosensors in Children: Study by the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center

Led by Animesh (Ashoo) Tandon, MD, MS and JC Chiao, PHD (Southern Methodist University)

Study specifics:  There is an increase in both clinical and consumer use of wearable biosensors.  Many of these technologies are focused on adults, which means there are few devices designed specifically for children and how these devices should be designed is unclear.

The goal of this project is to determine how to define the concept of wearability in children – allowing for improved device design as well as improved usability for patients and families.  The plan is to call this the Pediatric Wearable Assessment Tool.   Wearability is the concept describing the characteristics of an effective wearable biosensor, spanning sensor accuracy, comfort, battery life, aesthetics, form factor, method of attachment and more. 1,2

Summary:   The goal of this project is to use these newly-developed technologies to find better ways to monitor patients both in the hospital and at-home.  The long-term goal is to predict and prevent adverse events in both settings as well.   Developing a more effective “early-warning” system to alert us when babies aren’t doing well could change the outcome for families.   

1. Tandon A and de Ferranti SD. Wearable Biosensors in Pediatric Cardiovascular Disease.

Circulation. 2019;140:350-352. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31356135.

2. Lin WY, Ke HL, Chou WC, Chang PC, Tsai TH and Lee MY. Realization and Technology

Acceptance Test of a Wearable Cardiac Health Monitoring and Early Warning System with Multi-

Channel MCGs and ECG. Sensors (Basel). 2018;18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30347695.