As the military searches for new ways to monitor soldiers’ vital signs, one option is a tiny wireless patch that sticks to your neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Wireless Sensor Integrated Conformal System, or “smart patch,” is likened to a “super” FitBit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Physical Optics Corporation, the patch is more accurate than commercial devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The patch is placed on one of the carotid arteries in the neck, where it can remain all day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The device monitors and collects such data as heart rate, breathing and skin and core body temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s a much less invasive way to collect body temperature,” said Frank Willis, vice president of advanced technology at POC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has built-in Bluetooth that allows a soldier to send his or her vitals to a mobile device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Willis said the patch can be used during a training exercise so the team leader can keep an eye on his or her troops. If the leader sees that a soldier is reaching his or her physical threshold during training, then the soldier can be removed before injury occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a combat situation, a medic can use the data provided by the patch to determine which service member needs the most immediate care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a post-op scenario, Willis said, a medic can monitor multiple soldiers at once by receiving data from the patches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to POC, thresholds can be set on a handheld device to alert the medic if a patient’s health is deteriorating quickly.
The device allows more precise medical treatment and injury prevention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":83530,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":78,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[78,29],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3032],"class_list":["post-42467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ausa-digital-show-dailies","category-digital-show-dailies"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"QCU2EE6L4BCO5P4RTVRDOAROWQ","arc_canonical_url":"\/digital-show-dailies\/ausa\/2016\/10\/03\/tiny-patch-sends-soldier-s-vitals-to-smartphone\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n