Patients with chronic illnesses may soon be able to monitor their vital signs, such as pulse, blood pressure and glucose levels, and send the information to their doctor from a cellphone, researchers announced yesterday.
A new handheld high-tech device, dubbed the Home Health Monitoring Solution, has been developed by technology giant LG Electronics in partnership with Capital Health in Edmonton and the University of Alberta.
The prototype of what officials described as a first of its kind uses new sensing technology to allow patients to send their physiological information wirelessly to their health-care provider.
Eventually, it may be configured to be built right into a cellphone just as photography and music capabilities are today.
Neil Wilkinson, chairman of the Capital Health Board, said the gadget could potentially be used by patients with diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions that require frequent checkups.
It could be particularly useful for seniors with limited mobility, patients who live in rural areas and those on new medications who require constant monitoring.
Company representatives of Seoul-based LG Electronics, best known as a maker of consumer products including appliances, computers, tele- visions and cellphones, first
visited Alberta two years
ago to assess the research strengths and clinical trial
capabilities of the university and Edmonton's health region as potential partners for the project.
Kwyro Lee, an executive vice-president of LG Electronics who travelled to Edmonton from South Korea to take part in yesterday's announcement, described the Alberta government as a "matchmaker" for initiating the partnership between researchers in the province and his company's engineers.
Dr. Lee, who is also head of LG's research institute, said he hopes to create a new medical device that will help patients not only in Alberta, but across the continent.
The first stage of tests in
the three-year project is set to begin next month. It will involve monitoring blood pressure, pulse and temperature. Down the road, glucose levels and other blood chemistry markers will be added as features.
Ethel Ruller, who at 72 suffers from heart and lung conditions, will be among the participants in Edmonton. Right now, she travels by bus to a community support clinic to have her vital signs checked twice a week.
"But not everybody has that luxury," she said.
The device may also mean that patients could be monitored more frequently to find out quickly why they are not feeling well, Ms. Ruller said.
Clinical trials are aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the technology, but also to determining any cost benefits to the health-care system.
The Alberta government said yesterday it will kick in $1.5-million to the $4-million project. The amount does not include the incalculable amount of in-kind costs provided by staff at the university and the health region, officials said.
Doug Horner, Alberta's Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, said the partnership represents significant advancement not only in patient care, but in the province's status on the world stage as a hub for research and development.
It may also be a boon to a province struggling to cope with explosive growth.
"I am also intrigued by the potential for improving care, yet relieving our health-care labour shortage," Mr. Horner said.
