An integrated system for the early diagnosis of diseases using wearable monitoring

Prof. Hussam Haik of the Technion developed wearable computing with the aim of continuously monitoring physiological characteristics without interfering with the user. The system knows how to repair itself in the event of a tear or scratch and receives from the user the energy needed to activate it

Researchers at the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering at the Technion have developed a model for an innovative system for the continuous monitoring of a variety of physiological markers that identifies diseases in the early stages of their development. Such identification, which is expected to save a lot of suffering from the user and huge expenses on future medical treatment, will also provide extensive and detailed information for in-depth epidemiological studies. The system, which is presented as part of a review article published in the journal Advanced Materials, was presented Prof. Hussam Hayek and the Chinese post-doctoral student Dr. Weiwei Wu.

Wearable devices for medical monitoring are gaining momentum thanks to being a convenient and cheap platform for the continuous collection of medical information without the need for an invasive procedure. Such devices allow disease monitoring at an early stage, before their outbreak, and earlier and more effective treatment. Wearable monitoring can be embedded in shirts, jewelry, sweatbands, watches, shoes and glasses and allows the user to continue their daily routine without interruption. The use of wearable devices is expected to encourage people to be involved in their health and reduce their avoidance of medical examinations. According to Prof. Haik, "a normal state of health is characterized by well-known markers such as 60 to 100 heartbeats per minute and 7 to 8 breaths per minute. If we detect dramatic changes in the various markers in real time, we can refer the patient to a more comprehensive diagnosis and prevent the development of diseases or the aggravation."

The new system developed at the Technion is a wearable monitoring device that contains sensors and tools that process the data and transmit it to the qualified medical provider. The system incorporates a series of innovative elements that give it an unprecedented monitoring capability. First, it combines precise sensing and advanced analysis tools; Second, the energy needed for the device is extracted from the user's body (movements and body heat); Third, the device is made of advanced materials that repair themselves (self-healing) in case they are scratched or cut. The energy production and self-repair give the new device a long lifespan and prevent the need to shut down the system for repair or electrical charging. According to Prof. Haik, "the innovative system will greatly contribute not only to the continuous monitoring of physiological markers in the specific user, but also to the long-term collection of extensive information that may be used for in-depth epidemiological studies."

Although the various components of the system already exist, so far no integrative platform has been developed that combines them all. For this, a complex array of sensors is needed, a tiny and flexible circuit board for measuring the markers, and components that process the information and transfer it to the cloud. All these challenges are realized in the new system developed by Prof. Haik's research group.

Prof. Hussam Haik is a faculty member in the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering at the Technion and a member of the Russell Berry Nanotechnology Institute (RBNI). He became famous mainly thanks to the development of an innovative and non-invasive system for diagnosing drugs based on oral swabs. Prof. Haik heads the SNIFFPHONE consortium, in which this system is integrated into the cell phone so that the data will be uploaded to the cloud for analysis by qualified medical officials. In 2016, Prof. Haik published in the scientific journal ACS Nano an international study that examined the unique diagnostic technology he developed. 1,404 subjects from 5 countries participated in the study, and it verified the relevance of the aforementioned technology in the early diagnosis of 17 different diseases: lung cancer, bowel cancer, head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, stomach cancer, Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, Parkinson's (of two types), multiple sclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, Preeclampsia and chronic kidney disease. The system diagnosed these diseases with an average accuracy of 86%.

Dr. Weiwei Wu completed a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a doctorate in physics and materials chemistry at Lanzhou University in China. He conducted the current research as part of his post-doctorate under the guidance of Prof. Haik. He is currently a professor at the School of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology at Shidian University in China.

for the scientific article

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