Researchers at MIT have reported that they are testing out a new digestible sensor that will lodge itself in the GI tract of the patient and help doctors monitor vital stats such as heart rate and breathing patterns. There is also a belief that this sensor can help detect breathing anomalies and other complications before they can become more complicated. This update was provided by Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor in the mechanical engineering department at MIT, who also added that there is work being done creating a series of sensors that will aid in sleep analysis among other applications.
When it comes to sleep study, the patient is conventionally hooked on to a number of sensors across the body, including the scalp, temples, chest and lungs with wires. All of this makes it rather awkward for the patient to sleep and as a result, the studies do not produce the most reliable results. With the ingestible sensor, all of this wiring will be eliminated, allowing the patient to enjoy proper sleep, while the sensor does the rest.
