A biomedical device originally developed to monitor the health of astronauts in space is now available to help doctors remotely monitor their patients. The device vMetrics developed under NASA-sponsored research and sold by FlexLife Health Inc., http://flexlifehealthl.com is a lightweight, compact, and wireless device to monitor patients in the home.
NASA’s Glenn Research Center www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/home/#VHMWvF9ws became interested in doing research on a remote patient monitoring device when scientists found that they had a need for a small truly ambulatory flexible medical monitoring device to use onboard space vehicles.
FlexLife Health established in 2008, a spinoff company jointly owned by ZIN Technologies Inc. www.zin-tech.com and the Cleveland Clinic http://My.clevelandclinic.org/default.aspx, has worked to develop, commercialize, and market vMetrics. Both ZIN Technologies and the Cleveland Clinic have collaborated with NASA.
Before the development of vMetrics, existing devices were able to monitor only one parameter at a time. However, 40 percent of patients who need monitoring have multiple symptoms or complications. vMetrics is unique as it can simultaneously monitor a patient’s entire spectrum of symptoms and conditions.
The easy-to-use two-way system also allows patients to communicate with healthcare providers outside of a clinical or hospital setting. The wearable device can measure heart rate, blood pressure, glucose, temperature, oxygen saturation, and more.
vMetrics is also used to monitor patients in real-time during pre-and post-surgery and during clinical trials. The technology helps patients stay more connected to providers and reduces the frequency and duration of hospital stays.
Studies show that the device lowers chronic disease costs by reducing rehospitalizations for heart failure by 72 percent and for all cardiac issues by 63 percent. The system is able to monitor patients across a broad range of chronic diseases to include congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, COPD, stroke, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, sleep apnea, and more.
The technology has completed several successful clinical trials in the U.S and Europe. vMetrics is now commercially available from FlexLife Health for home monitoring of chronic cardiovascular disease.
Go to https://technology.grc.nasa.gov/ss-vMetrics.shtm, fmindermann@flexlifehealth.com, or call 216-444-231.