Telemedicine has entered the health sector for a few years. The health crisis caused by the Covid-19 epidemic has only given it momentum. The solutions offered have thus multiplied, seeking to meet the needs of patients and healthcare professionals. This development should continue in the coming years.
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The use of teleconsultation has become common in the medical world, especially since 2020 with the Covid-19 pandemic. The epidemic has indeed shown the interest of remote assistance. The solutions proposed to put it into practice are varied. These range from software that tracks mental pathologies to technology that detects motor disorders. Digital technology offers many development prospects for medicine. Professionals predict him a dazzling success in the years to come. In this sense, digitized solutions should be an integral part of care pathways. It remains to be seen how they benefit both patients and medical experts.
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Virtual reality at the service of rehabilitation patients
The figures communicated by the Snitem (National union of the medical technology industry) bear witness to the development of the digital health. In 2021, startups would have represented around 31% of new players offering medical devices. Nearly 42% of structures operating in the sector are also working on a digital or connected solution.
For William Rolland, digital health manager at Snitem, these devices facilitate communication and data exchange. However, it is necessary to determine their real interests, according to him. Whether from the patient’s point of view, in relation to their clinical effectiveness or in terms of organization.
The available solutions are multiple and relate to various fields. The startup H’ability, for example, uses virtual reality technologies to help patients in the rehabilitation phase.. It is intended for people whose arms are affected by motor or cognitive disorders. It can be as a result of a head injury or a stroke. A virtual reality headset is made available to them, connected to a feature that tracks hand activity. With this equipment, rehabilitation can be done at home or in a medical facility.
Given its development, teleconsultation is gradually being added to the list of services reimbursed by the family mutual. The idea is to provide care for a defined list of chronic diseases.
Headphones to perform an electroencephalogram
As William Rolland of Snitem points out, the connected medicine opens the door to many possibilities. FollowKnewa knee prosthesis developed by a collective of researchers and industrialists, is another example of its application.
This device was designed to follow the patient after an operation. He is able to collect useful information for medical staff, concerning infections, wear or loosening. The information collected will be communicated to all the professionals concerned: researchers, doctors or physiotherapists. They can prevent the patient from going through a new operation and allow to personalize the treatment offered. The prosthesis will be custom designed and developed by 3D printing.
The NaoX startup has developed headphones equipped with an electrocephalogram device. Using built-in sensors, they allow collect information regarding the electrical activity of the brain. These headphones have a double advantage. As the company manager reminds us, most of the solutions put on the market take the form of a headband. They can be the source of stigmatizing behavior for patients. Equipment offered by NaoX use like regular headphones. baptized N budsthey can also follow brain activity over a longer period of time and continuously. They thus increase the chances of detecting a crisis.
The neurologist can rely on the data collected to prescribe the treatment, he previously had to refer to the patient’s statements. The startup is currently working on epilepsy and hopes to obtain CE certification in 2023. FDA approval in the United States, on the other hand, is expected by the end of 2022.
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