US researchers invent a health environment tracker (HET) that alerts asthma

Although many asthma patients have avoided allergies or away from allergens as much as possible, sometimes it is still impossible to avoid asthma attacks. To address this situation, researchers at North Carolina State University have created a wearable early warning system, the Health Environment Tracker (HET). The system includes wristbands and chest straps, as well as techniques to monitor the patient's body and the surrounding environment. This system can quickly issue a warning when a patient may have an asthma attack.

This sticky sticker tracks the wearer's movements, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels, and asthmatic sounds from the lungs. The matching wristband not only detects these indices, but also tracks environmental factors such as volatile organic compounds, ozone, temperature and humidity in the air.

The data recorded by these two devices can be combined with the readings on the non-wearing spirometer, wirelessly transmitted to the smartphone, and analyzed by a companion application. If the app detects that asthma may recur, it will promptly warn the patient so they can take immediate action.

Research team member Veena Misra said that the study is not just a simple fusion of sensors, the impact of which has greatly reduced sensor power consumption by enabling new nanosensor technology.

The research was published in the IEEE journal Biomedical and Health Information.