Battery-free, wireless, and flexible electrochemical patch for in situ analysis of sweat cortisol via near field communication

Wearable and flexible biosensing devices have been widely developed for in situ detections. Cortisol is a vital biomarker which plays crucial regulatory role in numerous physiological processes of the human body. Here, a wireless, battery-free, and flexible integrated patch is developed for real-time on-body sweat cortisol detection. The patch integrated with all-printed flexible electrochemical immunosensor, which was used to detect cortisol through differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The near field communication (NFC) module on the patch enables wireless power harvesting and data interaction with an NFC-enabled smartphone, which makes the patch get rid of rigid batteries and realize epidermal on-body testing. Multiple in situ detections on volunteers' sweat on the surface of skin showed that the flexible integrated patch could reflect the circadian rhythm of the body's sweat cortisol level changes in relaxed mood or under stress, which could be confirmed with the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. In this way, the patch provides a rapid-detecting, convenient, and non-invasive sensing solution for in situ analysis of sweat cortisol, which can be applied for the personalized mental health management.

Automated personnel-assets-consumables-drug tracking in ambulance services for more effective and efficient medical emergency interventions

Patient delivery time is no longer considered as the only critical factor, in ambulatory services. Presently, five clinical performance indicators are used to decide patient satisfaction. Unfortunately, the emergency ambulance services in rapidly growing metropolitan areas do not meet current satisfaction expectations; because of human errors in the management of the objects onboard the ambulances. But, human involvement in the information management of emergency interventions can be reduced by electronic tracking of personnel, assets, consumables and drugs (PACD) carried in the ambulances. Electronic tracking needs the support of automation software, which should be integrated to the overall hospital information system. Our work presents a complete solution based on a centralized database supported by radio frequency identification (RFID) and bluetooth low energy (BLE) identification and tracking technologies. Each object in an ambulance is identified and tracked by the best suited technology. The automated identification and tracking reduces manual paper documentation and frees the personnel to better focus on medical activities. The presence and amounts of the PACD are automatically monitored, warning about their depletion, non-presence or maintenance dates. The computerized two way hospital-ambulance communication link provides information sharing and instantaneous feedback for better and faster diagnosis decisions. A fully implemented system is presented, with detailed hardware and software descriptions. The benefits and the clinical outcomes of the proposed system are discussed, which lead to improved personnel efficiency and more effective interventions.

Near field communications technology and the potential to reduce medication errors through multidisciplinary application

BACKGROUND

Patient safety requires optimal management of medications. Electronic systems are encouraged to reduce medication errors. Near field communications (NFC) is an emerging technology that may be used to develop novel medication management systems.

METHODS

An NFC-based system was designed to facilitate prescribing, administration and review of medications commonly used on surgical wards. Final year medical, nursing, and pharmacy students were recruited to test the electronic system in a cross-over observational setting on a simulated ward. Medication errors were compared against errors recorded using a paper-based system.

RESULTS

A significant difference in the commission of medication errors was seen when NFC and paper-based medication systems were compared. Paper use resulted in a mean of 4.09 errors per prescribing round while NFC prescribing resulted in a mean of 0.22 errors per simulated prescribing round (P=0.000). Likewise, medication administration errors were reduced from a mean of 2.30 per drug round with a Paper system to a mean of 0.80 errors per round using NFC (P<0.015). A mean satisfaction score of 2.30 was reported by users, (rated on seven-point scale with 1 denoting total satisfaction with system use and 7 denoting total dissatisfaction).

CONCLUSIONS

An NFC based medication system may be used to effectively reduce medication errors in a simulated ward environment.