WSU biomedical engineering students invent remote health monitoring system

A team of biomedical engineering students from Wichita State University has invented Mobile HealthLink, a remote health monitoring system that allows physicians to check on patients via a programmable smartwatch.

The team consists of Linh Vu, who graduated this spring, and seniors Brandon Bartlett and Travis Vo. Their product is sponsored by Via Christi HOPE.

With the remote system, which won third place in WSU's Shocker NewVenture Competition in May, a physician enters a set of questions into the Mobile HealthLink website customized for each patient and their ailment. The patient can quickly answer the questions by pressing a couple of buttons on their smartwatch. The physician is alerted to the responses and can see overall trends that might merit a follow-up appointment.

Vu says this remote system allows patients, especially the elderly, to limit unnecessary visits to the doctor but also stay in communication with their doctor. It also reduces costs for PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) organizations, which cater to the aging population.

"Patients with chronic illnesses often need to be constantly monitored regarding their health status," Vu says. "They benefit from the convenience of decreased frequent doctor visits and ultimately experience better health and increased quality of life."

Doctors also benefit by performing these preemptive health interventions, Vu says, receiving increased compliance from patients who may otherwise not make a trip to the doctor's office. That saves time and money on costly hospital visits and further health complications.

"Through our product, we hope to tear down the barrier between physicians and technology and enable physicians to practice medicine using technology," he says.

'Bigger than just a senior design project'

The team has finished a working prototype and are in the process of improving the online interface and mobile app. They are looking for investors and are beta testing their prototype at Via Christi HOPE and Advanced Orthopedic Associates.

Right now, the software works with all versions of Pebble smartwatches, but the concept can be transferred to other smartwatches on the market.

The team has received support from WSU's biomedical engineering department and is working closely with the Office of Research and Technology Transfer and the Kansas Small Business Development Center.

"It is still unbelievable that a project we started less than a year ago has developed into something that can really help people," Vu says. "We are very excited at the potential for our product to become something bigger than just a senior design project."