SmartWear body sensors for neurological and neurosurgical patients: A review of current and future technologies

Abstract

Background/objective: Recent technological advances have allowed for the development of smart wearable devices (SmartWear) which can be used to monitor various aspects of patient healthcare. These devices provide clinicians with continuous biometric data collection for patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Although these devices have been widely used in fields such as cardiology and orthopedics, their use in the field of neurosurgery and neurology remains in its infancy.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search for the current and future applications of SmartWear devices in the above conditions was conducted, focusing on outpatient monitoring.

Findings: Through the integration of sensors which measure parameters such as physical activity, hemodynamic variables, and electrical conductivity - these devices have been applied to patient populations such as those at risk for stroke, suffering from epilepsy, with neurodegenerative disease, with spinal cord injury and/or recovering from neurosurgical procedures. Further, these devices are being tested in various clinical trials and there is a demonstrated interest in the development of new technologies.

Conclusion: This review provides an in-depth evaluation of the use of SmartWear in selected neurological diseases and neurosurgical applications. It is clear that these devices have demonstrated efficacy in a variety of neurological and neurosurgical applications, however challenges such as data privacy and management must be addressed.

Keywords: Body sensors; Continuous monitoring; Epilepsy; Neurodegenerative disease; Neurosurgical outcomes; Stroke; Wearable technology.

Fig. 1

Visual summary of SmartWear devices for neurological and neurosurgical applications. Image 1 is a device used for continuous Doppler monitoring of the Carotid artery. Image 2 is a wearable armband for the detection of atrial fibrillation, a risk factor for stroke. Image 3 is Brain Sentinel's sEMG device worn on the biceps muscle for seizure monitoring/detection. Image 4 is the Empatica 4 which can be worn on the wrist or ankle for seizure monitoring/detection. Image 5 is the Oura ring which has been proposed for sleep monitoring in Alzheimer's disease.^, Image 6 is a neuromodulation device inserted into the anus for bladder control in patients with spinal cord injury. Image 7 is the Microsoft Band, which was used to detect autonomic dysreflexia in patients with SCI. Image 8 is smart wristwatch which can detect response to medication in PD patients. Image 9 is the FitBit Charge which was used to measure activity levels in patients post lumbar spinal fusion.^, Image 10 is a smart shirt which can detect postural changes. All image modifications have been cited and adaptations are protected by the Creative Commons license.