With this expression in English, objectively more captivating than the Italian translation “Internet of Things”, we refer to all those devices (indicated generically as “things”) that can be connected to the Internet and that, being equipped with particular sensorsthey are able to send and receive data.
The IoT is now a consolidated reality in many areas, although in some of them it undoubtedly has a more significant weight than in others. For example, in the industrial sector, IoT is fundamental for greater efficiency of production processes, for reducing waste and downtime and for reducing operating costs. The IoT is also growing rapidly in the agriculture and transport and logistics sectors, but an area in which the importance of the IoT has grown exponentially in recent years is medicine.
In this regard we speak more precisely of IoMT, that is Internet of Medical Thingsan expression whose Italian translation (Internet of Medical Things) perhaps does not capture its essence and importance.
Considering theimpact of the Internet of Things on medicineit may be interesting to briefly analyze its usefulness in the diagnostics and management of chronic diseases.
The impact of IoMT on diagnostics
One of the medical fields in which the Internet of Medical Things has a considerable impact is the diagnostics. In fact, there are IoMT devices that can be connected to the main imaging systems (for example the machines for carrying out ultrasound scans, CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging), allowing rapid and at the same time more precise analyses.
Another example is represented by smart pills (smart pills) for gastrointestinal monitoring, which by traveling through the patient’s gastrointestinal tract can transmit data wirelessly providing information that can be exploited for diagnostic purposes.
Increasingly used are smart polysomnography machinesexploited in the diagnosis and monitoring of OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome), obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
Remote patient monitoring
One of the aspects perhaps best known to the general public regarding the Internet of Medical Things is the remote patient monitoring.
In this case, various types of devices are used, including smartwatches, wearable sensors, wearable ECGs (wearable electrocardiographs), connected digital sphygmomanometers (which send blood pressure data), the aforementioned smart polysomngraphs and smart glucometers (which measure blood sugar and can send real-time alerts in the event of hypo- or hyperglycemia).
All these tools allow you to verify numerous medical parameters remotelyoutside of healthcare facilities (hospitals, emergency rooms, medical clinics, etc.).
Remote monitoring is increasingly used for the management of numerous chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) etc.
In this case, the IoMT has a dual function: first, it often allows you to detect earlyand sometimes prevent, the onset of a critical event and, secondly, of reduce access not needed in the emergency room, significantly lightening the load on healthcare facilities.
