Strategies for bringing wearable biosensor devices to the medical market

In order to meet the increasing demand for wearable biosensor devices for medical applications, it’s important to understand that commercializing a device for the medical market is much more complex and varies greatly from commercializing consumer wearables. This presentation will highlight advancements in electronics technology and manufacturing approaches that are needed to bring more devices to market in a cost- and time-efficient process, and scale volume of production to meet consumer and clinician needs.

The topic is important to established OEMs, startups and their investors, and consumer wearable companies looking to bring their products to the medical market. It also provides valuable information for contracted partners involved in product development and sourcing of the variety of materials needed for medical-grade wearable biosensor devices.

The presentation will address important commercialization issues and solutions when bringing a wearable med device to market, including:

• Design for manufacturing (DFM) best practices, highlighting material selection options (pros and cons) and design decisions that won’t compromise functionality, such as best ways to encapsulate antennas, magnetics, and other components
• The latest advancements in polymer science, rigid and flexible circuit board options, circuits and components, and power management, including rechargeability and durability of Bluetooth low energy and battery powered devices
• Data transfer technology
• System On Modules (SOM)

Solutions will be presented using case studies -- from development and manufacturing examples of one of the first wearable biosensors (hearing aids), to today’s continuous glucose monitors and implantable MEMS-based pressure sensors.

The presentation will conclude with suggestions for industry involvement and support for making biosensors clinically relevant; one such example is a strategy for ensuring that wearable biosensors generate relevant, credible, and integrated data which is useful and manageable for clinicians.