At the 2021 Sensors Converge Conference and Expo in September, Fierce Electronics and Sensors Converge presented the finalists of the 2021 Best in Sensors Awards. These awards recognize the most innovative sensor products and companies across 13 different categories.
The award finalist in the Wearables category was TracPatch Health for its TracPatch Knee device and health system.
TracPatch Health was honored to receive the award. “Winning the Best in Sensors award for Wearables was viewed by our team as a symbol of just the beginning of many more remarkable things to come for TracPatch Health,” notes Curt Wiedenhoefer, President of TracPatch Health, “We are currently at a pivotal moment in the Remote Patient Monitoring industry with all cylinders firing so it was a welcomed validation that we are headed down the right path on this innovative journey.”
TracPatch Knee is a compact wearable device that allows physicians to remotely monitor patients’ recovery after a knee or joint replacement. By monitoring and analyzing a patient’s range of motion progress and ambulation, healthcare providers can make evidence-based decisions to adjust a recovery plan and present post-recovery issues in the future.
The device is made up of two pieces that can attach to a patient’s leg for over two weeks with medical-grade adhesive. Accelerometers and other sensors continuously gather data such as steps, range of motion, exercise activity, and temperature. The data is accessible to the patient’s healthcare provider, who can track recovery progress. Patients can also directly access their data using an app available for iPhones and Android devices.
One of the biggest issues in post-operative care today is getting patients to stick to their prescribed physical therapy (PT) schedule. Sometimes, it’s because patients’ insurance doesn’t cover the entire course of PT treatment. Other times, patients are too far from a PT facility or are in too much pain to get into a car. By using TracPatch Knee, patients can do PT sessions at home and at their convenience.
Leveraging years of experience in the medical device industry and years of feedback, TracPatch Health’s management team conceptualized TracPatch Knee to meet a dire need in the market — the need for a wearable device that could both provide accurate, quality data for health care providers and be comfortable enough for patients to wear throughout their recovery.
Wiedenhoefer explains that TracPatch Knee will continue to grow and improve in the future. “This includes expanding the application to capture additional knee functions and implementing new sensors in the device as needed. This data will allow us to continue to create algorithms that will provide insight and support for medical decision-making in the musculoskeletal health market that have never been seen before, including exploring AI opportunities.”
In the meantime, Wiedenhoefer has some sound advice for companies who want to create an award-winning product like TracPatch Knee. “Beyond creating a product that is integrated in terms of hardware/firmware, backend software, and user-friendly applications, be sure to understand the market requirements that your solution will meet and release your MVP (minimum viable product) into beta as soon as possible to obtain feedback. Along with this, support your solution with a dedicated, knowledgeable team that continually focuses on improving buyer and user experience.”
Sacramento, California-based TracPatch Health is focused on creating transformative wearable technology designed for real-time remote patient monitoring. It is a division of Consensus Orthopedics, Inc., which manufactures hip and knee implants.
For the complete list of finalists in the Best of Sensors 2021 Awards go to this website.