Latest news with #healthTech
The Verge
09-07-2025
- The Verge
The best fitness tracker and smartwatch Prime Day deals
Amazon Prime Day is in full swing, and we've been particularly struck by the deep discounts on smartwatches and fitness trackers. The Apple Watch Series 10 and Amazfit Active 2, two of the best smartwatches we've tested, are down to their lowest prices ever at Amazon. We don't expect to see their prices this low until Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but here we are. These gadgets can help make the journey into becoming healthier a little easier by tracking your sleep, step count, heart rate, and exercise info instead of you trying to track it manually. They also allow you to check notifications from your wrist to avoid having to pick up your smartphone as often throughout the day. If you've been curious about giving wearables a try, you'll find the best deals from Amazon and other retailers below. There's no time like the present to get started on your fitness journey. The Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger, wide-angle OLED display with up to 30 percent more screen area. It's thinner and lighter than its predecessors, yet it charges faster and features the same fitness and wellness features. Read our review. The Amazfit Active 2 delivers outsized value for the price. It looks spiffy and has a wide array of health tracking features, plus built-in GPS and AI chatbots to provide extra context to your data. Read our review. Google's new Pixel Watch 3 is bigger and brighter than its predecessor. It also features more advanced running capabilities, offline Google Maps functionality, and deeper integration with other Google devices. Read our review. The Oura Ring 4 is slimmer and more accurate than its predecessor, while adding new AI-powered tools and longer battery life. Read our review. The Fitbit Charge 6 features a haptic side button, an improved heart rate algorithm, turn-by-turn navigation with Google Maps, and the ability to broadcast your heart rate on certain Bluetooth gym equipment. Read our review. The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a minimalist fitness band that delivers notifications and tracks your activity on a bright OLED screen. It lacks built-in GPS, contactless payments, and digital assistants, but offers a range of other excellent health and fitness tracking features. Read our impressions. The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is a great replacement for a Fitbit smartwatch. Not only do they look similar, but the Venu Sq 2 has way more fitness features, long battery life, and no subscription. Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox weekly.
Medscape
03-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Can a Face Mask Diagnose Kidney Disease?
A face mask with specialized sensors was able to detect chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on exhaled levels of ammonia and other metabolites, according to the results of an Italian study. Sensors for ammonia and other relevant molecules achieved a 93.3% true positive rate and 86.7% true negative rate in detecting kidney diseases, reported Corrado Di Natale, professor of electronic engineering at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, and coauthors in a paper in the American Chemical Society's ACS Sensors . The study included 50 patients who had been diagnosed with CKD, alongside 48 healthy control individuals. Control participants were drawn from patients' family members and hospital staff at the same clinic. The test used a breath sensor embedded in a standard face mask. The sensors consisted of coated silver electrodes with a conductive polymer commonly used in chemical sensors. The electrodes were placed between the layers of a disposable medical face mask, with wires attached to allow an electronic readout of exhaled gases. The sensor was designed to detect CKD-related metabolites, including ammonia, ethanol, propanol, and acetone. The project involved people in several departments, including nephrology and electric engineering, Di Natale said. The goal was to make the device easy for medical staff and patients to use, not wanting to add a new complicated process for CKD testing, Di Natale added. 'It was actually very simple, very simple to use,' he said. Expanding Breath Analysis Di Natale told Medscape Medical News that his team plans to continue working on tools for the diagnosis of metabolic disorders and lung cancer via breath analysis. Physicians long have known that CKD and other diseases such as diabetes can affect how breath smells. An emerging field, called volatolomics, or volatilomics, seeks to identify changes in the composition of chemical byproducts expelled normally through breath. Diagnostics based on breath samples would offer an attractive advantage in ease of collection, but there are many hurdles that researchers would need to clear to bring a product like a breath-based CKD test to market, Paul J. Jannetto, PhD, president-elect of the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine, Washington, DC, told Medscape Medical News . While the research published in ACS Sensors suggests promise, additional validation studies in larger cohorts would be required, Jannetto said. 'These preliminary small-scale studies are just the first step,' explained Jannetto, who is also a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology and vice chair of practice laboratory medicine at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. One of the biggest challenges in efforts to develop breath-based diagnostics is addressing the sheer number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) carried out of the body through exhalation, Jannetto noted. More than 1400 VOCs have been linked to human breath. A single human breath contains hundreds of VOCs, representing various pathophysiological processes that alter a person's metabolic state, wrote Pritish Varadwaj of the Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, India, and coauthors in 2023 in Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy . 'Electronic Noses' There's been a long-standing interest in developing breath-based tests, or 'electronic noses,' for lung cancer, including a 2003 paper from Di Natale and coauthors in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics . Researchers in the UK and China have also published recent reports detailing attempts to develop an e-nose. Among the most developed projects in this field is an e-nose collection device currently in a clinical trial of about 119 patients. Gaetano Rocco, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, the principal investigator for this study, said early results indicate the technology agreed with histopathologic results 86% of the time when assessing for lung cancer in very small nodules detected by a CT scan. Further testing continues on the ability of this e-nose device 'to modulate its response according to different phases of the patient's clinical history — ie, to detect the response after treatment of thoracic cancers, irrespective of the type of treatment (surgery, chemo and immunotherapy),' Rocco told Medscape Medical News via email. Successfully developing an e-nose would result in a technology to aid patients at a high risk for lung cancer, as it could 'guide the timing of the imaging, thereby avoiding multiple CT scans,' Rocco added. 'This would decrease costs and radiation exposure; in addition, the miniaturization of the technology will serve the purpose of allowing the patients to self-screen by breathing in the collection device in the comfort of their homes.' Di Natale received financial support from the European Union-NextGenerationEU (project ECS 0000024 Rome Technopole). Rocco and coauthors received support from National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA008748 and Memorial Sloan Kettering's Fiona and Stanley Druckenmiller Center for Lung Cancer Research. Rocco reported having a financial interest with Scanlan International, Merck, and Medtronic. Further author disclosures are available in the text of the paper.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
New AI-powered imaging software enhances stroke care at CKHA
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has introduced new imaging software, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), in an effort to enhance stroke care. The technology will help diagnose and treat patients that come in with stroke-like symptoms. RAPID AI quickly looks at the brain scans, helping doctors make faster and more accurate treatment decisions. 'Time is absolutely critical when treating stroke,' said Dr. Stacey Speer, chief of radiology at CKHA. 'RAPID AI gives our team fast, reliable information. It highlights areas of the brain that are in trouble and shows whether blood flow is being blocked. That allows us to make quicker, more confident decisions about how to treat our patients.' RAPID AI for strokes chatham-kent RAPID AI in use. (Source: Chatham-Kent Health Alliance) The software spits out an automated 'ASPECTS score', which then help decide if a patient is a good fit for a certain procedure, like removing a blood clot from the brain. 'This is exactly the kind of impact our donors hope to make,' said Christine Mitchell, president and CEO of the CKHA Foundation. 'We're thrilled to fund the implementation of this AI technology. It's improving patient care in a very real, immediate way, and helping our hospital stay at the forefront of stroke care.'
Phone Arena
25-06-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Pixel Watch 2 gets a lovely discount on Amazon, making it a great pick for fans on a budget
A limited-time deal has dropped the 512GB Pixel 7 Pro to a new all-time low, making it a top pick for Pixel users on a budget. But if you already have a speedy Pixel and are looking for a Pixel Watch instead, well, this is the perfect deal for you. Right now, a third-party seller on Amazon is offering a sweet $61 discount on the Pixel Watch 2, bringing the Wi-Fi-only model down to just under $190. Act fast, though, as only a few units are left, which means the offer may expire soon. $61 off (24%) The Wi‑Fi only version of the Google Pixel Watch 2 is now $61 off on Amazon—bringing the price to just under $190. It's packed with features and sports a sleek design, making it an unbeatable deal at the moment. Act fast! This offer is not available in your area. Don't worry! Although the markdown doesn't come directly from Amazon, the retailer is still handling the shipping. Plus, you'll have 30 days to request a refund if there's anything wrong with your smartwatch. In other words, the only thing you should be concerned about is missing out on this deal, as the Pixel Watch is still a great buy, especially at its current to its stylish, dome-like look, the smartwatch goes well with everything, including an expensive suit. And since it's a premium wearable, it comes with all the health-tracking features you expect to find on a smartwatch of this caliber. It even comes with a skin temperature sensor. And with it running on Wear OS, you'll have access to loads of apps via the Google Play Store. Battery life is good as well, with the watch offering all-day use without the need for top-ups. However, you'll likely have to charge it every night, which is normal for this type of smartwatch. On the flip side, the timepiece reaches 50% in only 30 minutes. All in all, the Pixel Watch 2 is great value for money. So, act fast and get one for less with this deal today! Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
5 Steps To Building A Modern Healthcare Data Infrastructure
Salman Shahid, CMO at DevBatch. Having a healthcare data infrastructure can help you make sense of enormous amounts of health data and achieve breakthroughs in the healthcare industry. Put simply, a data infrastructure includes software, hardware and strategic resources—per legal guidelines—for handling, storing and using data. Having the right data infrastructure in place is crucial for healthcare organizations that want to unify healthcare with technology. Read on to learn how to develop a healthcare data infrastructure for improved patient care, streamlined operations and reduced everyday costs. 1. Start with industry research. Before developing a healthcare data infrastructure, review what hospitals in your locality have already built. Look closely to determine whether their infrastructure improves patient outcomes and operational efficiency. Reviewing the performance of various systems will help you identify gaps. Addressing those gaps (e.g., technological, regulatory or workflow-related) based on your specific needs will allow you to build an infrastructure that's better suited to your organization. Review your findings with a data infrastructure expert. This collaboration will help you confirm whether your insights are valid and support the development of a well-informed plan. 2. Create an actionable plan. When developing a data infrastructure for healthcare, your first task is thorough planning and design. This will help you avoid costly missteps. Strategic planning involves identifying organizational needs, performing market research and ensuring regulatory compliance: Start by outlining the challenges you're facing. Whether your goal is to improve patient care or discover new treatments, your needs will determine how the infrastructure is designed. Assess the current weaknesses in how data is stored, organized and accessed. Begin with a market survey, then conduct a SWOT analysis to pinpoint the areas that need improvement. Develop clear regulatory policies and user-friendly guidelines for data access. Transparency—through your own standards and external regulations such as HIPAA—can prevent data misuse. 3. Ensure seamless development. Developing a healthcare data infrastructure includes selecting the right database type, choosing supportive technologies and adopting efficient processes. Begin by understanding the core components of a data system: • Relational Database: Ideal for structured, on-site data with fast querying capabilities • Non-Relational Database: Best for managing large volumes of data with a flexible, cloud-first model Whatever database you choose, ensure seamless integration. Integration strategies—also known as data standardization—enable systems to combine, share and analyze data across sources. With standardization, merging data from multiple sources becomes easier and more effective. It also ensures the information remains accessible and understandable across your stakeholder audience. Prioritize security to protect data from unauthorized access. A strong security plan helps prevent data breaches, loss and corruption. Once you've implemented your database, standardization protocols and protection strategies, you'll proceed through the following four critical phases: • Pilot Testing: Trial used to identify areas of improvement • User Training: Practical training for key stakeholders • Compliance: Adoption of legal and regulatory frameworks • Launch And Deployment: Official rollout of the infrastructure for day-to-day operations 4. Focus on support and maintenance. After launching your healthcare data infrastructure, continuous improvement is essential. Collect and evaluate user feedback to ensure your system remains effective and responsive. You will be able to incorporate relevant suggestions easily and make the cycle of continual improvement possible if you collect feedback. Infrastructure development is challenging— but sustaining high performance requires active monitoring and refinement. Feedback loops—from customer reviews to staff input—help you to identify opportunities for improvement and enhancement. Implementing these data points will enable data-driven decision making and improve the performance of your healthcare data infrastructure. 5. Collaborate with industry experts. The healthcare sector has long relied on collaboration, especially in the post-pandemic landscape. To optimize your infrastructure, build strategic partnerships with federal bodies and industry leaders. These collaborations offer insights into operational efficiency and benchmarks and can help you improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance the financial performance of your data infrastructure. Monitoring the functioning of your data infrastructure with expert input can boost long-term success. Guidance from experienced partners can also support scaling, expansion and funding initiatives. Put simply, collaboration offers major advantages—from enhanced patient experience to faster drug discovery and improved medical service quality. Build for the future! A robust healthcare data infrastructure can help you organize and interpret the massive volume of information generated on a daily basis. A well-designed proprietary system not only keeps the data organized properly but also ensures it remains accessible and easy to understand. Follow this five-step plan to build a data infrastructure that empowers better patient care and fuels research innovation. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
