Invited Paper MN+BI-TuA3
MEMS Sensors Make Up the Frontline of Wireless Health Solutions: Tremendous Growth Prospects

Tuesday, October 20, 2015, 3:00 pm, Room 211A

Use of sensor-enabled wearable wireless health solutions to monitor the health condition of chronic disease patients is key to the quality of life of the patient and to reduction of cost of health care—by keeping the patient out of the hospital and emergency rooms. Monitoring for early intervention is key to avoiding long-term adverse outcomes for those at risk of developing chronic diseases. This presentation will elaborate on the important role that MEMS sensors play in enabling wearable, health monitoring solutions. Capturing data is the key to such solutions, which requires sensors of various modalities. MEMS sensors have the advantage s of miniaturization, integration and batch fabrication—driving size, performance and cost advantages.

Annual heath care expenditure in the United States was ~$2.7 trillion in 2011 (i.e., $8,680 per person), well above other developed countries. Health spending grew 3.9% in 2011, the same as in 2009 and 2010; spending as a share of GDP has remained stable from 2009 through 2011, at 17.9%. The US health care system is built on fee-for-service, wherein the service is reactive to illness. An aging population, longer lives and increasing cases of chronic diseases are some of the key drivers escalating health care expenditures.