Monitoring COVID-19 From Hospital to Home: First Wearable Device Continuously Tracks Key Symptoms

Researchers at Northwestern University and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago have developed a novel wearable device and are creating a set of data algorithms specifically tailored to catch early signs and symptoms associated with COVID-19 and to monitor patients as the illness progresses. Capable of being worn 24/7, the device produces continuous streams of data and uses artificial intelligence to uncover subtle, but potentially life-saving, insights. Filling a vital data gap, it continuously measures and interprets coughing and respiratory activity in ways that are impossible with traditional monitoring systems. Not only can the device monitor the progress of COVID-19 patients, but it could also provide early warning signals to the frontline workers who are most at risk for catching this remarkably infectious disease.