Taking the temperature to assess health is as familiar as wrapping a tape measure around a parcel to find out its size. But simple skin temperature checks have some issues. The core problem they face is a puzzling duality. Sometimes, an individual's skin temperature is a reliable indicator of body core temperature, useful for identifying fever or health trends over time. However, at other times, there is a clear discrepancy: as weather changes around us, skin temperature adjusts - turning this into a poor beacon of bodily health.
The recent patent, US20230355103A1, titled "Methods, Systems, and Devices for Improved Skin Temperature Monitoring" comes as a game-changer. What's remarkable about this new patent is that it veers away from conventional methods of monitoring temperature to draw new results. It uses special devices that you wear on your body. They are brilliant enough to comprehend the distinction between changes in your temperature because you might be sick and changes due to weather shifts.
But how does this work and why does it matter? The patented technology deals with the problem directly by creating complex algorithms that analyze temperature data measured by wearable gadgets, like Fitbit Sense, adjusted for environmental factors using multiple embedded sensors. With the combination and analysis of multiple sensors' data, the Fitbit device observes not only data but also trends and physical events associated with the wearer's health. This unique feature, demonstrated in the diagrams included in the patent, enables users to understand their health trends better, elevating the wearable gadget to more than a simple health monitor.
Ultimately, the application of this patent could change the world as we know it. Imagine being able to accurately predict your risk of falling ill just by checking your wearable gadget. This would mean potentially nipping illnesses in the bud before they take full effect, preventative health measures becoming far more effective, and global disease management could shift dramatically. Such an improvement transcends the simple convenience of tracking daily steps or sleep patterns—it becomes a remarkable health preservation tool.
Yet, while patents are excellent indicators of possible futures, it’s worth noting that patented technology doesn't always become commercially available. Patents provide a glimpse into what could be, rather than what will certainly happen in the future market. Nonetheless, the promise of skin temperature monitoring redefined offers a compelling vision of what wellbeing could look like in years to come.