W2M2: Wireless Wearable Modular Monitor - A Multifunctional Monitoring System for Rehabilitation

Wearable/portable biometric/physiological monitoring devices are rapidly becoming a recognized alternative in medicine, rehabilitation and sports. Developments in sensors, energy harvesting, embedded technology, smart textile, to mention a few, are driving the field to more seamless and complex solutions, sometimes part of pervasive strategies for activity monitoring. Additionally, the number of sensors forming part of wearable solutions seems to be incrementing thanks to miniaturization and lowering components cost. Consequently medical and rehabilitation protocols and standards are undergoing the slow process required for adaptation to such emerging trends. This article presents a simple, modular, low-cost, wearable device originally intended for rehabilitation data gathering. Such device was based on commercially available components which can be assembled and managed by physicians, therapist and other healthcare personnel through a proposed platform. The objective is the familiarization and even active inclusion of healthcare personnel in the technological development process and, more importantly, the incorporation of electronic data acquisition in their procedures.