Smart Wristband

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Nagpur in collaboration with Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Nagpur and (Indian Institute of Technology) IIT Jodhpur designed and developed a smart wristband for the tracking and monitoring of COVID-19 positive patients and suspects. While city-based professionals from IIIT Nagpur Dr Mayur Parate and Dr Ankit Bhurane have developed the technology, Dr Kaushal Desai from IIT Jodhpur has made the design and the ‘tamper-proof’ packaging.

The existing apps depend on the continuous use of mobile phones by the quarantined person and the availability of stable Internet connections. The existing mobile apps use GPS or cell tower triangulation methods for tracking location with an accuracy that may vary sometimes up to a radius of 1.5 to 2 kilometers. This device will operate on a technology, which is more effective than the GPS system.

When Nation Next spoke to Major General Dr Vibha Dutta, Director at AIIMS Nagpur, she said the product currently is for Rs 1500 but we’re yet to decide on the final pricing. Speaking about the availability of the same, Dr Dutta said that the wristband would soon be made available on various online platforms. 

The government had earlier launched Aarogya Setu app for identifying COVID-19 suspects but even that had several limitations.

L to R: Dr Prathamesh Kamble and Dr Vibha Dutta

Dr Prathamesh Kamble, Assistant Professor, Physiology at AIIMS Nagpur, said, The novel device can provide mobile-free operation, using a Geo-fencing technology, which will provide a real-time alert on any breach in the quarantine zone.

The wristband would also provide real-time, objective and reliable data of important aspects including temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate and the oxygen saturation of an individual. All the data, which is collected from the wristband would be archived on a ?cloud that would help health workers monitor patients from a distance without the risk of transmission.

All these information would help a quarantined person to avail medical help.