Components provider focuses on digital health and wearables at Medica

Drug packaging and medical devices solutions provider Datwyler is placing emphasis on digital health and wearables at Medica.

The company started exploring the sector in 2014. By entering emerging markets, leveraging lean production processes, and building upon an optimised supply chain, Datwyler is prepared to master the challenges of tomorrow’s global healthcare industry. For this forward approach, strategic partnerships and co-operations with international innovative hubs, companies or universities are key for Datwyler.

Stefan Sevens, vice president, medical solutions, Datwyler, said: “Our co-operations and partnerships create synergies and result in high-quality, future-proof medical products — and therefore an improved offering for our customers.” 

In 2018, Datwyler presented soft dry electrodes, which are based on a flexible conductive polymer and a customisable design for wearables. The soft dry electrodes allow dry signal acquisition which aims to eliminate the use of gels and decreases skin irritation significantly. The specific design and characteristics enable usage without special skin preparation and freedom of area for monitoring. This leads to a simplified correct placement and the opportunity for patients to apply the electrodes outside the hospital, which substantially increases their convenience. Furthermore, the electrodes are very robust, can be cleaned easily and repeatedly used.

Sevens added: “The soft dry electrodes are our proposition for long-term bio-signal monitoring as they significantly improve the treatment comfort for patients. The higher comfort leads to a higher degree of relaxation, which in most therapies is of utmost importance.”

The electrodes can be used for electrocardiograms (ECG), electroencephalograms (EEG), electromyograms (EMG) and electrooculograms (EOG). Using the brain activity EEG, it is possible to detect and monitor early Alzheimer's symptoms. Furthermore, neurofeedback exercises for relaxation, and concussion symptoms detection in the playing field are enabled. The heart activity ECG can be used to monitor the faetal heartbeat and detect possible cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, soft dry electrodes can also be used for EMG, including muscle movement monitoring, to monitor the correct performance of exercises.