There are smart trackers for everything these days — jogging, swimming, sleeping and even for sex — so you really shouldn't be at all surprised that there's one now for dirtied diapers.
Laugh all you want, but it'll soon be a major godsend to caregivers in the various hospitals and welfare homes here. Developed by the brainiacs from the Insititute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at A*Star, the sensor alerts the relevant caregivers when patients soil themselves. The process of cleaning and changing patients can soon be immediate instead of letting them stew in excrement for hours.
Researchers have come up with the final prototype after three years in development, and will be trialed in a nursing home for two months. Plans to commercialise it are already in order, with spin-off firm Wet Alert set up earlier in March.
The sensor will come in great use particularly for old folks who are unable to speak or request assistance due to stroke or dementia. Affordability is of no concern as the reusable transmitter costs from $30 to $50, and can be recharged about once a week. The disposable metal strips in the sensors cost only two cents each.
Already, they're planning to broaden the capabilities of their sensor so that they can detect signs of ailments in the urine. Technology, eh?
Photo: A*Star newsroom
There are smart trackers for everything these days — jogging, swimming, sleeping and even for sex — so you really shouldn't be at all surprised that there's one now for dirtied diapers.
Laugh all you want, but it'll soon be a major godsend to caregivers in the various hospitals and welfare homes here. Developed by the brainiacs from the Insititute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at A*Star, the sensor alerts the relevant caregivers when patients soil themselves. The process of cleaning and changing patients can soon be immediate instead of letting them stew in excrement for hours.
Researchers have come up with the final prototype after three years in development, and will be trialed in a nursing home for two months. Plans to commercialise it are already in order, with spin-off firm Wet Alert set up earlier in March.
The sensor will come in great use particularly for old folks who are unable to speak or request assistance due to stroke or dementia. Affordability is of no concern as the reusable transmitter costs from $30 to $50, and can be recharged about once a week. The disposable metal strips in the sensors cost only two cents each.
Already, they're planning to broaden the capabilities of their sensor so that they can detect signs of ailments in the urine. Technology, eh?
Photo: A*Star newsroom