Date: Jul 01, 2020 Source: Medical Counter Measures (
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BARDA and Sonica Health expand partnership to develop wearable patch as an early monitoring platform for COVID-19 infection
BARDA Response
BARDA and Sonica Health are expanding their partnership to include early identification of COVID-19 symptoms and other respiratory infections in high-risk clinical populations via wearable sensors.
People infected with SARS-CoV-2 and similar respiratory viruses typically only seek diagnostic tests after exhibiting symptoms. Sonica Health aims to disrupt this healthcare paradigm by detecting infection, especially in high-risk individuals, before the onset of noticeable symptoms, thereby reducing infection transmission.
In conjunction with Northwestern University and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab researchers, the team is creating and implementing a set of symptom-driven algorithms specifically tailored to catch early signs and symptoms associated with COVID-19 and to monitor patients throughout illness. Custom signal processing and machine-learning can reveal subtle, yet critical insight into health status using the continuous streams of data collected and wirelessly transmitted to a data hub. In addition, Sonica Health is working with Sibel Health to offer additional continuous pulse oximetry in one integrated digital health system.
Sonica Health is utilizing a bio-integrated, wearable patch called ADAM. The flexible wireless patch is a thin device about the size of a band-aid and sits at the base of the throat. The device monitors cough intensity and patterns; chest wall movements which can indicate labored or irregular breathing; other respiratory sounds; heart rate; physical activity; and temperature. Sonica Health will now expand this platform to include the option to deploy Sibel Health's ANNE™ One platform--this ICU-grade wearable sensor system offers the ability to add continuous pulse oximetry and electrocardiography.
In a team effort, Sonica will be conducting clinical studies among healthcare providers using these breakthrough, soft, and flexible sensors with the goal of developing infection detection algorithms for COVID-19. The overall goal is an FDA-cleared platform encompassing the sensors, algorithm, and software package as an early warning system for SARS-CoV-2 contraction, and prognosis, helping reduce the transmission of the infection through early detection.
This award is one component of BARDA's rapidly expanding COVID-19 medical countermeasure portfolio; visit BARDA's COVID-19 Portfolio to learn more.
