Patients with respiratory problems are usually monitored by a stethoscope during medical examinations. However, a prototype jacket has been recently developed that can perform the same function throughout the day, wherever its wearer goes, according to New Atlas. The Fraunhofer research group in Germany has developed this wearable device known as the "lung jacket." The new technology currently targets primarily COVID-19 patients, but it can also be used for those suffering from other respiratory diseases.
Multiple audio sensors have been integrated into the front and back of the jacket, individually detecting the slightest noise or sounds emitted by the lungs. Since the location of each audio sensor (in relation to the lungs) is already known and specified, it is possible to determine where any problem exists within the lungs.
The data monitored by the jacket's sensors is recorded in a dedicated program that analyzes all sensor readings and produces an image of the lungs, highlighting areas with issues. The lung image can even be displayed on a mobile device connected to the jacket and transmitted online via secure servers, enabling long-term monitoring of patients while they are at home.
Project manager Ralph Schallert stated, "The jacket will not replace the stethoscope or the skills of experienced respiratory specialists or CT scans of the lungs, but the new technology provides added value as it allows for continuous lung monitoring."
