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Changing lives through medical technology
 In the summer of 2009, 60 TIers concerned about their health and weight embarked on a 10-week diet and fitness program. The company-sponsored initiative, "Your Weigh … Together," included the usual fitness classes, nutrition guidance and group check-ins.
But half the participants received something extra: a computer-equipped armband from TI customer BodyMedia, with extraordinary sensing abilities based on TI's ultra-low-power microcontroller and connectivity technologies.
The GoWear fit system is designed to help users manage personal health and fitness, from calorie consumption to exercise and sleep efficiency.
The system consists of an armband, which gathers data from the wearer's skin, and a wristwatch. Using a TI wireless transmitter, the armband sends the data to the wristwatch display so that wearers can track their progress. Additionally, the armband sends the data to a computer software program that produces detailed reports.
"Rather than the general data you might get from an exercise machine, the GoWear fit armband tracks actual activity levels and gives users personalized information," said Carol Primdahl, medical business development manager.
"People also liked the feedback on the quality of their sleep, which really impacts your energy level. The better your sleep, the easier it is to diet and exercise," she said.
At session's end, 95 percent of the dieters who wore the armband lost weight, an average of 11.4 pounds. Two-thirds of the non-wearers lost weight, on average 10.2 pounds. The small pilot was not scientifically valid; however, it does illustrate TI's healthy pursuits and our broader passion for developing technology that is enabling a health care revolution.
A medical technology revolution
TI helped organize the pilot because we believed the device, manufactured by our customer BodyMedia, might increase employees' motivation to reach their weight goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
More broadly, the pilot illustrates TI's larger commitment to enabling breakthroughs in medical technology and to improving patient health.
"Our products help our customers develop innovative medical electronics," said Daniela Koeppe, medical communications manager at TI. "So working in the medical market allows us to help make the world a healthier place, something we are passionate about."
In particular, our microcontrollers and power management chips enable portable medical equipment that costs less and uses less power. At the same time, low-power radiofrequency technology makes it possible for digital devices to wirelessly transmit data to computers and each other, further extending the integration of medical care.
For example, a digital stethoscope and thermometer could transmit data to a physician's laptop, automatically adding information to an electronic medical record.
"In short, TI is helping make innovative medical products more flexible, affordable and accessible," Koeppe said.
Medical technology markets
TI's product portfolio brings innovation to four important medical technology markets.
The first, consumer medical devices, includes items you might buy at the pharmacy, such as digital thermometers and portable blood glucose monitors. This area includes wellness devices such as the GoWear fit armband and wristwatch.
The second area includes diagnostic, patient monitoring and therapeutic equipment. Devices such as defibrillators and electrocardiogram (cardiac) monitors are packed with electronics, and our chips will allow these to become even smaller and field-ready.
We are also focusing on the medical instruments market, aiming to help manufacturers bring down the cost of and increase the functionality of dialysis machines, laboratory equipment and even surgical instruments.
Finally, we are contributing to the medical imaging market, bringing innovation to ultrasound, CT scans and X-ray equipment. Our technology enables manufacturers, for example, to build portable ultrasound devices. And that in turn opens new markets and new uses such as in disaster areas, on the battlefield, or in remote locations.
An exciting future
With so many different applications and uses, growth is expected throughout the medical technology markets, but it's difficult to say exactly where the biggest opportunity lies for TI technology to revolutionize health care.
"All we know is, we're there right beside our customers, helping them innovate, develop their products and speed time to market," said Koeppe, "always keeping the goal – improving health care and thus the quality of life – firmly in focus."
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