Efficient mobile systems that allow for vital sign monitoring and disease diagnosis at the point of care can help combat issues such as rising healthcare costs, treatment delays in remote and resource-poor areas, and the global shortage of skilled medical personnel. Covering everything from sensors, systems, and software to integration, usability, and regulatory challenges, Mobile Point-of-Care Monitors and Diagnostic Device Design offers valuable insight into state-of-the-art technologies, research, and methods for designing personal diagnostic and ambulatory healthcare devices. Presenting the combined expertise of contributors from various fields, this multidisciplinary text: Gives an overview of the latest mobile health and point-of-care technologies Discusses portable diagnostics devices and sensors, including mobile-phone-based health systems Explores lab-on-chip systems as well as energy-efficient solutions for mobile point-of-care monitors Addresses computer vision and signal processing for real-time diagnostics Considers interface design for lay healthcare providers and home users Mobile Point-of-Care Monitors and Diagnostic Device Design provides important background information about the design process of mobile health and point-of-care devices, using practical examples to illustrate key aspects related to instrumentation, information processing, and implementation.

Point-of-care devices are becoming prominent in various fields of medicine. Policy makers have a high interest in introducing mobile point-of-care monitoring devices as they promise to be more cost effective and give access to monitoring technology in areas where they were previously not available. Examples include handheld ultrasound monitors and similar devices that fit into a pocket. Global shortages of skilled medical personnel and increasing healthcare costs present a challenge to health systems around the world. Particularly in remote and resource-poor areas, long travel distances to hospitals and lengthy laboratory turnaround times delay diagnosis and treatment of severe infectious and non-infectious diseases. Mobile systems that allow for monitoring of vital signs and diagnosis of diseases at the point of care can provide effective means of addressing diagnostics and treatment challenges. Diagnostics at the point of care is considered to be a disruptive technology that will change how health care is delivered in the future.

This book connects mobile health and point-of-care technology. It gives an overview of available technologies for mobile point-of-care systems. It also offers insights on state-of-the-art technology, research, and methods for designing personal diagnostic and ambulatory healthcare devices. Topics include:

• Portable diagnostics devices and sensors, including mobile-phone-based health systems
• Lab-on-chip systems
• Energy and power efficient solutions for mobile point-of-care monitors
• Computer vision and signal processing for real-time diagnostics
• Design of user interfaces for lay healthcare providers and home users
• Quality control and regulatory approval challenges related to point-of-care devices

The book covers sensors and systems (instrumentation), software (information processing), and design, integration, and regulation (implementation).