PLEASANTON, Calif., Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaf Healthcare's Patient Monitoring system has been named one of the world's most innovative wearable healthcare technologies for 2016.
An international jury of the WT Wearable Technologies Innovation World Cup selected Leaf Healthcare for recognition from among more than 450 wearable solutions.
Leaf now competes with four other wearable healthcare finalists for the title of Most Innovative Healthcare Wearable Technology of 2016. The companies will present at 19th WT Wearable Technologies Conference in Munich on Jan. 26.
"This year's WT Innovation World Cup was inspiring with more than 450 impressive nominations from 60 countries," said Andrea Onetti, general manager of Volume MEMS & Analog Division, STMicroelectronics. "Browsing through the innovative ideas and seeing how creative human minds can be is, for us at ST, a great way to see the future of wearable Smart Things."
The benefits of improved patient mobility are well recognized and include accelerated recovery times, fewer medical complications and shortened hospital stays.[1]
The first application of the Leaf Patient Monitoring system focused on the prevention of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, a leading threat to quality healthcare, by monitoring patient movements to ensure they are repositioned according to their prescribed turning schedules to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers.
"Leaf is committed to helping hospitalized patients and their caregivers benefit from the power of wearable technology," said Barrett Larson, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Leaf. "This international recognition confirms that the Leaf Patient Monitoring system provides an innovative solution to an important clinical need. Our technology enables clinicians to make sure that patients move adequately in order to prevent complications associated with immobility."
The Leaf system is comprised of a small, lightweight, wearable sensor that electronically monitors a patient's position and movements. Data collected by the sensor is communicated wirelessly to central monitoring stations or mobile devices so that caregivers can check on patient position and movement. When used to prevent pressure ulcers, the system provides alerts when necessary to ensure that all patients wearing a Leaf Sensor are repositioned according to their prescribed turning schedules. The device has been cleared for sale by FDA 510(k).
About Leaf Healthcare, Inc.
Leaf Healthcare creates wireless patient monitoring solutions for health care providers seeking more efficient, cost effective ways to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes. The Leaf Patient Monitoring System wirelessly monitors a patient's position and movement and uses that data to automate and document the management of prescribed turn protocols for patients at risk for hospital acquired pressure ulcers. The company continually seeks to incorporate more patient monitoring features and capabilities into its technology platform, enabling ever-broader improvements to patient safety, clinical efficiency and patient outcomes. To learn more, visit www.leafhealthcare.com.
About the WT Wearable Technologies Innovation World Cup
The WT Wearable Technologies Innovation World Cup is the leading worldwide innovation competition in the field of Wearable Technologies. It was launched in 2009, and over 3,500 contestants already took part. The WT Wearable Technologies Innovation World Cup invites contestants from all over the world to submit innovative solutions in the areas of sports & fitness, healthcare & wellness, gaming & lifestyle, safety & security, smart jewelry and smart clothing. An international panel of industry experts will select the most innovative products according to criteria such as level of innovation, marketability, and usability.
The WT Innovation World Cup is sponsored by STMicroelectronics, MediaTek Labs, AiQ Smart Clothing, VARTA Microbattery, and Cicor. Further partners include WT Wearable Technologies, MEDICA, ISPO, Continua Health Alliance, as well as the regional partners Team Cote d`Azur, Cluster Digital Barcelona, Government of Canada, TAITRA, Paris Region Entreprises, CSEM, AlpICT, Business OULU, Takomo, IT2I, Medical Valley, Plug and Play Tech Center, ICT Cluster Bern, minc., Com4Innov, Innovative City, CSEM, and Disruptive Week Milan.
[1] Kibler et al, "Early Postoperative Ambulation: Back to Basics" AJN April 2012, vol112, no 4.
SOURCE Leaf Healthcare, Inc.