Ireland – Bringing wearable technology into the realm of healthcare, Irish product design studio Design Partners is behind the Viscero, a vest with an embedded heart monitor, intended for people with irregular heartbeats.
Both non-invasive and discreet, the garment gives individuals with arrhythmia a new level of privacy and comfort. The design seeks to modernise the Holter monitor, a common yet cumbersome heart monitor that's been in commercial use since the 1960s. In contrast, the Viscero vest is designed for everyday life; it comprises a shirt with an integrated ECG circuit system and a small monitor pod that can fit inside a pocket. As a result, the product can be used without help from a medical professional.
With an estimated 12m people with abnormal heartbeats in the US alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the product heralds a brighter future in which wearable tech simplifies the monitoring and management of common conditions. Indeed, greater importance is being placed on inclusive design and accessible approaches to healthcare products. For more, read the Inclusive Care section of our Innovation Debrief.
Strategic opportunity
When designing healthcare products, we must consider the everyday moments in which they can or will be used, steering clear of clinical aesthetics to help normalise chronic conditions