A critical ongoing issue for patients undergoing chemotherapy is the risk of infection. In response to this, AION Biosystems has paved the way with their innovative solution — the iTempShield. This is a wearable device, supplemented by a software system, that opens a new avenue for early and accurate remote temperature tracking, thus proving to be potentially transformative for infection monitoring. The iTempShield device, no larger than a quarter, adheres to the skin and enables up to 60 days of continuous temperature measurement.
The technology is underpinned by proprietary algorithms and cloud-based software, allowing for a wide range of clinical applications from oncology and post-surgical infection detection to long-term care and consumer home health. With full approval and reimbursement for use on adults and children aged 5 and above, the device is suitable for hospitals, outpatient healthcare facilities, remote patient monitoring environments, as well as over-the-counter consumer sales.
Currently, iTempShield is being utilized at Ellis Medicine’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute and has a broader deployment in Schenectady, New York, as part of the Smart City program. It is especially advantageous for patients in the risky 7 to 14 day time period post-chemotherapy when their blood counts drop significantly, increasing the chances of infection. In tandem with the city of Schenectady and Ellis Medicine’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute, this technology is helping to detect infections at an earlier stage than a conventional oral temperature thermometer allows.
Additionally, it offers patients the comfort of being monitored in their own homes, potentially reducing unnecessary hospital visits and admissions. This remote patient monitoring and ease of use foster higher compliance rates among immunocompromised patients.