The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has come up with a COVID-19 sensor that can be embedded into the garment of the wearer. The lightweight sensor is thin enough to be integrated within flexible fabric including polyester majorly used in athleticwear.

These waterproof sensors are responsible for monitoring the vital signs of the body like respiratory rate, heart rate and body temperature. These are very thin and therefore protect the aesthetics of the garment design.

Moreover, these are easily detachable to be used with different garments while also being machine washable.

The sensor can monitor the vital signs of the patients in chronic condition and requires regular checkups. The process can eliminate the manual need for performing the task while automating the process and also keeping the medicines free for other tasks and patients.

The individuals can also themselves collect the data and send it to their doctors who can then remotely monitor the condition.

As per Techcrunch, the development was being conducted for designing a prototype that can be connected with the smart phone. The innovation is planned to be mass produced together in partnership with China.

It has applications in different fields including sports industry, health industry and space for monitoring the vital signs of the wearer. The funding for the study was received by MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative, according to a report by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The report further mentions that the need for remote healthcare solution has seen a surge in the demand due to COVID-19. The solution is important for the people who have underlying chronic illnesses and pre-existing conditions, which makes them more vulnerable to the virus.

There are many developments in the similar field; however, the characteristics of the sensor developed by MIT have proved to be most effective in terms of wearability, comfort and convenience.