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Diagnostic bodystocking

Make everyone a hypochondriac
 
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A bodystocking with a series of diagnostic aids built in. Near infrared monitors the appearance of the epidermis and dermis for preclinical lesions, thermal monitoring detects blood flow change for inflammation, cancer and other ailments, visible light for skin lesions such as psoriasis, eczema and melanoma. Dipstix-like substances monitor for pH, electrolytes and ketones in sweat. Acoustic and electrical sensors use heart sounds and electrical activity for the likes of arrhythmias. Strain gauges pick up obesity, ascites and oedema. When you take it off at night, it recharges via USB and uploads data to a crowdsourced diagnostic service which sends images and other data to users trained to detect minimal involvement. If this occurs, the data are flagged and the wearer is alerted of the problem so they can see a health professional.

Either for occasional use or on a regular basis for hypochondriacs.

nineteenthly, Nov 15 2008

Plastic electronics http://www.plastic-...com/index.php?id=40
Would this be any good [Mony a Mickle, Nov 15 2008]

[link]






       I would think you'd wear it at night and take it off in the morning.
phoenix, Nov 15 2008
  

       Would it be worn against the skin? I could see problems with hygiene if the thing is not washable with all the electrical bits.   

       Report: 'all systems AOK but you smell like a zombie'
Mony a Mickle, Nov 15 2008
  

       Yes, i understand the problems with the washability. However, this is a problem, so far as i can tell, with all wearable electronics and i don't get why this never seems to be addressed. Rather than offer a solution, i raise the issue, for the second time, of how to wash wearable electronics. I'm sure there's an answer, but i've never seen it.   

       My initial idea with this, before i went a lot further, was underwear which detected abnormal blood flow. This could still be done with washable clothes because they could be dyed with temperature-sensitive compounds. This would still be able to detect inflammation, ischaemia and some tumours. Compounds sensitive to pH and the dipstix thing are also still applicable. The crowdsourcing isn't.
nineteenthly, Nov 15 2008
  

       The products page on the [link] mentions medical engineering. Is that a way forward?
Mony a Mickle, Nov 15 2008
  

       Well, i suppose a really radical solution would involve extensive surgery to provide sensors inside the body instead, or maybe extensive tattooing with hypoallergenic heat sensitive dyes, but that's two things which are hard to do combined.
nineteenthly, Nov 15 2008
  

       That would be interesting. Parents would be encouraging their children to get tattoos.
Spacecoyote, Nov 15 2008
  

       Tattoos with pigments sensitive to blood sugar levels have been suggested for Type I diabetics.
8th of 7, Nov 15 2008
  

       Excellent! Well, there could be more. In fact, a tattoo made with iodine could not only indicate deficiency but act as a reserve, though how to avoid it being absorbed inappropriately might be a problem.
nineteenthly, Nov 15 2008
  

       Thermochromic tattoos would be .... interesting ?
8th of 7, Nov 15 2008
  
      
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