TY - JOUR T1 - Developing a multimodal biosensor for remote physiological monitoring JF - BMJ Military Health JO - BMJ Mil Health DO - 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001629 SP - bmjmilitary-2020-001629 AU - Michael Smith AU - R Withnall AU - S Anastasova AU - B Gil-Rosa AU - J Blackadder-Coward AU - N Taylor Y1 - 2021/02/04 UR - http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/early/2022/04/14/bmjmilitary-2020-001629.abstract N2 - Introduction Several UK military expeditions have successfully used physiological sensors to monitor participant’s physiological responses to challenging environmental conditions. This article describes the development and trial of a multimodal wearable biosensor that was used during the first all-female unassisted ski crossing of the Antarctic land mass. The project successfully transmitted remote real-time physiological data back to the UK. The ergonomic and technical lessons identified have informed recommendations for future wearable devices.Method The biosensor devices were designed to be continuously worn against the skin and capture: HR, ECG, body surface temperature, bioimpedance, perspiration pH, sodium, lactate and glucose. The data were transmitted from the devices to an android smartphone using near-field technology. A custom-built App running on an android smartphone managed the secure transmission of the data to a UK research centre, using a commercially available satellite transceiver.Results Real-time physiological data, captured by the multimodal device, was successfully transmitted back to a UK research control centre on 6 occasions. Postexpedition feedback from the participants has contributed to the ergonomic and technical refinement of the next generation of devices.Conclusion The future success of wearable technologies lies in establishing clinical confidence in the quality of the measured data and the accurate interpretation of those data in the context of the individual, the environment and activity being undertaken. In the near future, wearable physiological monitoring could improve point-of-care diagnostic accuracy and inform critical medical and command decisions.Data sharing not applicable as no datasets generated and/or analysed for this study. ER -