Smart AI product launch imminent

The Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute and nonwovens manufacturer KNH Enterprise are planning to jointly launch ‘smart’ hygienic disposables by the end of this year.

Designed to enhance the quality of long-term healthcare, the AI diapers let nurses or care-givers know when a patient needs to be changed and are especially suitable for older chronic-disease patients.

A sensor module in the diaper senses when it has been soiled and sends a wireless transmission signal to a designated telephone, informing the carer that a change of diaper is needed.

The diapers themselves are also said to be more hygienic and ‘wearable’ than conventional products as a result of the antibacterial nonwovens used to make them.

The new diapers and similarly functional ‘smart mattresses’ have been tested by several Taiwanese healthcare institutes on chronic disease patients, and adjustments are being made based on the response.

In future, the diapers could be integrated with other medical care equipment through telecommunications, security and cable television systems for cloud data analysis, enabling the development of new health management and medical care services.

KNH is currently making final adjustments to the sensors that will be integrated into the products.

Taiwanes medical device provider Sinopulsar Technology and inorganic material supplier Hua Mao Nano-Tech are also involved in the development.