IBM India Research Laboratory has developed some new innovations called 'IBM's Five-on-Five Innovations' which will provide flexible, accessible and affordable solutions to the patients. The new sensor technology for medical diagnostics will allow diabetics and cardiac cases to be monitored with sensors installed in their homes or worn by them or even embedded in devices like mobiles.

From helping a doctor monitor every minute detail of his patient at a remote location to `embedding' sensors in patients with gadgets that monitor their various health parameters, the new technologies, IBM's Five-on-Five Innovations, were a result of the company's online brainstorming session, 'IBM InnovationJam'.

The session was held to shortlist novel technologies covering real time translation, sensor technology for medical diagnostics, nanotechnology for water filtration, 3-D Internet for better collaboration and advanced 'presence' technology. "All these innovations are in different phases of maturity," Dr Daniel Dias, director, IBM India Research Laboratory told Pharmabiz in an email interview.

A 'Helping Hand Pill Dispenser' will help patients track compliance with their drug regimen and automatically transmit the data to doctors.

It will also provide the convenience of 'Virtual Doctor Check-Ups at Home' where blood pressure or pulse reading can be taken on a remote device and the results sent directly doctors' mobile phones, to help them follow up as needed.

The 'Doc in a Box' will offer people access to healthcare in the most remote geographical locations. Doctors will be able to transmit medical images and data instantly, without elaborate equipment to major medical institutions thousands of miles away. Specialists can assist in diagnoses and treatment that might otherwise have taken weeks to obtain.

'Electronic medical records (EMRs)' will provide current secure access to patient information. "An electronic record can't be destroyed in a fire or natural disaster, like it happened when Hurricane Katrina left thousands of people without their medical histories,'' said Dr Dias.

EMRs are a critical enabler to any healthcare innovation. They have been enhanced with two new technologies: Web-enabled tablets allow doctors and doctors to update a patient's medical records at the bedside, while making their rounds. A digital pen automatically stores words, numbers, even pictures written by a patient on a medical form and transfers the data to his health record.

"Within the next five years, wireless innovations, coupled with the ability to capture sensitive medical data, will allow healthcare to move from the traditional doctor's office to the patient site, "informed Dr Dias.

3-D Internet will enable new kinds of interactive education, remote medicine and patient experiences. The company is also focusing on nanotechnology for water filtration. The current methods of desalinating water, reverse osmosis and distillation, are both expensive and high maintenance. IBM will provide the research methods of filtering water at the molecular level, using carbon nanotubes or molecular configurations, which can potentially remove the salt and impurities with less energy and money per gallon.