What Technologies Does the Mobile Technologies Core Support?

Summary

MTC focuses on consumer-grade, over-the-counter wearable and nearable devices with potential clinical applications. We concentrate on study management platforms from vetted vendors, although we can refer researchers to other resources when necessary.

Body

Summary

The Mobile Technologies Core (MTC) provides researchers and their teams across the University of Michigan's academic and medical campuses with essential support and guidance for utilizing mobile technologies and digital mental health measures in their studies, regardless of specialty. To serve research teams efficiently, MTC focuses on consumer-grade, over-the-counter wearable and nearable devices with potential clinical applications. We concentrate on study management platforms from vetted vendors, although we can refer researchers to other resources when necessary.

Below is a partial list of the technologies, devices, and platforms that MTC focuses on.

Technologies Supported

  • Consumer-grade wearable devices available without a prescription, even if certain features are FDA-approved, that sync to smartphones or directly to the cloud.
    • Smartwatches
    • Activity trackers, fitness wristbands, and fitness armbands
    • Smart rings
    • Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs), when not used as part of closed-loop insulin pump systems
    • Heart rate monitor (HRM) chest straps and armbands
    • Foot pods and running dynamics waist pods
    • Sexual health sensor-based wearables
    • Sleep position and sleep monitor pods
    • Temperature patches
    • Other Bluetooth-enabled wearables with built-in physiological, inertial or ambient sensors (ear buds, headsets, smart glasses, VR/AR glasses, etc.)
    • Other wearables from athletic and fitness brands, including but not limited to: Amazfit, Apple, Fitbit, Garmin, Google, Nike, Polar, Samsung, Whoop, Withings, Xiaomi, etc.
  • Intermittent wearables and connected health monitors available without a prescription, that are worn on the body or placed on the skin temporarily
    • Bluetooth/Wi-Fi blood pressure monitors
    • Bluetooth/Wi-Fi blood glucose meters (BGM)
    • Bluetooth/Wi-Fi hand-held body composition monitors
    • Bluetooth/Wi-Fi breathilizers (blood alcohol content, ketone detection, metabolism estimation, etc.)
    • Bluetooth/Wi-Fi electrocadiogram (ECG / EKG) devices
    • Bluetooth/Wi-Fi pulse oximeters
    • Bluetooth/Wi-Fi thermometers
    • Other health monitors with wireless communication capabilities from consumer brands, including but not limited to: A&D, Garmin, iHealth, Omron, Withings, etc.
  • Consumer-grade nearable devices and health monitors that send data to consumer-facing apps or portals, weather via local connections (Bluetooth, ANT+, etc.) or directly to the cloud (Wifi, Cellular network, etc.)
    • Smart scales and body composition scales
    • Cycling sensors and trainers
    • Power, cadence and speed meters
    • Bed-side sleep monitors
    • Sleep mats
    • Ambient light or sound sensors
    • Indoor air quality or temperature sensors
    • Other Bluetooth-enabled health monitors not worn on the body from consumer-focused brands including, but not limited to: A&D, Garmin, iHealth, Omron, Withings, etc.

 

Technologies Not Currently Supported

  • Most prescription-only devices
    • ​​​​​​​Exceptions: TempTraq continous body temperature axillary patch, Pregnancy Coach sleep and body position monitor, and CGMs when not used in closed-loops​​​​​​​
  • Positive Air Pressure therapy devices (CPAP, BiPAP, Auto CPAP)
  • Actigraphy Watches (Pro-Diary, Actiwatch, ActLumus)
  • Dry EEG / Ambulatory EEG/EMG (Advanced Brain Monitoring B-Alert, Zeto Headset)
  • Drug Infusion / Insulin-Delivery Devices (insulin pumps, smart insulin pens, smart insulin pen caps, connected injection ports, smart infusion patches, bionic pancreas)
  • Ambulatory ECG/EKG (Holter patches, Zio patch)
  • Most Smart Home Devices, particularly those without geolocation, ambience, proximity, presence or environmental sensors
  • Mobile app development
    • Exceptions: ​​​​​​​smartwatch apps, mobile platform/clinical trial system customization, APIs for integration with phone sensors/wearables/nearables

For technologies that we do not support, we can still connect you with someone who maybe able to help. We have a technology expertise dashboard available to connect directly with other users of specific devices, or we can refer you to one of our MeTRIC partners throughout campus who specialize in other types of devices.

 

Resources

 

 

About the Authors

Dr. Cathy Goldstein, MD is a professor of Neurology at the University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center and faculty lead of the Eisenberg Family Depression Center Mobile Technologies core and the U-M Mobile Technology Research Innovation Collaborative (MeTRIC). Dr. Goldstein's research uses consumer facing sleep tracking devices and mathematical modeling to assess sleep patterns and circadian rhythms in the ambulatory, day-to-day setting to determine their role in health and disease.

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As the Mobile Technologies Core Manager at the University of Michigan’s Eisenberg Family Depression Center, Victoria Bennett helps investigators navigate the university’s robust resources while perpetually looking for opportunities to curate new resources. She aims to reduce friction for investigators who wish to utilize mobile technologies in health research. Drawing from her extensive experience with entrepreneurship, Victoria applies an entrepreneurial mindset to create efficient systems, improving operational effectiveness and impact.             

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Gabriel Mongefranco is a Mobile Data Architect at the University of Michigan's Eisenberg Family Depression Center. Gabriel has over a decade of experience with automation, data analytics, database architecture, dashboard design, software development, and technical writing. He supports U-M researchers with data cleaning, data pipelines, automation and enterprise architecture for wearables and other mobile technologies.

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Details

Details

Article ID: 12878
Created
Wed 10/16/24 12:31 PM
Modified
Sun 1/25/26 6:43 AM
Author(s)
Cathy Goldstein
Gabriel Mongefranco
Victoria Bennett

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