Australian company Universal Biosensors has developed OneTouch Verio, a blood glucose monitoring product for diabetes patients. The company, which spends roughly $10 million annually on research and development, is also developing a number of other clinically relevant point-of-care diagnostic tests, such as Prothrombin Time test (PT-INR test), which will be used to monitor blood thinning anticoagulant warfarin, which is a treatment for patients at risk of blood clot or stroke.

"POCD would lead to more frequent testing or monitoring, improved health economics (reduced costs of healthcare) driven by better health management, increased efficiencies in testing at the point of care (lower costs of logistics, administration, health professional time), and POCD products will help relieve pressure on the healthcare system by increasing use of self-monitoring tests at home (e.g. diabetes care)," says Mr Paul Wright, CEO, Universal Biosensors.

India-based TATA Elxsi has also developed a device to monitor blood glucose level. The device is targeted at diabetes patients who require to continuously monitor their blood glucose level, multiple times a day and accordingly take insulin shots. Typically, the user needs to carry a set of three devices - the lancet, a glucose monitoring device and an insulin-delivery device. The research team at Tata Elxsi has developed a device that combines the features of these three devices and integrates them into a single convenient lifestyle accessory that is compact and easy-to-use.

Similarly, Wipro is developing remote fetal monitoring solution for high risk pregnancies. It is a wireless cardiotogograph (CTG) for antenatal care and labor or delivery that uses a small wearable wireless fetal-maternal monitoring device. The solution offers ambulatory belt-less monitoring solution that needs minimal user intervention. Accurate surveillance of fetal heart rate, maternal heart rate and uterine activities is additionally supported by electronic storage of clinical data and decision support software that acts as aid to the doctors. Currently, two pilot studies are taking place in India.

Yethi Medical System offers a multi-parameter measuring device with cloud connectivity. "We are the only portable multi-parameter measurement device that has cloud connectivity. We are significantly lower in cost compared to other devices that can measure the same parameters, but do not have connectivity. This does not include the cost of sales or marketing cycles," says Mr Harish Nuggehalli of Yethi Medical Systems. He added that developing a good solution in 18-24 months required around $750,000.