Microfabrication experts are able to quickly, accurately produce complex systems at a micro level at scale. Microfabrication engineers are able to take a design proposal and create a functioning piece of a device or an entire medical deliver system even. Companies like Citrogene specialize in glass microfabrication that are used in a wide variety of industries, including but not limited to medical devices, drug delivery, shadow masks, aerospace, automobiles, and many more.

Biosensors have seen a rise in the demand and use of microfabrication technology. Biosensors are used to detect and analyze outcomes in the wearer. Outside of health monitoring wearables, biosensors are being used in drug delivery systems (such as insulin treatment), organ replacement treatment, and many other fields of study. Thankfully, with increasing demand, companies like Citrogene are available to help manufacture custom biosensors to fit their specific needs.

The future of health monitoring sensors, as mentioned previously, is in adhesives. These breathable, bendable, and stretchable devices provide a challenge in and of themselves when it comes to design. They need to be able to do all the bending and stretching while keeping all of the micro components inside the allow them to function from breaking or malfunctioning. This is where the state-of-the-art microfabrication techniques come in to play. Without microfabrication manufacturing experts, these emerging technologies would not exist.

Outside of the numerous health benefits and ease of use these wearable health sensors provide, they also allow the patient’s health to be tracked over time, especially when paired with a wellness app. Additionally, wearable health sensors and health tracking save patients money by reducing the number of frequent follow up visits to the doctor (which in turn could help reduce overall healthcare costs across the baord). The future of wearable health sensors could help us manage chronic illnesses and chronic pain, they can provide early detection of illness or an episode such as a seizure or anaphylactic shock. Most importantly, however, these advanced pieces of technology can help inform us, and our doctors, of what is happening with our bodies even if we do not realize it.