top of page
  • Lloyd Price

Ultra WideBand technology: promising new tech for health & social care and 'one to watch in 2024'



Exec Summary:

Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is a promising technology with a wide range of potential applications in medicine. Here are some of the most promising applications of UWB technology in medicine:

  • Remote patient monitoring: UWB technology can be used to monitor patients' vital signs and activities remotely. This can be done by placing UWB sensors in the patient's home or other location. The sensors can then transmit data to a doctor or other healthcare provider, who can monitor the patient's health in real time.

  • Fall detection: UWB technology can be used to detect falls in elderly people and people with disabilities. This can be done by placing UWB sensors in the patient's home or other location. If the sensor detects a fall, it can send an alert to a doctor or other healthcare provider.

  • Localisation: UWB technology can be used to localize patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings. This can be done by placing UWB sensors in strategic locations. If a patient needs to be found quickly, the sensors can be used to track the patient's location.

  • Surgery: UWB technology can be used to guide surgeons during surgery. This can be done by placing UWB sensors on the patient's body and on the surgical instruments. The sensors can then transmit data to a computer, which can be used to create a real-time 3D image of the patient's body. This image can be used by the surgeon to guide the surgical instruments.

  • Medical imaging: UWB technology can be used to create images of the human body without the use of radiation. This can be done by using UWB waves to measure the reflections of objects in the body. This technology is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to revolutionize medical imaging.

UWB technology is a promising technology with a wide range of potential applications in medicine. As the technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative applications of UWB in the healthcare industry.


Engage with the HealthTech Community


HealthTech M&A Newsletter from Nelson Advisors - Market Insights & Analysis for Founders & Investors. Subscribe today! https://lnkd.in/e5hTp_xb


HealthTech M&A Advisory by Founders for Founders, Owners & Investors. Buy Side, Sell Side, Growth and Strategy mandates - Email lloyd@nelsonadvisors.co.uk


HealthTech Thought Leadership from Nelson Advisors - Industry Insights & Analysis for Founders, Owners & Investors. Visit https://www.healthcare.digital



Intro to Ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse radar:


Ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse radar is a type of radar that uses short, high-power pulses of radio waves to measure the distance, velocity, and shape of objects. The UWB radar emits a short pulse of radio waves, which is reflected by the object and returns to the radar.


The time it takes for the pulse to travel to the object and back is used to calculate the distance to the object. The frequency of the pulse is used to calculate the velocity of the object.


UWB impulse radar has several advantages over traditional radar systems. First, it has a very high range resolution, which means that it can accurately measure the distance to objects that are close together. Second, it has a very high Doppler resolution, which means that it can accurately measure the velocity of objects that are moving quickly. Third, it is very resistant to interference from other radio signals.


UWB impulse radar is used in a variety of applications, including:

  • Automotive radar: UWB radar is used in cars to detect other cars, pedestrians, and obstacles. It is used for safety features such as blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking.

  • Medical imaging: UWB radar is used to image the human body without radiation exposure. It is used to detect cancer, heart disease, and other diseases.

  • Security: UWB radar is used to detect intrusions and track people and objects. It is used in airports, prisons, and other security-sensitive areas.

  • Industrial automation: UWB radar is used to track the movement of objects in factories and warehouses. It is used for applications such as inventory management and quality control.

UWB impulse radar is a promising technology with a wide range of applications. It is still under development, but it has the potential to revolutionize many industries.


Here are some of the specific applications of UWB impulse radar:

  • Through-wall imaging: UWB impulse radar can be used to image objects that are behind walls. This is because the radar's short pulses can penetrate walls and other obstacles. This makes UWB impulse radar ideal for applications such as search and rescue and homeland security.

  • Vital sign monitoring: UWB impulse radar can be used to monitor a person's vital signs, such as heart rate and breathing. This is because the radar can detect the small changes in the body that are caused by these vital signs. UWB impulse radar can be used in hospitals and other healthcare settings to monitor patients.

  • Object tracking: UWB impulse radar can be used to track the movement of objects. This is because the radar can measure the distance and velocity of objects. UWB impulse radar can be used in applications such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and robotics.

  • Vehicle collision avoidance: UWB impulse radar can be used to detect other vehicles and objects in the vicinity of a vehicle. This information can be used to prevent collisions. UWB impulse radar is used in many modern vehicles as a safety feature.

UWB impulse radar is a rapidly growing technology with a wide range of potential applications. It is still under development, but it has the potential to revolutionize many industries.



Ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse radar and remote patient monitoring (RPM)

Ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse radar can be used for remote patient monitoring (RPM) in a number of ways.

  • Vital sign monitoring: UWB impulse radar can be used to monitor a person's vital signs, such as heart rate, breathing, and body temperature. This is because the radar can detect the small changes in the body that are caused by these vital signs. UWB impulse radar can be used in homes and other settings to monitor patients who are at risk for falls, heart attacks, or other health problems.

  • Fall detection: UWB impulse radar can be used to detect falls. This is because the radar can detect the sudden change in acceleration that occurs when a person falls. UWB impulse radar can be used in homes and other settings to monitor elderly people and people with disabilities who are at risk for falls.

  • Activity monitoring: UWB impulse radar can be used to monitor a person's activity levels. This is because the radar can detect the movement of the body. UWB impulse radar can be used in homes and other settings to monitor patients who are recovering from surgery or other medical conditions.

  • Localization: UWB impulse radar can be used to localize a person's position. This is because the radar can measure the distance and angle to the person. UWB impulse radar can be used in homes and other settings to track the movement of patients who are at risk for wandering.

UWB impulse radar is a promising technology for RPM. It is non-invasive, has a long range, and can be used to monitor a variety of vital signs and activities. However, UWB impulse radar is still under development, and there are some challenges that need to be addressed before it can be widely used for RPM.


One challenge is that UWB impulse radar can be affected by noise and interference. This can make it difficult to accurately measure vital signs and activities. Another challenge is that UWB impulse radar can be expensive. This could limit its use in some settings.


Despite these challenges, UWB impulse radar has the potential to revolutionize RPM. It could provide a more accurate and reliable way to monitor patients' health than traditional methods. This could lead to better outcomes for patients and lower healthcare costs.


Here are some of the companies that are developing UWB impulse radar for RPM:

  • Keenly Health: Keenly Health is developing a system that uses UWB impulse radar to monitor patients' vital signs and activities in their homes.

  • AuraSense: AuraSense is developing a system that uses UWB impulse radar to detect falls and other medical events.

  • Mital: Mital is developing a system that uses UWB impulse radar to localize patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

These are just a few of the companies that are developing UWB impulse radar for RPM. This is a rapidly growing area of research, and it is likely that we will see more and more companies developing this technology in the coming years.


Final Thoughts:


UWB technology has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. It could provide a more accurate and reliable way to monitor patients' health than traditional methods. This could lead to better outcomes for patients and lower healthcare costs.


For these reasons, successful and well known venture capital firms are investing in UWB technology startups, the main investors to date have been:

  • Intel Capital: Intel Capital is the venture capital arm of Intel Corporation. The firm invests in early-stage companies that are developing technologies that are relevant to Intel's business. Intel Capital has invested in several UWB technology startups, including Kontakt.io and NXP Semiconductors.

  • Sequoia Capital: Sequoia Capital is a venture capital firm that has invested in some of the most successful technology companies in the world, including Apple, Google, and Cisco Systems. The firm has also invested in several UWB technology startups, including Applied Intent and Pozyx.

  • NEA: NEA is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies that are developing innovative technologies. The firm has invested in several UWB technology startups, including Decawave and Time Domain.

  • Draper Fisher Jurvetson: Draper Fisher Jurvetson is a venture capital firm that has invested in a wide range of technology companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and Spotify. The firm has also invested in several UWB technology startups, including UWB Sensor Systems and Ubisense.

  • Khosla Ventures: Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies that are developing disruptive technologies. The firm has invested in several UWB technology startups, including AirTag and Context.io.

These are just a few of the venture capital firms that are investing in UWB technology startups. The UWB technology space is rapidly growing, and we can expect to see even more venture capital firms investing in this area in the coming years.


Here are some of the reasons why venture capitalists are investing in UWB technology startups:

  • The potential for disruption: UWB technology has the potential to disrupt several established industries, including retail, manufacturing, and healthcare. This makes UWB technology a very attractive investment for venture capitalists.

  • The growing market: The market for UWB technology is growing rapidly. This is due to the increasing demand for accurate and reliable location-based services.

  • The strong team: Many UWB technology startups have strong teams with experience in developing and commercializing innovative technologies. This makes these startups more attractive to venture capitalists.

Overall, the UWB technology space is a very promising area for investment. Venture capitalists are investing in UWB technology startups because of the potential for disruption, the growing market, and the strong teams behind these startups.


Engage with the HealthTech Community


HealthTech M&A Newsletter from Nelson Advisors - Market Insights & Analysis for Founders & Investors. Subscribe today! https://lnkd.in/e5hTp_xb


HealthTech M&A Advisory by Founders for Founders, Owners & Investors. Buy Side, Sell Side, Growth and Strategy mandates - Email lloyd@nelsonadvisors.co.uk


HealthTech Thought Leadership from Nelson Advisors - Industry Insights & Analysis for Founders, Owners & Investors. Visit https://www.healthcare.digital



47 views
Screenshot 2023-11-06 at 13.13.55.png
bottom of page