Making sense of it all

The company engaged Atos to help evaluate a range of sensors based on a set of criteria that included their ability to provide accurate digital biomarker data. Atos assembled a multi-disciplinary team that included expert clinicians as well as data scientists and technical staff.

As the lead technology partner, Atos’s role was to help design the study involving a range of potentially suitable sensors. The project was broken down into two phases: a survey of sensors available in the marketplace, followed by an analysis of sensor performance in real-world situations.

Phase 1: Market research and recommendation

In the initial phase, Atos carried out an in-depth market research and evaluation process to identify potential sensor devices capable of meeting the requirements of the clinical trials. The selected sensor solutions were assessed primarily for their technical capabilities, deployment readiness and usability, among other criteria.

Atos provided a detailed report with a ranking of the sensors according to a defined scoring model, along with a final expert recommendation for review and consideration. Once a decision was made regarding which sensors warranted further testing, Atos proceeded to set up, configure and deploy a testing environment, while ensuring end-to-end asset management.

Phase 2: Sensor testing and data analysis

In the next phase, Atos tested the devices to assess the capabilities of the sensors in a real-life environment. To test the digital biomarkers, human subjects of different ages wore the sensors, enabling Atos and the life sciences company to collect specific test data in accordance with a defined protocol. For example, the subjects’ movement and posture provided data points to investigate physical movement patterns.

The goal of the sensor tests was to evaluate the capabilities of each device in terms of usability, data collection capabilities and the quality of the data collected, among others. A large volume of data was collected during the testing phase, which was analyzed to compare and confirm the quality and reliability of the measurements captured by each sensor.

Better living through data

The life sciences company leveraged the digital capabilities and experience of Atos to accelerate the development of digital biomarkers. The detailed and critical analysis of sensor and solution capabilities, enabled by a robust and reliable study and recommendations, helped this life sciences leader identify the most suitable sensors for its clinical trials.

The initiative also yielded valuable insights and feedback on real-world performance to help the sensor provider improve the capabilities and quality of its devices. Ultimately, the reliable data that the sensors deliver will enable the life sciences firm to improve its competitive position in the market, so it can advance its mission of improving patients’ lives.