In development with the Dutch Ministry of Defence (Defense Expertise Center for Military & Equipment & DGO),
2M Engineering, Offroad Apps (VitalsIQ) and EVALAN.
Soldier
Health Patch
Multi Sensor E-health Patch [MSEP]
Automated vital signs monitoring and triage of wounded soldiers
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What is the Soldier Health Patch?
The Soldier Health Patch, officially the Multi Sensor E-Health Patch (MSEP), is a wearable health patch with a detachable recorder. It continuously measures five vital signs of a wounded soldier. Medics place it on the upper chest in seconds. From then on, this biosensor automates vital signs monitoring and triage in the field.
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Why automated triage matters
Today, medics in the evacuation chain often still measure, note and pass on vital signs by hand. They do this under extreme pressure, often for several casualties at once. The MSEP, however, measures heart rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiration rate, blood pressure and core temperature automatically. These parameters follow the NATO standard. In addition, a clear early warning sign light status supports triage. As a result, medics can make faster and better medical decisions.
How the soldier health patch works
The Soldier Health Patch combines a textile patch with a small, detachable recorder. The patch sticks to the skin like a large plaster. It contains the biosensors: electrodes for ECG and impedance measurements, plus an optical sensor for SpO2. The recorder then clicks onto the patch. It holds the electronics, battery, data storage and wireless communication.
Next, algorithms on the recorder turn the raw sensor signals into vital signs. Proven, medically certified sensors measure heart rate, SpO2 and respiration rate. In addition, the patch approximates blood pressure as a trend and estimates core temperature with a heat-flux sensor. However, these two estimates still need clinical validation.
Medics can detach the recorder to charge it, or reuse it on a fresh patch. Meanwhile, the recorder stores all vital signs data securely. It only shares this data with health platforms such as VitalsIQ when it is safe to do so.
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Textile patch with integrated electrodes: measures ECG, respiration and impedance cardiography for blood pressure trends.
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Detachable recorder: electronics, battery, secure data storage and wireless connection to health platforms.
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Optical sensor near the shoulder: measures blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and supports core temperature estimation.
The Soldier Health Patch at a glance
- Product: Multi Sensor E-Health Patch (MSEP), a wearable soldier health patch with a detachable recorder
- Vital signs: heart rate, SpO2, respiration rate, blood pressure* and core temperature*
- Placement: one patch on the upper left chest, the only spot where one device measures all five vital signs
- Triage support: parameters follow the NATO standard, with a early warning sign light status for fast triage
- Connectivity: Bluetooth Low Energy for live dashboards; medics can switch it off completely. Short-range NFC read-out is on the roadmap for tactical situations
- Health platforms: VitalsIQ by Offroad Apps and the EVALAN platform, open to other platforms
- Developed with: Dutch Ministry of Defence (incl. TGTF and DGO), 2M Engineering, Offroad Apps and EVALAN
* The patch currently approximates blood pressure and core temperature; these values still need clinical validation.
Connected to a digital health platform
From patch device to VitalsIQ platform
Vital signs only make a difference when they reach the medic. That is why the recorder of the Soldier Health Patch connects directly to VitalsIQ, the digital health platform by Offroad Apps. VitalsIQ uses sensors and AI to give medics real-time insight into the status of casualties. In addition, it supports patient tracking and evacuation coordination.
In the app, medics see the vital signs from the patch at a glance: respiration rate, heart rate, SpO2, blood pressure and core temperature. Clear, colour-coded tiles show which values need attention first.
No more pen and paper
Together, the patch and the platform replace manual notes on paper. As a result, every medic along the evacuation chain works with the same, up-to-date information. Thanks to the modular data interface, the patch can also connect to other platforms, such as the platform of EVALAN.
Use case: digital casualty care in the field
Instead of measuring and recording vital signs by pen and paper, medics can now enter and store them online in the VitalsIQ platform. This is exactly where the Soldier Health Patch fits in. Instead of measuring and noting them by hand, the patch can now send them to VitalsIQ automatically. As a result, they gain what matters most in casualty care: speed and reliable information.
Video: Defensie Journaal (in Dutch, with Dutch subtitles).
Engineered for the medical evacuation chain
From casualty collection point to hospital
We designed the Soldier Health Patch for the medical evacuation chain of the armed forces. Medics apply the patch at the Casualty Collection Point (CCP) or Role 1 medical facility. After that, it stays on during transport and further treatment. As a result, a complete history of vital signs is available at every step. Even medics later in the chain can consult it.
Monitoring multiple casualties at once
Via Bluetooth Low Energy, medics follow the vital signs of several wounded soldiers on one live dashboard in the VitalsIQ app. That way, they quickly see who needs attention first. In tactical situations, however, the patch must not emit traceable signals. For that reason, medics can switch Bluetooth off completely. In addition, a short-range NFC read-out is on the development roadmap. The medic then simply holds a phone against the recorder.
Designed for real field conditions
Placement has to be fool-proof: fast and correct without thinking, for both men and women. The patch also keeps the sternum free for interventions such as an intraosseous needle. Moreover, the recorder sits high on the chest. As a result, it stays accessible when the soldier wears body armour again. Finally, we design the patch to withstand blood, water, sweat, dirt, heat and cold.
Designed together with military medics
Medics and operational users of the Dutch armed forces play a key role in developing the Soldier Health Patch. In sounding board sessions, they tested concepts and shared their experience from the field. Together, we shaped the design: one integrated patch instead of a chest band, quick and fool-proof placement, and clear signals when vital signs or data quality change.
“One patch, placed in seconds, that keeps measuring from the casualty collection point all the way to the hospital.”
The design goal of the Multi Sensor E-Health Patch, defined together with military medics
Developed with Defence and expert partners
One team, from biosensor to health platform
The Soldier Health Patch brings together the expertise of four Dutch companies. We work in close collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Defence, including TrainingsGeneeskunde & TrainingsFysiologie (TGTF) and the Defence Healthcare Organisation (Defensie Gezondheidszorg Organisatie, DGO). TGTF and DGO bring the medical and operational expertise of the Dutch armed forces into the project.
- Elitac Wearables is the main contractor and project lead. We develop the textile patch, select the sensors and integrate all hardware into one wearable.
- 2M Engineering develops the recorder (PCARDIO sensor) that processes and stores the sensor data (signal processing & algorithms) , and connects it to health platforms. 2M develops and certifies sensor systems for medical and defence applications in an ISO 13485-certified environment.
- Offroad Apps develops VitalsIQ: a platform that uses sensors and AI to give real-time insight into the status of casualties, supporting patient tracking and evacuation coordination in the military domain.
- EVALAN develops IoT and telemetry solutions for defence and other sectors, and connects the patch to its own platform.
Elitac Wearables and 2M Engineering also work together on the Flight Sense System, a wearable sensor system that monitors the physiological strain of pilots.
Soldier Health Patch project partners
Elitac Wearables develops the Multi Sensor E-Health Patch (MSEP) together with the Dutch Ministry of Defence, including Defense Expertise Center for Military & Equipment (DEC M&U), and the Defence Healthcare Organisation (DGO), and with industry partners 2M Engineering, Offroad Apps (VitalsIQ) and EVALAN.
Trusted by defence and research organisations
Elitac Wearables works with leading defence and research organisations, including TNO, the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), the Center for Man and Aviation (CML) and the Dutch Ministry of Defence. In addition, NATO selected Elitac Wearables for the NATO DIANA cohort: NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic. Read more about our military wearables development.
Current status
From feasibility study to validated prototypes
In 2026, we completed the feasibility study. First, we defined the five vital parameters and selected the sensors. Then, we determined the best location on the body and the connection to Defence health platforms. Now, in the proof-of-concept phase, a working prototype measures the vital signs on the body. It also shows them in the VitalsIQ app.
Next, we will build pilot samples and validate them in a medical context. After that, further developed prototypes will also connect to the EVALAN platform. Medical validation and certification follow.
Beyond defence, the same technology can support first responders, ambulance services and mass casualty incidents. Likewise, it fits remote patient monitoring in civil healthcare, wherever fast and reliable triage makes the difference.
Explore related technology
- Bio-signal sensing: how we measure physiological signals with wearable biosensors
- Flight Sense System: wearable physiological monitoring for pilots
- Military wearables development: advanced technology for soldier performance
- Mission Navigation Belt: haptic navigation for dismounted soldiers
- Haptic feedback wearables: how we use vibrations to communicate information
- How do wearables monitor soldier health in the field?
Frequently asked questions about the Soldier Health Patch
What is a soldier health patch?
A soldier health patch is a wearable medical sensor. Medics stick it onto the body of a wounded soldier to monitor vital signs automatically. The Soldier Health Patch by Elitac Wearables, officially the Multi Sensor E-Health Patch (MSEP), combines a textile patch and a detachable recorder. It continuously measures five vital signs. As a result, it supports triage and medical decision-making in the field.
Which vital signs does the MSEP measure?
The MSEP measures five vital signs that follow the NATO standard: heart rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiration rate, blood pressure and core temperature. Proven, medically certified sensors measure heart rate, SpO2 and respiration rate. However, the patch currently approximates blood pressure (as a trend) and core temperature; these values still need clinical validation.
How does the patch support triage of wounded soldiers?
The patch measures vital signs continuously and automatically. As a result, medics no longer depend on manual measurements alone. A traffic light status shows whether vital signs stay within set limits. In addition, an indicator shows whether the data is reliable. Via a live dashboard in VitalsIQ, medics monitor several casualties at once and decide who needs care first.
Where in the medical evacuation chain is the patch used?
Medics apply the Soldier Health Patch at the Casualty Collection Point (CCP) or Role 1 medical facility. After that, it stays on during transport and further treatment, all the way to the hospital. Because the recorder stores the history of vital signs, the information is available at every step of the chain.
How is health data stored and shared securely?
The recorder stores vital signs data securely and only shares it when it is safe. For live monitoring, it connects to health platforms via Bluetooth Low Energy. In tactical situations, however, medics can switch Bluetooth off completely, so the patch emits no traceable signals. In addition, a short-range NFC read-out is on the development roadmap.
Which health platforms does the MSEP connect to?
The MSEP connects to VitalsIQ, the casualty monitoring platform by Offroad Apps, and to the platform of EVALAN. Thanks to the modular data interface, other health platforms can easily connect as well.
Is the Multi Sensor E-Health Patch a certified medical device?
Not yet. The MSEP is in development and currently in the proof-of-concept phase. It builds on sensors and a recorder platform that already hold medical certification for several measurements. Medical validation and certification of the complete system are part of the next development phases.
Who develops the Soldier Health Patch?
Elitac Wearables (Utrecht, the Netherlands) develops the Soldier Health Patch as main contractor. We work together with 2M Engineering, Offroad Apps and EVALAN, in close collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Defence, including TGTF and DGO.
Can the technology be used outside defence?
Yes. Automated vital signs monitoring and triage is also relevant for first responders, ambulance services, disaster medicine and mass casualty incidents, and for remote patient monitoring in civil healthcare.
Contact us
If you would like to learn more about the Soldier Health Patch or our wearable product development services for health monitoring and medical wearables, please leave your details in the form. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
