University of Arizona researchers are developing technology that can help doctors in remote areas transmit important data about patients faster. UA bioengineering professor Philip Gutruf says the design takes wearable data collecting devices to the next step. “We can now integrate antenna systems into this wearable mesh that are powerful enough for us to transmit data over long distances,"" he said. The transmission technology can move data across 15 miles without the need for cell towers or internet access. Gutruf notes it can be especially helpful for first responders deep on reservation land, or medical personnel on a battlefield where digital infrastructure has been rendered unusable or destroyed. Gutruf and his team’s work is profiled in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.