Wearable patient monitor transmits over WiFi

A new wireless monitor which is worn by the patient has been developed by German medical equipment manufacturers Dräger Medical.

The Infinity TeleSmart system (below) has similar functionality to a full-sized monitor but still can be worn on the patient’s body. Like a normal telemetry device, it is attached to the patient’s skin with plasters and collects data such as heart rate and blood oxygenation. It also shows data as it is collected on a screen on the front.

The system can provide continuous monitoring of a patient, and can alert caregivers if the patient needs attention or has gone out of the network coverage area.

A Dräger Medical spokesperson told E-Health Insider: “Infinity TeleSmart is a new telemetry generation and different from existing products. We are using WiFi for transmitting and receiving the data from the patient.

Using WiFi allows greater flexibility, says Drager — the number of transmitters in use can be in excess of 1000, on a wireless network already installed in the hospital: "Historically, telemetry systems have used specific radiofrequency channels which have resulted in a limitation to the number of transmitters that can be used.”

The spokesperson added: “For the first time a telemetry transmitter has its own monitoring display making it the first patient-worn monitor available in the market today. It brings alarm notification to the telemetry transmitter. Another benefit is that the battery is rechargeable, similar to the use of mobile phones.

“Through the use of WiFi technology, which is already heavily deployed by hospitals and other medical institutions, significant cost benefits are accrued as it no longer necessary to install a separate telemetry network.”

The device will be controlled from designated Infinity CentralStation central monitoring stations. Controllers can control the types of data being monitored and the volume of alarms if patients are in trouble.

“Working together, the Infinity CentralStation and Infinity TeleSmart enhance patient care management by providing fast data access, rapid assessment, decision support and clinical reporting,” the spokesperson told EHI.

Testing of the system was carried out both in house and on location in hospitals. The system is currently only in use in trial sites around the world, but Drager claims it has created significant interest following its launch at the Medica fair in Germany last month.  The system will be available for shipment in March 2007.