Ambulatory Investigations Could Help Monitor a Range of Health Conditions

A wireless monitoring system for people with debilitating conditions such as Parkinson's disease (PD) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) could allow healthcare workers to assess a patient's health and the development of their disease, without hindering their movements.

Researchers at Kalasalingam University (Tamil Nadu, India) have developed a real-time monitoring system that consists of vital signs sensors, a sensor network, electronic patient records, and web portal technology that calls on medical personnel when life-threatening events occur. The system circumvents some of the issues associated with current monitoring technology, such as unwieldy equipment and inconvenient wiring between the sensors and the processing unit, a lack of integration of different sensors, and nonexistent support for data collection.

The system itself hinges on standard wireless networking technology with a 0.75-km range, with sensors programmed to send out alert signals above a certain body temperature, below a specific heart rate, or if blood pressure changes by more than 10%. The system hooks into any previously available web-based information portal, and provides an effective emergency response information system to support the need for multiple parties sharing information about a patient's status and locations. The study was published in the May 2010 issue of the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology.

"Recent advances in sensor technology, low-power integrated circuits, and wireless communications have facilitated the design of low-cost, miniature, and lightweight sensors, such as movement, temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate sensors," said lead author Ph.D. candidate Pallikonda Rajasekaran, and colleagues of the department of computer science engineering. "These devices can monitor various signals, process the data from them, and seamlessly integrate with wireless networks for health monitoring."

Related Links:
Kalasalingam University