Bluetooth in Medicine: Standard for Connectivity
In medicine, Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth LE) technology is becoming the de-facto standard for providing connectivity. By 2020, there will be more than six billion smartphone users in the world, the vast majority of which will be equipped with Bluetooth (Orthogonal). Meanwhile, it is expected that the market for wearable, implantable and portable medical devices will exceed $180 billion by 2020. It is obvious that establishing connections between medical devices and smartphones could open up many interesting possibilities.
New features of well known devices
This type of communication opens up new opportunities. For instance, a thermometer with a Bluetooth module can transmit data to a patient’s smartphone, then, via a mobile application, immediately record that data into the patient’s electronic medical history and notify their doctor if anything raises red flags. Science fiction? Guess again! An assortment of such thermometers is already being sold on AliExpress for just a few dollars apiece. As well you can buy a pill box with the Bluetooth headset synchronized with the mobile application that reminds to take medicine at the appointed time.
The next step is to integrate this technology into the treatment process, making it a part of the medical system instead of just an interesting toy. The first stage in this process is solving extremely non-trivial issues in information security.
MDignum partner’s case: IOP tonometer
And here’s a more complex example. Patients diagnosed with glaucoma need to take regular measurements of their intraocular pressure (IOP). This is usually done in a clinic by an ophthalmologist with a complex and expensive machine, which often requires direct contact with the cornea. Meanwhile, at Ryazan State Instrument-making Enterprise (RSIE) a tonometer has been developed that can take a IOP measurements through a patient’s eyelid. This eliminates the risk of eye damage and means that measurements do not have to be conducted at a clinic. RSIE engineers are now working to bestow the device with Bluetooth capabilities in order to connect it with information systems. However, the device already costs several hundred dollars and will be too expensive for many patients. Thus, information security is not the only concern. Economic considerations must also be addressed.
Why Bluetooth, not Wi Fi or something else?
Experts at Orthogonal.io consider Bluetooth will be preferable method for providing connectivity for medical devices:
The wireless technologies that enable the connectivity of medical devices are dynamic — rather than static — and they are continuously evolving. Wi-Fi, Cellular, Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth® are among the four leading wireless communication technologies.
Of the four different types of wireless connection, Bluetooth wireless technology has emerged as the preferred communication method in the connected medical device and diagnostic industry. Bluetooth’s prominence in this arena can be traced to its ability to address the specific needs of medical device manufacturers. Bluetooth wireless technology consumes small amounts of power, is nearly universally available in smartphones and tablets and is widely accepted by health care administrators, hospitals and physicians. Additionally, Bluetooth offers medical device manufacturers and others the opportunity to license the Bluetooth trademark as a marketing strategy.
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