IS251-02 @ Loyola University in Maryland: Advances in “Mobile Health”

Who ever thought that we would be able to monitor our health with a mobile phone? Well, the time has come. Imec and Holst Centre, along with TASS software professionals have recently developed a mobile heart monitoring system. With this new invention, people will be able to view their electrocardiogram on an Android phone.[1] Less and less people will have to go to a health professional for issues that can be monitored by this device. Not only will mobile monitoring be used in the United States and the UK, but negotiations are being made to launch this system in India as well. This is the first complete body area network (BAN) connected to a mobile phone. But, how exactly does this new mobile heart monitoring system work? Simply, a patient will attach wireless sensor nodes to their chest, which constantly monitor physical and vital signs. Signals are transmitted from the wireless sensors to an Android mobile phone. Then, data is collected, stored, and sent over the Internet so that a physician can examine it. It’s like having a doctor in your pocket!

Imec and Holst Centre’s creation’s interface is based on the Linux kernel, which makes the system easily portable. This allows the transmission of health results from the monitors to be done conveniently and efficiently, through PDA’s or even laptops. The convenience of this innovative monitoring system has spread beyond the United States and the United Kingdom. India is also launching a similar version of this system. Loughborough University engineers have joined forces with experts in India to develop their mobile phone monitoring system. This device will allow doctors to observe a patient’s ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and blood glucose level.[2] All of this information will be able to be transmitted to a hospital or clinic anywhere in the world.

I think that with this particular new advancement, there are many benefits that will make the device very successful. Patient’s health information will be easily accessible and transferable. The system is not invasive and the nodes are easily attached and very discrete. People will visit doctors less often. As a whole, these new health monitoring systems will benefit society. You can be anywhere and still be monitored. Although, there are several benefits, patients may become detached from their health care professionals if they are constantly relying on at home care through their Android phone. If there were ever a glitch in the system, their health could be at risk.

From a financial standpoint, many of us are aware that the cost for health care coverage is rising. But, people aren’t getting any younger. As we age, we are in need of more and more care from a medical standpoint. “Mobile health” may be the answer we’ve been looking for. Users will receive long-term monitoring from the comfort of their own homes. As these systems gain popularity, occupancy in hospitals will decrease because many patients will choose being monitored from home over staying in the hospital.

It was only a matter of time before a device like this came into existence. Our society is moving toward becoming more of a technological world every day. Plus, other parts of the globe are able to develop innovations like ours, which will further their citizen’s medical health concurrently. It’s true: “Such a ‘Mobile Disease Management System’ was long overdue.”[3]