Development opportunity
The technology development firm Cambridge Consultants has announced the first demonstration of the Vena chip, an emerging industry standard allowing medical devices to transmit data over wireless networks.
The development will give users, especially those with chronic conditions, the ability to monitor their own health accurately, systematically and independently. The Vena platform uses low-cost wireless technology and will allow devices to deliver medical readings to a central monitor located in the home, or even to an online health record such as Google Health or Microsoft Health Vault.
Cambridge Consultants say Vena can be added to devices for a cost of $10 and could be available in medical devices by the end of 2008.
“Consumers are taking an increasingly active part in monitoring and managing their health,” said Paul Williamson, Head of Wireless Medical, Cambridge Consultants. “This first successful demonstration of the platform, combined with its affordability, and compatibility, opens up a whole vista of possibilities in the way health is monitored and treated.”
Vena embeds both the emerging IEEE11073 standard, which ensures compatibility of data exchanged between different types of devices, and the emerging Bluetooth Medical Device Profile, optimised for the secure transport of medical data, onto the single chip.
It has been successfully tested with a pulse oximeter and weighing scales, and it is intended to expand Vena’s capabilities to other devices including blood pressure monitors.
The platform is also capable of delivering a complete display, which means that device manufacturers now simply need to add their sensor of choice and the device is wireless-ready.
The Vena platform can be used with multiple devices, providing a connection to online records through a monitoring station, home PC or set top box. In addition to Bluetooth, the platform incorporates complete support for a range of other connections.
Full TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) implementation allows wi-fi or ethernet connections. Cable connections via UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter) or USB can also be added. The platform can be used to transmit data via mobile phones for health and fitness applications on the move.
“The Vena platform can be easily built into devices at any stage of the design or production process,” said Paul Williamson. “This ease of implementation makes it possible that medical devices with wireless capability could be commercially available before the end of 2008.”
IEEE 11073 Personal Health Data is a framework of standards that addresses transport-independent application and information profiles between personal telehealth devices and monitors/managers such as a health appliance, set top box, cell phone, or personal computer.
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