Iranian researchers have developed a new program that helps doctors monitor patients’ vital signs wirelessly.
This is the first such indigenous system, which and could be expanded into other areas once further testing is conducted.
Mahyar Babazadeh, director of the medical research project, said the device has been designed for electrocardiography monitoring systems, ISNA reported.
The device is used to remove the initial limitations of ECG monitoring systems, since the patients may pull wires unintentionally, causing damage to the system. The new system will work on a UHF signal similar to those used for broadcasting, however, on a limited range.
"The jolts are felt more when patients need to be moved or separated from the device," he said.
"Using the new system, those parts attached via wires can be made wireless and help doctors know about patients’ conditions at any time and under all circumstances."
Remote medical monitoring is still a relatively new industry in Iran. Medical science and technology have been classified by President Hassan Rouhani administration as areas of specific growth in the current five-year development plan.
The growth in wireless monitoring internationally has also caused some in the medical field to worry about the possibility of hacking through wireless systems.
One recent study in the US, conducted by FCC, said unlicensed devices could be operating on the same frequency as medical monitoring.
Wireless technology operates on Channel 37 of the UHF band–most of which is used for television broadcasts. At the American FCC hearing, Chairman Tom Wheeler said, "Wireless medical telemetry devices and radio astronomy services will continue to have interference protection on Channel 37."
In recent months, different ministries have begun to offer limited grants to help spearhead new research in medical technologies, but the program is still relatively unknown to most postgraduate students.
