Archive for June, 2010

FDA and FCC Meeting July Regarding Wireless and Medical Devices

Sunday, June 20th, 2010 by David Hoglund

This should be a perfect storm of lively discussions surrounding the many topics of wireless in all areas of healthcare.  The FDA and FCC are planning to focus the public meeting on the following topics.

a. Data integrity and realiability issues arising from the use of alocated spectrum, the use of unlicensed devices, and the use of commerical networks and applications, and needs, uses, and risks for medical grade wireless technology and communications.

b. Medical device and system security issues – inadvertent and intentional intrusion – nonfunction and malfunction.

c. Trends in medical devices using allocated spectrum and using unlicensed operation, and medical devices and applications using commercial networks. Consideration of various wireless networking scenarios and use cases.

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Wireless in Healthcare Follows Other Vertical Industrial Markets (PLC)

Sunday, June 20th, 2010 by David Hoglund

Over ten years ago I worked with www.opto22.com  in Temecula, California which is the market leader in IP enabling PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers). Their solutions allow any non IP enabled device (PLC or other) to become IP enabled with complete integration into any enterprise grade SNMP system. The purpose back then was to use a FHSS (Frequency Hopped Spread Spectrum Radio) and figure out an embedded solution.  Now they have moved forward to an enterprise grade 802.11a/b/g/n approach.  So, the question comes up; what the heck does industrial automation have to do with medical devices? Pretty much the same in a lot of areas. You have a lot of legacy non-IP enabled serial based medical devices that were never intended to be "networked".  In some instances you simply do not need the bandwidth of 802.11a/b/g/n; but Zigbee needs to be used. (You also have power issues as well from 802.11a/b/g/n.)  From the use model (remote servicing) you now need a true M to M (Man to Machine) interface.  Now with the global move to 4G and the use model of GSM/CDMA; the "connectivity" to the device end has been baked, and you also have the back end solution as well enabled.  Integra Systems, Inc. is working on several design concepts to enable in-home and out of the hospital enterprise equipment to realize true M to M.

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Download 094962r00ZB_MWG-ZigBee_Wireless_Sensor_Applications_for_Health,_Wellness_and

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