X-Message-Number: 13556 From: Eugene Leitl <> Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 00:51:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Wireless On-Patient Interface for Health Monitoring http://s2k.arc.nasa.gov/prd_wopO.html Overview Monitoring an astronaut's basic health parameters -- such as body temperature, blood pressure, ECG, and blood gases -- typically requires a variety of sensors. Additional sensors can be involved when human and animal experiments are conducted on the Space Shuttle or Space Station. EEG electrodes may be necessary to look at brain activity, calcium sensors to study bone loss, or EMG electrodes to investigate muscle performance. Sensors 2000! has developed an easy-to-implement wireless biotelemetry system -- called the Wireless On-Patient Interface for Health Monitoring (WOPI) -- that can non-intrusively measure the health parameters of humans and animals in space. The device's sensors, which are connected to miniature transceiver modules, are implanted, ingested, or attached to the body with Band-Aids. Sensors communicate with a belt-worn device that retransmits or records the data and also sends basic commands to each sensor. The device also displays a quick status of all physiological and biological parameters. Technical Description The different sensors used in the WOPI communicate with the monitoring device at different frequencies. The monitoring device is modular and can be configured to meet the users demands. Several transceiver input modules can be plugged into a core module. Each transceiver module transmits commands to and receives data from a particular sensor. The core module controls the operation of each transceiver and prepares the received data for the output module, which can be a display, a data logger, or a re-transmitter that relays the data to a remote base station. Each wireless sensor consists of a transducer (thermistor, electrode, and biosensor), a signal conditioner (preamplifier), and a transceiver module (command receiver and data transmitter). These components can either be mounted on a Band-Aid for non-invasive measurements or put in pill-shaped shells for ingestable or implantable applications. For larger and more complex sensors (for instance a pulse oximeter), the signal conditioner and transceiver can be worn on a wrist band. The system can be expanded to include wireless actuators as well, for instance infusion pumps or other drug delivery systems. Applications NASA The WOPI could be integrated into a spacesuit and provide astronaut with information about their health via a helmet display. This "smart spacesuit" could transmit the information to other astronauts inside the Shuttle or Space Station and generate medical alerts when necessary. Biotelemetry experiments that involve group-housed animals could also benefit from the technology. Sensors could be implanted in research animals and the receiver/controller could be integrated into the animal housing facility, saving space. Non-NASA Physicians could use the system to observe their patients remotely and get continuous access to patient health data. This type of home monitoring means patients could be released from hospitals earlier. The technology also has potential applications in athletics and emergency-response activities. For more information on this product contact Mike Skidmore Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=13556