Sensor network for medical electronics off wings

The sensor is not a new product, but a listing already has more than half a century old products.

However, researchers with the newly developed software technology, sensor collected information wirelessly transmitted to the user — this is the rise in recent years abroad "sensor network" (sensornet) new technology. Based on sensor network technology medical equipment in hospitals, the family has a very wide range of applications, they will become the next few years international medical equipment market of hot-selling products.

Close the gap between patient and doctor

Through the sensor network technology, people can at home PC real-time observation to thousands of miles to Niagara Falls of water change, herders can be observed in the home of the herd or their feeding flocks graze in the wild, geologists can in the Office observed earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.

In the medical device industry, sensor networks also have great value. For example, the United States almost 80 per cent of households have one or more of household electronic diagnostic equipment (such as electronic blood pressure meter, electronic blood glucose meter, etc.). However, the problem is that even if the patient's own blood pressure, blood glucose levels measured data, his doctors are still unable to obtain first-hand information.

Long ago, the United States IBM and the University of Florida researchers work together to use a volume only bean-like size of embedded sensors and special software enables community hospital doctor homes will be able to understand that he is responsible for the patient's blood glucose, blood pressure.

This hidden in electronic blood pressure meter, electronic blood glucose meters, sensors can be measured data in a timely manner through wireless transmission to the PC doctor, would enable the timely formulation on the medical staff of treatment measures. The new technology of another advantage is that you can use the sensor network are thousands of miles of rural hospitals CT, MRI and other electronic diagnostic results are wirelessly transmitted to large Medical Center for expert consultation. This through the embedded sensor and external links, the ultimate in computer display data of special medical devices, in a foreign country is also known as "smart-medical device" (smartmedicaldevice). This product just like wings, allowing doctors regardless of distance sitting in the Office will be able to understand the patient's body changes and to guide treatment.

A wide range of applications

The following is aboard has developed or is developing a number of sensor networks only have a new medical device product:

1. automatic blood oxygen content monitor

Number of head injuries, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral tumors and other necessary timely brain surgery to remove the brain tissue of hematoma or tumor, or it will endanger the lives of patients.

However, the brain is very sensitive to hypoxia, if brain surgery in cerebral circulation insufficiency make brain hypoxia reaches a certain level, will make the patient's brain is permanently injured. While the surgeon to do brain surgery is difficult to observe patients ' brain tissue hypoxia. United States Duke University researchers recently developed a new product, oxygen monitoring, it is close to the surface of the patient's forehead, once the brain surgery patients brain Anoxia conditions occur, it would immediately issue a sound and light signal to alert doctors to increase the amount of blood or oxygen therapy.

2. adoption of the eyeball, aqueous monitoring blood glucose by instrument

Now sold in most electronic blood glucose meter is determined by the patient himself prick your finger to obtain blood samples for measurement of blood sugar.

This is for patients with some problems. United Kingdom Home medical equipment company recently developed a sensor-type blood glucose meters without the need to prick your finger can measure the patient's blood sugar. The instrument works is: the use of optical sensors emit 670 nm wavelength LED light patient's eye, by measuring the eyeball aqueous of blood sugar that can be measured in her blood sugar, detection time only need 5 minutes. The industry believes that this non-injury determination of glucose is bound by optical sensors have broad market prospects.

3. the thrombus positioning sensor

According to clinical medical research reported that at present, the vast majority of ischemic stroke patients are, namely, cerebral apoplexy in Embolic cause blood circulation and induced apoplexy.

If you cannot find a convenient location for the precise measurement of thrombus, can bring the doctor promptly remove the Embolic brain blood flow, the return flow. United States NIR company with advanced sensor technology developed by the laser diode and helical polymer made of flexible memory devices, insert it after use of the carotid artery CT pinpoints to remove embolus. Researchers use the product in experimental animals successfully extracted a diameter of 3 mm for thrombosis.

4. flexible bandages

Very frequently-occurring disease long will suffer from diabetes, diabetic foot, foot due to capillary necrosis serious ulcer.

This is a very difficult to treat diseases. United States a medical device development agencies have invented a diabetic foot using new products — smart bandages. The secret lies in the bandages in mosaic has a grain size so small sensor. The doctor through the sensor's wireless signal current with changes in the patient's foot ulcer, such as foot temperature, humidity and microbe propagation conditions to take timely measures on disease. According to reports, this smart-sensor size in the bandage only the size of a grain of sand, but its internal complex electronic circuit ensures that signals transmitted in a timely manner.

5. monitoring of carcinogenic substances of Nano-Probes

The living environment in a variety of carcinogenic substances, such as benzopyrene, etc.

Some people are born on these highly sensitive environmental carcinogens, their body cells and therefore more vulnerable to injury and induce a tumor. If the doctor can prior determination of the patient cells affected by environmental carcinogens of injury and timely measures suspension cell malignant transformation process, can fundamentally prevent tumor formation.

United States, Oak Ridge National Scientific Institute researchers recently announced that they had developed a new type of sensors — Nano-surface coating cell probe.

It is dedicated to monitoring the patient cells affected by environmental chemical carcinogens (especially benzopyrene and II dioxin)The extent of damage to the cells. This Nano-Probes can send 10 ~ 100 nanometer light, its surface by antibody coating of optical fiber to determination of the extent of damage of cells, high accuracy. Scientists believe that the future can scale this nano-probes, can significantly improve the situation of a high incidence of malignant tumors.

6. multiple-use wireless monitor

Philips Medical Center recently announced that they have developed an automatic transmission signal of patient monitors — SureSignVS2.

This product can help the doctor in the Office at any time to monitor the patient's vital signs (such as blood pressure, pulse, etc.).

According to the research and Development Center, the official responsible for the equipment especially suitable for newborns, children and elderly people to use.

It can be removed from the nurses return trips and measuring all kinds of data. The company will as soon as possible to the international market such new products monitors.