Biosignal monitoring system for mobile telemedicine

Abstract

This paper describes the design of a prototype integrated mobile telemedicine system that is compatible with existing public mobile telecommunication network, CDMA 1xEVDO. The mobile telemedicine system consists of two parts. One is a physiological signal measuring part, and the other is a PC system for the signal processing and telecommunication. The system uses NetMeeting to transmit video, audio and patient biosignals from a moving ambulance to a hospital and delivers to the personal computer of the doctor. The patient biosignals are noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP), arterial oxygen saturation (SpO/sub 2/), respiration pattern, electrocardiogram (ECG), heart sound, body core temperature and blood glucose concentration. For the emergency medicine, vital signs are focused and the remote medical monitoring, consulting, and health care are intended. The mobile telemedicine system was implemented, and tested for real time medical consultation during ambulance transport. This PC based mobile telemedicine system is flexible enough to accommodate newer components in wireless communication and portable sensing technologies. The present study suggests that the mobile telemedicine system using CDMA 1xEVDO is aids to patient monitoring and diagnosis as well as a convenient means of communications in the ambulance for the emergency medical care.