Add Secure Wi-Fi to IoMT Applications Simply by Using a Wireless Module
Key Highlights
- IoMT devices help monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, supporting early illness detection.
- Wearables like smartwatches have demonstrated reliability in detecting conditions like atrial fibrillation, providing early alerts to users and doctors.
- Wireless connectivity and advanced batteries make continuous health data collection more accessible and efficient than ever before.
Image Source: Mouser Electronics
Healthcare providers around the world are facing a range of challenges as populations age and life expectancy rises. In some ways, it’s a good problem to have, highlighting that campaigns to encourage healthier lifestyles and advancements in healthcare have had an impact. According to the OECD Health at a Glance: Europe 2024 report,[1] life expectancy at age 65 now exceeds 20 years. However, with more than half of these years being impaired by chronic illnesses and disabilities, healthcare providers are being placed under ever-greater pressure.
More Data Earlier Makes Diagnosis Simpler
The primary issue is workforce shortages. But addressing this issue alone isn’t enough to deal with the wave of healthcare challenges coming our way. In parallel, healthcare providers are looking to technology, such as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, glucose level, and respiratory rate[2] to improve early detection of illnesses and avoid more complex and expensive healthcare needs (Figure 1).
Consumer smartwatches have already demonstrated their ability to reliably detect certain heart conditions. One user in Nova Scotia, Canada, was informed by their device of a possible atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular heartbeat, giving doctors a head start when he called for help.[3] In a screening of over 400,000 Apple Watch users by the American College of Cardiology, a third of those who received a warning were confirmed to have AF.[4]
Accessing the Data
The ubiquity of wireless connectivity and advanced battery technology clearly makes it easier than ever to collect health data from wearable devices for analysis. The next question, then, is: Which wireless tech is most appropriate?
>>Read the entire article at Mouser
[1] https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/health-at-a-glance-europe-2024_b3704e14-en.html
[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925231223011402#ab0015
[3] https://globalnews.ca/news/10567186/apple-watch-notifys-man-having-heart-attack/
[4] https://www.reuters.com/article/world/apple-watch-detects-irregular-heart-beat-in-large-us-study-idUSKCN1QX0EJ/
[5] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2738319/
[6] https://gblogs.cisco.com/uki/the-importance-of-wifi-for-hospitals-and-patients
Author
Stuart Cording is “The Electronics Reporter”—an engineer turned influencer dedicated to helping the electronics community make sense of today’s complex technologies. With 25 years of experience in semiconductors and embedded systems, he uncovers the stories, insights, and practical know-how that help engineers solve real design challenges. Through articles, podcasts, and videos, Stuart connects innovators, shares technical wisdom, and celebrates the people driving progress in deep tech.
