WPAN/WBAN

Wireless to the Rescue

The Baby Boomers are generally considered to be the most influential generation thus far. And now, as that large group reaches retirement age, the focus on health care and fitness is expected to grow exponentially.

“ Imagine taking control of your health with innovative wireless vital sign sensors that allow you to maximize your workout, manage your diet/chronic disease, reduce doctor visits and age independently. ”

- Jason Ellis

Staff Manager of Business Development at Qualcomm

“The aging population and the increasing number of people with chronic diseases are already placing a heavy toll on global health care systems,” says David Julian, a senior staff engineer at Qualcomm and part of a larger team exploring innovative uses for wireless technology. “Fortunately, advances in wireless now enable continuous real-time monitoring of individuals which, in many cases, can provide clinical improvements and remote monitoring as well as reduce costs and save time for patients, caregivers, and health care institutions.”

Up Close and Personal Network for Trusted Health Guardianship

To best understand how wireless can benefit people from a health perspective, Julian offers a simple scenario: Imagine that “Roger” is admitted to the hospital for chest pains. It turns out that Roger is simply having a bad case of heartburn.

However, the doctor warns Roger that if he does not start watching his weight and exercising regularly, he may be returning to the hospital soon for treatment of something more serious.

Instead of asking Roger to schedule a follow up appointment, which would cost Roger and his doctor time and might not yield new information, Roger’s doctor fits him with a non-invasive sensor—much like a heart rate monitor used by athletes.

The sensor will gather Roger’s vital signs—heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, etc.—around the clock and send them wirelessly to Roger’s cell phone via wireless personal or body area network (WPAN/WBAN). The phone will then send the data to a monitoring service comprised of computers and skilled attendees. If a critical situation arises or if Roger’s doctor requests information, data about Roger can be sent to his doctor.

When participating in his new fitness program, Roger will wear the same sensor, enabling his doctor to see his vital signs during times of physical activity. In addition, Roger can choose to send his data to a fitness web site, where he can store it and track his own progress or can enable his personal trainer to modify his workout sessions.

At all times, Roger owns his data. It’s completely his choice whether or not to allow his doctor and the monitoring service to access his information.

Enhanced Medical Services—No Strings Attached

Joe Doroba, a senior program manager at Qualcomm working with Julian, states that the emergence of WPAN/WBAN technology benefits everyone in the scenario involving Roger. Roger spends less time arranging and going to appointments; Roger’s doctor can allocate his/her time and skills more effectively—he/she can spend more time with patients that need immediate care as well as stay up-to-date remotely on Roger’s condition/health trends; and the hospital can reduce appointment backlogs, enabling other patients to see doctors on a timely basis.”

Jason Ellis, a staff manager of business development at Qualcomm adds, “WPANs/WBANs can change the way in which health care and fitness are monitored by allowing an individual’s vital signs to be monitored across many boundaries and getting those vital signs wherever they need to be, faster.” Ellis adds enthusiastically, “Imagine taking control of your health with innovative wireless vital sign sensors that allow you to maximize your workout, manage your diet/chronic disease, reduce doctor visits and age independently.”