Modules cut the wires from medical monitors

Sensium is a new ultra-low-power modular wireless infrastructure for health and lifestyle monitoring applications.Available now from Toumaz Technology, the Sensium modular system is a new ultra-low-power wireless infrastructure for health and lifestyle monitoring applications. The wireless-enabled modules, based on Toumaz's ultra-low-power Zoum transceiver platform, will be demonstrated on the Oracle stand at The World of Health IT Conference and Exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland (Geneva Palexpo, 10th to 13th October 2006, Stand 315). The ultra-small-size body-worn module can be attached to the body with a sticking plaster to enable nonintrusive, continuous monitoring and analysis of the mobile individual's ECG, temperature, and at least one other vital sign such as respiration or activity level.

The wearable sensor module incorporates Toumaz's ultra-low-power Zoum RF transceiver to create a wireless data link and transmit personal readings on to a Zoum-enabled SD card or USB module.

The SD card plugs into any standard PDA or cellphone running Windows Mobile 5, allowing the ECG, temperature and other vital sign data to be received, processed and displayed via Toumaz's ECGSoft application software.

A sophisticated, real-time arrhythmia detection algorithm continuously analyses the incoming data to provide an intelligent ECG monitoring capability.

Thanks to the ultra-low-power Zoum transceiver, incorporating both RF and baseband functionality such as framing, error correction and link protocol, the body-worn Sensium module is able to be manufactured in a small, nonintrusive form factor that can use a small, low cost zinc-air battery to provide multi-function continuous monitoring for an average of five days.

'The Sensium module is delivering the wireless infrastructure for a new wave of personalised care applications, and is now set to enable a real revolution in areas such as continuous vital sign monitoring', commented Toumaz COO, Keith Errey.

'By integrating with standard mobile devices such PDAs and cellphones, the Sensium is defining new possibilities for low cost, disposable monitoring solutions for a whole range of healthcare applications, including 'at risk', post-operative and home monitoring'.

The 'digital plaster' concept pioneered by Toumaz has attracted significant interest within the healthcare market.

Toumaz Chairman and Chief Technology Officer, Professor Chris Toumazou, will be delivering an e-Session on 'Pervasive monitoring technologies for personalised healthcare' at the World of Health IT Conference and Exhibition in Geneva.

The presentation will be available to delegates throughout the conference