Wireless Relay Module Dual-Path Medical Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless relay networks for medical device monitoring face challenges in securing reliable local area network access, especially for remote patients, due to limited transmission ranges and unreliable connectivity, which can hinder timely response to critical health conditions.
Innovation Solution
A wireless relay module that monitors power source characteristics and medical device data, transmitting alarms and alerts via both local and internet-accessible networks, with features like battery backup, GPS for location tracking, and voice communication capabilities to ensure continuous monitoring and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If ZIGBEE network is used for wireless medical device communication, then power consumption is reduced and network configuration is simplified, but transmission range is limited to several hundred feet
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the network into two segments: a ZIGBEE network for short-range, low-power communication between medical devices and relay modules, and a cellular network for long-range communication between relay modules and the centralized monitoring location. This segmentation allows each network type to operate in its optimal performance range.
Solution Approach 2:
Wireless relay modules act as intermediaries between the ZIGBEE network (medical devices) and the cellular network (centralized location). The relay modules receive data from medical devices via ZIGBEE and forward it via cellular network, extending the effective transmission range while maintaining low power consumption at the medical device level.
2Length of moving object
If WiFi network is used for centralized monitoring, then transmission range and connectivity are improved, but network security access becomes difficult to secure and reliability decreases for remote patients
Solution Approach 1:
The relay modules serve as intermediaries that use cellular networks instead of WiFi for long-range communication. This eliminates the security and reliability issues associated with WiFi while maintaining the ability to transmit data over long distances to the centralized monitoring location.
3Ease of operation
If ZIGBEE network is used for medical device communication, then secure network access is achieved with shorter passwords, but transmission range is limited and unusable for off-site monitoring locations
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into local ZIGBEE networks for secure device-to-relay communication and remote cellular networks for relay-to-centralized-location communication. This allows the benefits of ZIGBEE security to be retained locally while overcoming its range limitations remotely.
Data Source
AI summary
Wireless relay modules for networked communications between a medical device and a remote monitoring device via wireless relay networks and/or internet-accessible wireless communications networks. The wireless relay module includes a receiver, a first transmitter coupled to the wireless relay network, a second transmitter coupled to the internet-accessible wireless communication network, a controller and a display. The controller is coupled to the first and second transmitters, and controls the wireless relay module to select one of the transmitters for transmitting medical device data over one of the two respective networks. The controller generates an alarm signal and stores storing wirelessly-received medical device data in a memory of the wireless relay module upon detecting a changed characteristic for a power source of the wireless relay module. The controller also generates an alarm upon detecting a change in a characteristic of a signal transmitted by the medical device.