Advanced technology for personal biomedical signal logging and monitoring

A basic technology (methods, hardware and software tools), purposely orientated to telemedicine, has been developed. The approach foresees, from the control unit point of view, a new management philosophy, leading to central stations effectively distributed on network. All the patient devices are wearable. They are based on an intelligent and powerful controller, provided with large storage memory and with a reliable telephone interface for telemetry and telemedicine applications using, if necessary, a digital approach. The necessary flexibility of telemonitoring systems is obtained exploiting a modular approach in the design of both the personal device and the central control unit. Simply combining specific standardized components (analog front-end, processor unit, communication interface), a complete family of instruments can be obtained ranging from a simple EKG detector, capable to "play" the signal through the telephone to a multifunctional digital data logger, radio and/or IR coupled to telephone line. The control unit modular approach has led to a "web server" based design. The physician can set up his/her own telemedicine service simply using his/her PC coupled by a modem to the telephone line, provided with standard Net-Browser. A new network service, the "Medical Provider", supplies the link (hardware and software) with the remote patients, assuring also the necessary data safety and security.