Bluetooth low energy sensors
06/03/09 14:07 Filed in: wireless medical
Let’s start with a disclaimer: I’m a Bluetooth SIG member and will not be talking about anything that isn’t public information at this time. I’ll just express my opinions on what I have read in the press and online in public sites.
CSR and other suppliers (as well as hints from the SIG public presentations) have shown a list of the first generation Bluetooth low energy Profiles including:
Classic Bluetooth has been a challenge for use with continuous or periodic sensors used in medical devices. Parameters such as temperature, pulse oximetry, and ECG are good examples of potential low power sensors that consume less energy than the Bluetooth radio. Still, much work has gone on at the SIG level, prompted by Intel and the Conitinua group on the Medical Device Profile to promote a standard for interchange of medical device information. The profile primarily points to the work on the IEEE 11073 committee for protocol standards that run on existing Bluetooth layers. Many of us in the industry share a concern that the 11073 standards are too cumbersome for implementation in low cost devices that will make up the future in the home and hospital.
The new Bluetooth low energy is clearly aimed at battery powered personal health devices with its ability to run off of coin cell voltages and power capabilities. Power consumption predictions are predicted to be about 10% that of current Bluetooth. The rumored Sensor Profile for simple medical devices may provide a much lighter weight service for transmitting similar data to that defined in 11073.
I welcome the ‘competition’ between the two types of implementation, perhaps with different intended customers. Clearly, there is a place for standards, but standards seldom produce an optimal solution.
CSR and other suppliers (as well as hints from the SIG public presentations) have shown a list of the first generation Bluetooth low energy Profiles including:
- Sensor
- Watch
- Human Interface Device (HID)
- Time Synchronization
Classic Bluetooth has been a challenge for use with continuous or periodic sensors used in medical devices. Parameters such as temperature, pulse oximetry, and ECG are good examples of potential low power sensors that consume less energy than the Bluetooth radio. Still, much work has gone on at the SIG level, prompted by Intel and the Conitinua group on the Medical Device Profile to promote a standard for interchange of medical device information. The profile primarily points to the work on the IEEE 11073 committee for protocol standards that run on existing Bluetooth layers. Many of us in the industry share a concern that the 11073 standards are too cumbersome for implementation in low cost devices that will make up the future in the home and hospital.
The new Bluetooth low energy is clearly aimed at battery powered personal health devices with its ability to run off of coin cell voltages and power capabilities. Power consumption predictions are predicted to be about 10% that of current Bluetooth. The rumored Sensor Profile for simple medical devices may provide a much lighter weight service for transmitting similar data to that defined in 11073.
I welcome the ‘competition’ between the two types of implementation, perhaps with different intended customers. Clearly, there is a place for standards, but standards seldom produce an optimal solution.