Multi-channel GPRS-based mobile telemedicine system with bluetooth and J2ME interfaces

One of the emerging issues in m-Health is how best to exploit the mobile communications technologies that are now almost globally available. This thesis describes a multi-channel m-Health system with a Bluetooth interface based on the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). The challenge here is to produce a system to transmit a patient's biomedical signals directly to a hospital using a mobile phone on a commercial GPRS network. As greater patient mobility gradually becomes a trend in remote monitoring, the integration of medical sensors with global connectivity seems to be the next step in providing telemedicine services. The system samples signals from sensors on the patient, then transmits the incoming digital data over a Bluetooth link to a GPRS mobile phone. The system is equipped with patient user interface programs for the patient to perform the data acquisition process from the sensors. There are two programs available, one being the patient interface on a laptop while the other is the patient interface on a mobile phone. The later interface program is developed based on Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) MIDlet suite application. The system is integrated with client-server application programs to allow the monitoring and management of medical data. An application server is responsible for handling the telemedicine session and controlling the client connection request from a remote patient. All the medical data transmitted during a telemedicine session are stored in a database together with the patient information and telemedicine session details for further assessment. These data are available to clinicians as and when required, by accessing the database via browser programs. The prototype system allowed real-world mobile tests to be carried out and provide valuable insights into real user experience with m-Health systems.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Practical issues arising from the use of telemedicine applications: An evaluation of equipment used for colour imaging in teledermatology, automated weight monitoring and patient-operated 12-lead ECG recording in arrhythmia.

Three telemedicine applications which depend on relatively simple telephone technology to transfer data in the care of patients managing chronic conditions at home are investigated in order to evaluate their application from the users’ perspectives. Part one provides an evaluation of four mobile cameraphones, of varying quality, such as those commonly used to photograph patients for remote diagnosis. The cameraphones are compared with a digital camera, two videophones and an ISDN6 conferencing facility, in their ability to replicate colour and shape. The effects of uploading the images to a laptop computer and of transferring an image by MSN messaging are also evaluated. Part two provides an evaluation of electronic weighing scales connected via a wireless gateway to a landline telephone for the purpose of remote weight monitoring in patients with chronic heart failure. Self-reported experiences of patients, carers and specialist nurses are explored and outcomes compared with previously published opinion. The idiosyncratic nature of health care is highlighted as a main factor in the success or failure of the system. The third application is a patient-operated 12-lead ECG unit which transmits data via a home landline to a call centre, where it is displayed as an ECG trace and a report is given by specialist clinicians. Self-reported experiences of patients with arrhythmia reveal systematic phenomena which hinder the effectiveness of the device and which are related to human, not technological, failings. ECG traces obtained by unskilled lay persons on paediatric patients are compared with the ECG traces obtained by skilled and experienced paediatric nurses on the same patients. The results show that in the case of the cameraphones the technology is less accurate than normally assumed. In the case of the weight monitoring and ECG equipment however it is more usually human factors which cause a disappointing outcome