Applications
There are many potential use cases for IoMT. They range from monitoring vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure using wearables to the intelligent hospital room that monitors both patients and tracks the movements of medical staff and automates the delivery of supplies. According to Avnet Abacus, the most important applications are telehealth, advanced diagnostics, and robotic surgery.
Telehealth
With the help of IoMT devices, vital parameters can be continuously monitored remotely. This allows for quick detection of anomalies, and medical professionals can be promptly alerted. This not only ensures timely intervention but also reduces the number of hospital admissions. Intelligent and wearable solutions for monitoring blood sugar levels, connected inhalers for controlling and predicting asthma attacks, or ingestible sensors for gathering information from the digestive system are just a few examples of IoMT devices. For many diagnoses, a visit to a doctor's office is no longer necessary – with the appropriate connected devices, diagnoses can be made remotely, allowing healthcare to take place in the patient's home.
Advanced diagnostics
The continuous collection of vital parameters through IoMT devices, combined with advanced data analysis, significantly improves medical diagnostics. With the help of AI and ML algorithms, large amounts of patient data can be processed – enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses.
Robotic surgery
The integration of IoMT technology allows surgical robotic systems to connect with external devices and doctors. IoMT-enabled robotic systems have already been used in many applications, including microsurgery and minimally invasive surgery. Surgeons can connect with telesurgery centres via IoMT and even operate surgical robots remotely without being physically present. Since 2019, remote surgical procedures have been performed worldwide, notably in China. For example, a medical team from Beijing performed eye surgeries from a distance of 3,000 km
Technological challenges
Although the potential of IoMT is immense, there are also challenges to consider. Data security and privacy are of utmost importance. Ensuring secure data transmission and storage is crucial for protecting patient information. Additionally, the development of industry-wide standards that enable data exchange and interoperability between devices is essential for the widespread adoption of IoMT and the realisation of its full potential. To make medical decisions based on IoMT data, the collected information must meet the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, and the IoMT devices must comply with international certifications for medical devices. Wearables must function reliably over a long period while being as lightweight and small as possible to ensure comfortable wear, which poses particularly high demands on the devices' power supply , among other aspects.
IoMT devices
The devices that collectively form the IoMT can be classified into many different categories. Large, stationary devices such as MRI systems are included, as well as infusion pumps, blood glucose meters, smart thermometers, and heart rate monitors. Personal emergency response systems and remote patient monitoring devices make up a large part of the IoMT product list. A growing segment of the IoMT consists of tiny ingestible sensors and cameras that perform medical tasks such as endoscopies. At the forefront, however, are undoubtedly wearables: they range from fitness trackers and smartwatches to more specialised medical wearables such as heart rate sensors. These devices must be designed to be user-friendly, unobtrusive, and connected, enabling the continuous collection of health data in real time.
Device selection
When selecting devices for the Internet of Medical Things, several factors must be considered. These include compatibility with existing healthcare infrastructure, the accuracy of data collection, and, particularly for wearables, comfort and secure long-term power supply. Additionally, the aspect of continuous updating and maintenance should not be overlooked to ensure that the devices function optimally and provide reliable data for medical personnel.
