Bluetooth for Medical Devices

Rumors of the demise of Bluetooth seem to have been a little premature. Despite the advent of other wireless technologies, we keep seeing implementations of Bluetooth, including the gaggle of gadgets Dave saw at CES last week . Today, we learned that a company called Code Blue Communications has demonstrated the wireless transfer of electronic patient data from medical devices using Bluetooth 1.1 interfaces. Code Blue worked with patient monitors from medical device companies Welch Allyn and Nonin Medical, to demonstrate a portable monitoring application and a Bluetooth wireless wearable medical sensor. The Welch Allyn Propaq CS portable monitor was demonstrated transmitting waveforms for a full set of patient parameters, including multiple ECG channels and respiration. The Nonin wearable device incorporated pulse oximetry technology transmitting oxygen saturation (SpO2), pulse, and continuous waveform using a Bluetooth link to a companion stand-alone monitor. The products are not yet being offered for sale using Bluetooth technology and they haven't yet been approved by the appropriate government agencies. If wireless devices are safe in a hospital, why won't they let you use your cell phone when you're visiting someone who's on the mend?