ST provides wearable sensor technology for new RMS

STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across multiple electronics applications, and Preventice, a global leader in mobile health solutions and remote monitoring systems, have announced that ST is providing wearable sensor technology for Preventice’s new BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System (RMS). Preventice recently announced that the BodyGuardian RMS has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), allowing Preventice to sell the BodyGuardian system to hospitals and clinics to provide non-fatal arrhythmia detection and monitoring capabilities for bedridden patients.

　　As one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies serving all electronics markets, STMicroelectronics is determined to extend its sensor expertise and innovations to healthcare and other industries.

　　“Enabling our customers to rapidly develop solutions that help improve people’s lives is a key goal for STMicroelectronics, and we achieve this by providing our customers with the products and technologies they need, with our unique R&D and manufacturing capabilities,” said Benedetto Vigna, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Analog, MEMS and Sensors Division at STMicroelectronics. “The FDA product clearance for Preventice’s BodyGuardian system demonstrates our ability to help our customers develop medical-grade electronics that meet the stringent market requirements.”

　　BodyGuardian RMS uses clinical algorithms developed by Mayo Clinic physicians to support remote health monitoring of patients with cardiac arrhythmias. The BodyGuardian system continuously transmits data between physicians and patients, allowing physicians to monitor patients' vital signs outside of the clinic while allowing patients to engage in normal daily activities.

　　According to Preventice, a tiny wearable sensor attached to the patient's chest is responsible for data transmission. This sensor collects important data such as the patient's electrocardiogram, respiratory rate and activity level, and sends the collected data to the physician through mobile phone technology, so that the physician can monitor the patient's health status on an iPad or desktop computer. The wearable sensor inside BodyGuardian RMS uses STMicroelectronics' hardware and software technologies, including advanced MEMS sensors, STM32 low-power microcontrollers, analog devices, and STMicroelectronics' unique advanced algorithms.

　　“Working with STMicroelectronics, a technology pioneer and leader in the sensor industry, we are able to bring the advanced clinical monitoring technology developed by the Mayo Clinic and Preventice to a wider range of patients,” said Jon Otterstatter, co-founder, president and CEO of Preventice. “Preventice’s goal is to bring advanced remote monitoring systems to patients’ homes, workplaces and entertainment venues, creating an uninterrupted monitoring environment for patients with a variety of chronic diseases, including cardiac arrhythmias.”

　　Remote health monitoring systems can reduce nursing costs and change the nursing service model, which will promote the rapid growth of wireless monitoring applications in the next few years. According to the latest report from Kalorama, the US advanced patient monitoring system market has grown from US$3.9 billion in 2007 to US$8.9 billion in 2011. The research report predicts that by 2016, the market will reach US$20.9 billion.