An estimated 40 million medical devices currently include Bluetooth, the wireless technology that allows many of our mobile devices to communicate with each other. The newest upcoming standard, Bluetooth 4.0, features lower power and higher speed transmission while supporting older Bluetooth services. In a press release from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), it was announced that medical devices would be the first to use the new Bluetooth 4.0 technology.
Specifically, the Bluetooth SIG approved a Health Thermometer Profile and a Heart Rate Profile as the first mobile health profiles built on Bluetooth v4.0. Utilizing Bluetooth 4.0 could pave the way for smarter, more advanced medical devices. As an example, the press release describes using the Health Thermometer Profile in a low power consuming patch that can send temperature measurements to a mobile phone every half hour.
The press release also made mention of a Blood Pressure Profile and Service that is expected to be approved in late July.
Press release: Mobile Health Device Manufacturers Ramp Up New Products Using Bluetooth Technology Version 4.0 …
More information about Bluetooth technology in healthcare from Bluetooth SIG…