A Wireless Telemedicine System with Extended Reporting Range and Priority Messaging

Extensions and enhancements are proposed for a previously developed system to remotely monitor patient vital signs. This previously developed network utilizes Crossbow MICAz motes to create a wireless network to gather data, which is sent to a central monitoring station. It includes a graphical user interface to store and display incoming measurements for all patients being monitored. Here the range of the network is extended by interfacing a GSM modem to the wireless sensor base station, allowing critical data to be forwarded anywhere in the world and providing a remote query mechanism via the existing cellular infrastructure. Text messaging using short message service is used as the communication interface. A priority message handling layer is added to the current protocol to insure delivery of critical data to the monitoring station and from there to medical personnel via the existing cellular infrastructure.