Application of Short Range radio Devices in communication systems for patients with severe neuro-locomotor disabilities

This paper presents results from the design and implementation of a subsystem integrated into a wireless patient monitoring and communication network. The presented subsystem is designed to assure communication between patient and caretaker at a basic level using predefined key symbols/sentences and transmit basic biological parameters. The system consists of two distinct elements - first the patient unit formed by: a radio micro-network containing modules with all sensors necessary for acquiring the required biological signals, a patient communication unit (a display for viewing key sentences or in a simpler case a keypad with suggestive symbols) and an end point unit - EPU (personal computer (PC), personal digital assistant (PDA), pocket PC) for storage, analysis, real-time graphing and transmission, and second, a caretaker unit, typically a PC or PDA. The system has been implemented by using Texas Instruments/Chipcon´s CC1010 radio transceiver.