(Design and Implementation of an Infrastructure for the Internet of Things for Medical Devices (IoT-MD

Background: Today, it has become increasingly possible to remotely monitor a patient’s health with the use of networks of sensors, actuators and other mobile communication devices, referred to as the Internet of Things for Medical Devices (IoT-MD). Networked sensors make possible the gathering of rich information indicative of our physical and mental health. The IoT-MD provides an environment where a patient’s vital parameters get transmitted by medical devices via a gateway onto secure cloud-based platforms where it is stored, aggregated and analyzed. This paper explains our implemented hardware/software infrastructure to network medical sensors and actuators. In this way, data and commands can be transferred from this network to the internet and vice versa. An Android-based application has also been developed so that one can connect to this network through a mobile phone. Objectives: The objective of this research is to implement an infrastructure for the sensors and actuators which are not equipped with a built-in connectivity capability to the IoT. In this way, many of the individual medical pieces of equipment can be connected to the IoT to better diagnose, monitor, and manage patients and treatments. Methods: This study is an applied research implementing a network of medical devices using a microcontroller and ESP8266 module on the wifi infrastructure. Reliable and relevant library and internet resources have been reviewed and a sample of the project has been built and tested in the laboratory. Results: The ESP8266 module can be configured using AT-Commands as a client, a server and both a client/server node. It can be accessed and controlled via an Android-based application on a mobile phone. It can also directly connect to the internet to process the collected medical data and issue commands to the actuators. This infrastructure can be utilized to connect medical devices to the IoT in order to (a) facilitate a proactive framework for prognosis of diseases at an incipient stage, and also overall management of health (b) enable personalization of treatment and management options targeted particularly to the specific circumstances and needs of the individual, and (c) help reduce the cost of health care while simultaneously improving outcomes. Conclusion: Connecting medical devices and sensors to a network connected to the internet leads to the Internet of Things for Medical Devices (IoT-MD). This facilitates online monitoring and control of health and fitness. This paper explains an implemented and tested infrastructure for this purpose.