The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is a collection of medical equipment and devices connected via the internet to health system networks. Wi-Fi-enabled medical devices allow for M2M (machine-to-machine) communication, which forms the foundation of IoMT. IoMT devices connect through the internet to cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services, which serve as locations for recording, analyzing, and storing necessary data. The healthcare industry, like other industries undergoing massive transformations, is adapting to new technologies, including the Internet of Things.
Applications and Adoption of IoMT Technology
The use of the Internet of Things has been introduced and recognized as one of the most important applications in medicine. Most medical equipment manufacturing companies have shown interest in operating and producing IoT-based devices; for instance, last year Phillips introduced a wearable device that could be used to monitor patients with chronic illnesses.
IoMT devices allow doctors and nurses to monitor their patients remotely. These devices operate by converting patients’ vital signs into storable information and sending it to a cloud database. In this database, the information is analyzed, and doctors or nurses can access it.
Some of the most important applications and equipment in this field include:
- Remote monitoring of patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension or diabetes.
- Medical wearables that can transmit information from a person’s body to healthcare providers.
- Infusion pumps connected to analysis dashboards that operate according to a schedule.
- Hospital beds equipped with the capability to measure blood pressure and other vital signs of the patient.
Potentials and the Concept of Telemedicine
Currently, most mobile devices are equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology as well as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), allowing them to connect to computer systems and creating many potentials for IoMT.
The idea of using IoMT for patient care at home is called Telemedicine. This eliminates the need for patients to visit doctors for questions and changes in their course of treatment.
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