Usage of IoT in Medical Engineering and What You Should Know

The medical industry is one of the most important and profitable industries globally. Over the last decade, there has been a lot of improvement in medical technology that has helped save many lives. With the proliferation of the Internet of Things, we see the introduction of new medical devices.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most revolutionary ideas that has created a world of opportunities making it easier to conduct business. Today, we have gone a step ahead and started using IoT in medical engineering.

 

What is IoT?

The IoT, abbreviated as the Internet of Things, is a network of physical objects digitally connected by the internet. Active development of sensors and software has led to the possibility of connecting all systems and things.

 

 

Thanks to IoT, seamless communication is now possible by linking to any device- small households or complex industrial units- for efficient communication. Objects can now exchange, collect and reciprocate information with minimal human intervention. The physical world is now digitalising itself using high technology units like the cloud, big data, analytics, etc.

The IoT applies to many industries worldwide and improves tracking, monitoring, manufacturing, management, and planning more efficiently and faster. Likewise, the medical field has embraced this technology for a brighter future in the healthcare sector.

This can be seen by the fact that IoT, a versatile and valuable tool that has grown and prospered over the last fifty years, has been used by 13% of businesses in 2014. And is anticipated to reach up to 43 billion by 2023! The scope of growth of IoT is promising as it is estimated that the global net worth of these medical devices will grow to $94.2 billion by 2026.

 

Uses and Importance of IoT in Medical Engineering

 

 

Medical engineers monitor and study healthcare processes and apply engineering principles to solve and improve existing healthcare opportunities. The IoT has crawled its way into the significance and is extensively helpful for today's healthcare sector. Many practical applications of IoT have made human life healthier and safer. Some of these applications are:

 

Wearable IoT devices

Healthcare professionals often opt for wearable devices like glucose trackers, asthma monitors, etc. The new fitness watch that connects to your smartphone to deliver health updates and reports is an example of daily IoT applications.

 

IoT Asset Monitoring

IoT asset monitoring provides extensive assistance to healthcare professionals to increase efficiency and speed and reduce costs. For example, a wheelchair is IoT equipped, and the professionals will be able to know the exact location of the wheelchair.

 

Remote Monitoring

With IoT, doctors and nurses can now monitor their patients without seeing them. Therefore, they can take care of multiple patients simultaneously. Remote monitoring has led to faster professional aid when situations get worse. Moreover, patient satisfaction has tremendously increased, owing to the high level of communication in between.

 

Safer Hospitals

The spreading of infection is a real threat when it comes to hospitals. When a healthcare centre is IoT-enabled and tagged with sensors, doctors can immediately know if an infectious person has been around. They can sanitise the area to prevent other patients from infection.

 

Aid for New Mothers

The SNOO bassinet is another IoT-powered device. The bassinet is enriched with sensors and provides "womb-like conditions" to infant babies and ensures better sleep. With rocking, white noise, and sensors that change hearing a cry, the bassinet is ideal for new mothers in their parenting.

 

Patient Bed Monitoring

G.E.'s AutoBed platform monitors 1200 beds at once and simultaneously processes about 80-bed requests at a time. These can take care of hospitalised patients in a nurse-like environment. With new data being delivered in real-time, medical engineers have a whole new world of opportunities awaiting them.

 

Medical Engineering as a Career

Many today are interested in medical engineering as a career, and there are many benefits of medical technology courses. Degrees like Post-graduate Programs in Medical Technology are highly valued. Medical technology courses deal with analytical biochemistry and other intriguing subjects that prepare a medical engineer to save lives and make a more sustainable healthcare system.

A Post Graduate of Science and Health Administration is the best post graduate degree for medical technology. Professionals graduating with this degree can take up superintendent jobs and jobs as directors, managers, and supervisors, among other profiles.