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Topic 5 – Sensors and Monitoring Systems
1) TechMed scenario covers
• Sensors and their uses in hospitals
In the scenario:
“A patient-monitoring system is installed on each hospital bed. This system has a
number of sensors which can take medical readings that are updated automatically
to the patient’s medical records.”
Key Terms:
Sensors
Are used to detect physical quantities such as light level, pressure, temperature and
movement.
Biosensors
Are used to detect the presence of various chemicals in a substance
Data Logging
Is where an ICT system collects and stores data at predetermined intervals.
Pressure sensors
Used for blood pressure monitoring systems. Kidney dialysis
machines and respiratory monitoring. Pressure sensors can
also be used to detect that a patient is present in their hospital
bed.
Biosensors
Used for testing blood sugar, cholesterol and pregnancy
testing.
Temperature sensors
Used in digital thermometers, patient temperature monitoring
and the control of the hospital heating system
Image Sensors
Used in radiography and for external observation
Accelerometers
Used in heart pacemakers and other integrated health
monitoring equipment
Flow sensors
Used as part of anaesthesia delivery machines, gas mixing and
respiration monitoring systems
Implanted Sensors
Are now used in many cases where long-term monitoring is
necessary; typical uses include heart pacemaker control and
measuring the growth of tumours. Wireless technology has
been introduced into the design of many implanted sensors to
reduce their size and increase reliability.
Data logging.
Records data from sensors at regular intervals.
Contain:
• A microprocessor
• Internal sensors or sensor inputs
• Data Storage
Advantages:
• Readings taken automatically
• At correct time intervals
• Human error removed
• Taken quickly and accurately
Patient – Monitoring Systems
• Fitted to each hospital bed
• Observes vital signs of patient – pulse rate, o2 levels in
blood
• Carried out automatically on regular basis
• Early warnings for emergencies linked to staff monitoring
station or Doctor