electrocardiograph
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Wearable ECG uses patient's posture for encryption, transmits data over Body Area Network
Though its fun to think of the Body Area Network as another way for cheap employers to get out of paying for properly wiring your workspace, the most obvious uses for this technology would seem to be in the realm of health care. To this end, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) in Japan has developed an ECG that can be worn 24 hours a day, wirelessly transmitting electrocardiographic data as well as measuring changes in body surface temperature and posture. The data can even be transmitted securely using cryptographic keys dynamically generated by the patient's posture and biological data (which are unique to each user). We'll let you guys ponder the cypherpunk ramifications of this technology in the comments -- and be sure to check out the additional pic we have for you after the break.
SHL's CardioSen'C transmits ECG results to your physician
There's a growing number of devices that not only monitor one's health, but can also transmit pertinent information back to remote caregivers, but SHL Telemedicine's latest gizmo takes things a step further by beaming your ECG results directly to your physician's mobile phone. The oddly-named CardioSen'C is a portable heart-monitoring system that gathers information from twelve electrodes strapped to one's chest and upper body, and once activated, transmits the results of the electrocardiograph instantly to a user-selected handset. Unlike similar systems already available in the US, SHL's iteration will be aimed at the Israel / European markets initially, and while we aren't exactly sure how much coinage such an advanced machine will cost to wear, you should probably make sure your insurance covers spontaneous service calls before you start lighting your doc's handset up with ECG results.[Via Israel21c]
Daring DIY'er devises homegrown heart monitoring device
While there's already a plethora of safe, proven methods to monitor your heart rate, there's just no satisfaction in buying an off the shelf BioShirt when you know you possess the skills (and spare time) to craft a system of your own. Interested in making his own mark in biomedical engineering, a crafty individual set out to build his own electrocardiograph for nothing more than fun, but rather than keeping his homegrown work all to himself, he busted out a set of instructions in order for us less inventive souls to replicate the process. Aside from creating an ECG board, reading results with LABView, and having the nerve to actually strap leads to your body and hope that you don't electrocute yourself, there's still a good bit of coding and behind the scenes work necessary to pull this off. So if you never got around to going to medical school, but you know you've got the DIY skills to operate a heart monitoring system in your home office, be sure to hit the read link and read that blurb about "destroying your nervous system" real carefully.[Via MAKE]
