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Remote Monitoring System for AED

Posted in Embedded Development & Programming, Medical and Pharmaceutical, Product Development

Summary

DMC collaborated with a client renowned for their expertise in AED cabinets and accessibility solutions to launch their breakthrough, non-contact sensing technology. Our partnership resulted in the development of a Remote Monitoring System (RMS) specifically for AED devices. This RMS features an innovative, automatic two-step functionality check that ensures accurate, around-the-clock monitoring. This advancement significantly reduces maintenance costs, lowers the chance of human error, and enables real-time monitoring without the necessity of human intervention.

Solution

The client is one of the world's leading manufacturers of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) cabinets and recently sought to enhance their product offering with an integrated IoT solution. To help bring this solution from concepts to product, the client reached out to DMC for our embedded development expertise and our experience in product development. 

As a potentially life-saving device, it is extremely important that every AED is checked regularly for proper functionality. Previously, most of this monitoring process was manual — an employee went around to each AED cabinet to physically check if each device was working correctly. This posed a few problems. First, if an AED were not functioning, it would only be discovered and resolved once an employee manually checked the device. Physically checking each AED cabinet can be very time-costly and is subject to human error.

DMC helped integrate an IoT solution so the monitoring could be performed remotely to mitigate these safety and inefficiency issues. Now, each AED is mounted inside of a cabinet fitted with an RMS connected to a cellular network. All AEDs perform self-checks on a regular basis. Using patented technology, the RMS can now sense the electrical activity within the AED during its self-checks and determine if the AED is operating correctly. If no electrical activity is sensed, or the AED fails its self-check, the RMS will send a notification via cellular network so that action can be taken to promptly replace the failed AED. 

By changing the AED monitoring process from manual to an automated remote monitoring system, the client's RMS drastically reduced labor and maintenance costs, mitigated human error, and allowed for real-time monitoring of AEDs. With up to a ten-year battery life, the new device is now as dependable as it is effective. DMC is proud to have worked with this client to develop a product that has the potential to save many lives. 

Read more about DMC's Embedded Development and Embedded Programming, and contact us to get started on your next project. 

Customer Benefits

  • Guaranteed Readiness: Ensures the AED is perpetually prepared for lifesaving actions.
  • Cost Efficiency: Significantly cuts maintenance expenses.
  • Immediate Oversight: Offers real-time monitoring capabilities.
  • Extended Battery Life: Maximizes battery longevity for reliable performance.
  • Labor Savings: Decreases labor costs by minimizing the need for manual checks.
  • Error Reduction: Greatly mitigates the risks associated with human error.

Technologies

  • Cellular tech: CAT-M1 and LTE-M (cellular bands designed for low-power, low-cost devices)
  • STM-32 ultra-low power arm processor
  • Advanced signal processing and analysis
  • Super long-life lithium battery (ten-year battery life)
  • Patented non-contact electrical activity sensing
  • Microsoft Azure (for secure backend)
  • Secure Signed Encrypted over-the-air-firmware updates