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Way back (in internet time) in 2006 we posted about Virgin Airways’ plans to use the Tempus from RDT in their aircraft for long haul flights. The Tempus is a minimal training vital signs monitor for use in way out of hospital settings that can transmit all the recorded data to medical control on the ground or other locations. Now, in 2010, the plan has been implemented and several other carriers use the device as well. Recently The Economist wrote it up and included a gripping tale of its use:

HALF way through a flight from Mumbai to London, a male passenger complained of a swollen right hand and an inability to bend his fingers. The flight attendants were uncertain about what to do and hooked the passenger up to a small device which took and transmitted vital signs, including his pulse, blood pressure and a picture of his hand, to a ground-based medical team.

As the passenger’s condition worsened, the device was also used to transmit an electrocardiographic (ECG) trace. The resulting information was used to rule out heart problems, and the passenger was stabilised and monitored with the assistance of a doctor on the flight. The decision was made to continue the journey rather than divert to the nearest airport.

The article goes on to detail RDT’s future plans for the Tempus, including making it more rugged for military applications and including ultrasound and a laryngoscope.

The Economist: An online medic…

Product page: Tempus IC…

Previously: Virgin Atlantic To Introduce On-Board Telemedicine

Students commencing medical school and master’s of medicine program at Stanford this year will all get an Apple iPad. The school is trialing a program to see whether the devices are practical to integrate into the academic curriculum.

Before you dismiss this as medical education being sacrificied in the name of fanboy hype, consider this — when some of our editors were in medical school, the semesterly (mandatory) fee for handouts and photocopies was about the cost of a lower-end iPad. And that was years ago. We can only imagine the charges now. So moving the medical education culture of endless handouts and notebooks over to a compact tablet device could be very smart. More from Stanford officials:

The decision to provide the devices was prompted by a desire to give students flexible access to the content that they need whether it is a virtual cadaver in dissection lab, annotated lecture slides and videos in the classroom, or journal articles for evidence-based practice in clinic.

“We want to explore the use of iPads and other technologies to help students access the enormous amount of medical knowledge that is being produced constantly,” said Charles Prober, MD, the school’s senior associate dean for medical education. “Part of the challenge facing medical students, and all doctors, is the overwhelming amount of information. Devices like the iPad may be able to help users access that pool of knowledge.”

The school will monitor the use of the iPads through regular surveys to help determine how helpful they are to students, pointing out that past experiments with similar electronic devices, such as the Kindle, in academic settings haven’t been successful.

“We really don’t know yet how the incoming medical students will use them,” said Henry Lowe, MD, senior associate dean for information resources and technology. But, as a physician using an iPad himself, he’s found the device to be extremely helpful and believes it is growing in popularity among doctors.

“Physicians are a mobile group,” Lowe said. “They’re moving around from clinic to clinic, from patient to patient. … I’ve seen a variety of reports from across the country saying that physicians have seized on the iPad as a helpful device.”

Press release: iPads to be distributed to incoming class by Stanford medical school …

More at SCOPE Blog…

Medical technology affects just about every person in the world in one way or another. Because we write in English, a majority of the world’s population can’t read this site, and automatic online translators simply can’t translate industry specific, professional material. We believe in expanding access to our medical content and so would like to present Spanish Medgadget. We are now professionally translating our posts into Spanish, and if you prefer Medgadget en Español, head on over to es.medgadget.com or to Medgadget Español on Facebook.

Minneapolis, MN based Protectus Medical Devices, Inc. has announced that it has been awarded a patent for the spring-activated mechanism used in its line of safety syringes. The FDA cleared device reduces the risk of needlestick injuries through the use of a spring mechanism which automatically sheaths the needle should the user lose control of the syringe.

More about the device from its product page:

The Protectus Safety Syringe design meets all aspects of the functional definition of “Self-Sheathing” mandated by Federal Law and is designed to reduce or obviate all dangers of accidental needlestick injuries to healthcare workers who could be pricked, scraped or injected by a needle before or after it has been injected and withdrawn from patients and therefore potentially carrying infectious bloodborne microorganisms. The Protectus Safety Syringe design utilizes a spring-biased locking sheath that is/becomes automatically locked and safe if the user does not have or loses intentional control of the device. The device has a user-friendly slide collar lock that allows the syringe to be used in essentially the same manner as any standard syringe with little special training or in-service instruction.

Demo video explaining the unique nature of Protectus…

Press release: US Patent Allowed for Spring Action That Separates Protectus Innovative Safety Syringe From All Others…

Product page: Protectus Hypodermic Safety Syringe…

AgaMatrix, a maker of popular blood glucose monitors, is planning on releasing a connectivity package to interface their Jazz Meter with Apple’s iPhone. Once the FDA approves the firm’s WaveSense Direct Connect Cable, this may become the first fully licensed medical device specifically designed to work with an iPhone. Diabetic iPhone fanatics can sign up at the WaveSense product page for an email update when the product comes to market.

Result Tracking
Record glucose results, carb/insulin input, or a combination of both.

Notes
With the notes feature you can put high, low, or great numbers in context. If you take a little too much insulin and experience a low result you can note it. If you have a carb rich meal and go high you can note that. Create custom notes and better understand your glucose results.

Color Coding
The glucose score cards are color coded so you can easily see when you have had high or low results.

Log Book
Review your results over time and find opportunities to improve your diabetes care.

Trend Chart
Find patterns in a visual representation of your numbers over time

Email
If you ever need a second opinion on your numbers you can share them with your trusted health care team. You choose what gets sent to who and when

More from Amy Tenderich at Diabetes Mine…

Product page: WaveSense iPhone Direct Connect…