In this post I would like to introduce my current project.
Brief history of the smartphone
Ten years ago, with the launch of Apple's first iPhone, a turning point in the mobile phone industry began. Market leaders at the time, such as Nokia and Motorola, did not anticipate Apple's new strategy. Apple dispensed with traditional button-based operation and introduced the now familiar App Store with the second generation of the iPhone. Mobile phones could now be used for more than just making phone calls, sending text messages, or checking email. Eric Schmidt (Google CEO) recognized the turning point in time and acquired the startup Android in 2005, which first appeared on the German market in 2008. A few years later, Android and iOS almost completely shared the mobile market. Thanks to improved hardware and the ingenuity of developers, smartphones are already replacing consumer electronics products.
A growing trend can also be observed in medical technology. Approximately 100,000 medical apps are currently available. The introduction of fitness trackers, which use integrated sensors to record the wearer's heart rate or physical activity, for example, has further reinforced this trend. More and more people are connecting with existing technologies. Possible application scenarios include controlling or reading medical devices (blood pressure and heart rate monitors) and even telemetry of health data via Wi-Fi or GSM. The end user can benefit from this through value-added services. The engineering firm Madzar & Bosch has equipped a defibrillator trainer with Bluetooth and developed a control app. The new app is presented below.
What is a defibrillator trainer?
Defibrillator trainers are used to prepare people for a potential emergency, increase confidence, and develop automatic responses. They are a 1:1 replica of a real defibrillator. The only difference is that they do not contain any power electronics for delivering the shock and can be controlled via a wireless remote control.
Smart Defibrillator Trainer
Today's technologies offer virtually unlimited possibilities for creating smart medical devices. Even existing products can become smart. As part of a project, I replaced the radio module of an existing defibrillator trainer with a self-developed Bluetooth Smart Ready module. The existing remote control, based on the simplest form of amplitude shift keying, is being replaced by a modern and, above all, flexible smartphone app. Smartphone operation offers advantages over the conventional version:
- Value-added services (also via update)
- Simplification of control and parameterization of the trainer
- Software updates for the defibrillator trainer
- Inserting demonstrations
- Providing instructions, training videos and emergency procedures
Below we will discuss some of the features of the Android app.
Search process
The device search starts automatically after launching the app. It can display either only defibrillator trainers or all BLE devices in the area. A connection to the device is established when it is displayed. List entries consist of a freely selectable icon, the name, and address of the device. Searches are automatically terminated after ten seconds to save power. An animation in the status bar signals the search process. If no device is found, a demo mode of the app can be started or the search process can be repeated.
information
The status page provides a quick overview of the current connection status, battery level, and the name, image, and address of the connected device. From here, users can navigate to the trainer's operation and configuration. Users can also disconnect or reconnect to the trainer. Additional information requests are conceivable in the future.
steering
The button layout is modeled on the analog radio remote control. The logos have also remained identical. From here, you can take the trainer out of standby mode or put it into standby mode, play or pause the sequence, switch between different steps, or adjust the trainer's volume. Other trainer-specific commands are also possible. The layout can, of course, be easily adapted to other trainers or devices.
Parameterization
The defibrillator trainer's parameterization represents a significant improvement over the analog remote control. Where previously complicated key combinations were required to change the language, for example, a maximum of three clicks are now sufficient. The language of the audio output and the beat speed of a metronome for CPR can be configured via a selection menu. The app synchronizes the settings when it is first connected to the defibrillator trainer, ensuring the most current settings are always displayed.
Firmware updates
Another new feature is the ability to perform software updates via Bluetooth. The app can download the latest firmware from the internet. Currently, the update mode is designed for experts. Connection to the bootloader is established via a separate button. The operator can then read the trainer's current firmware version, delete the application's flash memory, install the new firmware, and exit bootloader mode. In the future, the page can be customized to allow any user to perform software updates.
Result
Within four months, a new operating concept was developed using a smartphone app. The application currently runs on Android OS devices and can be used to control Bluetooth Low Energy or Bluetooth Classic devices. A Bluetooth Smart Ready module has been developed that can be used not only for defibrillator trainers but also for other exciting projects. If you are also involved in app development, I would be happy if you would leave a comment.
Best regards
Daniel Saffer