Interfacing Electronics to People
From: EDN Magazine - 03/02/2006 - Vol. 51, No. 5, P. 55
By: Robert Cravotta

Electronic subsystems are more closely interfacing with medical systems,
which is enabling advances for both intrusive systems with implantable
elements and less intrusive systems. Such developments face technical and
regulatory challenges: For instance, regulators require end-product
integrators to answer for electronic medical systems' compliance or
noncompliance with standards such as low power consumption. Life-sustaining
systems are subject to more stringent regulations in comparison to diagnostic
and monitoring systems. A number of methods are being investigated to meet
the low-power-consumption requirement, including systems powered by body heat
or movement. A crucial component for life-sustaining systems is closed-loop
control, an example being prosthetic limbs that receive input from nerves and
muscle movements detected by myoelectrode sensors. The increased penetration
of medical devices into the home calls for lower medical care costs through
remote diagnosis, which is prompting investigation into various commercially
available communications technologies, such as USB and Bluetooth. Solutions
to the problems of technological obsolescence and upgrading are also being
explored by designers of electronic medical systems; possible answers to the
upgrading problem include software-programmable control systems and wireless
communication between the implanted components and an external controller.
The cell phone could emerge as the principal form factor for master
controllers of semiautonomous implanted systems. 

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http://www.edn.com/article/CA6309109.html