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The medical industry is one area with a lot of work to do. Medical and health services are very expensive. The world population is aging and chronic diseases are increasing. If we continue with this trend, soon, we will face a world in which medical services are out of the reach of many people. The population is also aging, and the incidence of chronic diseases is increasing. The use of the Internet of Things in medicine and the development of related applications may help to alleviate these problems. When technology can prevent people from aging or eradicating chronic diseases, it may at least facilitate access to medical care.

The costs of treatment and medicine in hospitals are very high; Technologies such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence can transfer treatment and diagnosis from the hospital to the patient’s home. Proper diagnosis can also reduce hospitalization. The Internet of Things has many applications in various fields.

The use of the Internet of Things in medicine is a mutual benefit; Because it allows medical centers to provide better services and patients receive better services. Using technology-based medical methods increases the quality and efficiency of treatment and diagnostic methods.

The benefits of using the Internet of Things in medicine

Instant reporting and monitoring

The moment-by-moment monitor of a person’s physical condition, using various equipment, can save a person in an emergency such as a heart attack, diabetes, asthma attack, and five lives. By connecting various IoT-based devices, such as watches or smart bracelets, various data related to a person’s health, such as heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep rate, etc., can be collected by connecting medical devices to an application installed on your mobile phone.

Also, the Center for Connected Health Policy said in a study that based on remote patient monitoring, the 30-day hospitalization rate for heart failure patients was reduced by up to 50 percent. IoT-based devices in medicine collect various data from the body of individuals. These data include blood pressure, blood sugar and oxygen levels, weight, ECG signals, etc. Also, this data is stored in the cloud and can be shared with your doctor, an insurance company, or a medical consultant. They can check your body’s vital data, regardless of the time, place, and devices at their disposal.

Cost savings by using the Internet of Things in medicine

With the help of other technologies and leading companies in the field of medicine, the Internet of Things in medicine can automate the process of patient care. The Internet of Things in medicine makes patient care more efficient. This is done using machine-to-machine communication, data sharing, and data transfer. Communication protocols such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Z-wave, ZigBee, and به completely change the process of monitoring and treating the patient. Applying technology to treatment processes reduces costs by reducing unnecessary visits, using better resources, and improving planning.

Classification and analysis of data

If we do not have access to cloud-based services, it will be impossible to store large volumes of data sent by the IoT-based medical device in a short time. It is impossible for companies providing medical and health services to receive large amounts of data from multiple people and devices and categorize them manually. IoT-based devices in medicine can collect vital body data and instantly refine, analyze, organize, and send the sorted data to cloud-based servers. In this way, experts see important graphs showing vital signs rather than dealing with huge volumes of raw data.

Tracking and alerting

In situations where a person’s life is in danger, the presence of a warning seems very necessary. IoT-based devices in medicine collect the necessary data and send it to physicians. An alert is sent to the doctor and patient via cell phone or another device if vital signs are at risk. Reports and warnings inform the physician of the individual’s physical condition.

Internet of Things in medicine and telemedicine

Patients can contact their doctor in an emergency, who may be miles away. With the help of mobile solutions, doctors can even visit their patients on the go and the road. In addition, drug delivery companies can provide better service by using data obtained through patients’ connected networks. In general, the Internet of Things in medicine allows patients to follow their medical cases remotely, and there is no need for their physical presence in medical centers. This also significantly reduces the cost of treatment.

Use of the Internet of Things in medicine for research purposes

The Internet of Things in medicine can facilitate a lot of medical research. The IoT provides us with vast amounts of data on various diseases that are almost impossible to collect manually. This data can be used as a reference for use in medical research. The Internet of Things in medicine saves us time and drastically reduces research costs.

Challenges of using the Internet of Things in medicine

Data security and privacy

One of the most important and perhaps the main challenges for using IoT devices in medicine is the challenge of data security and privacy. IoT-based equipment collects and transmits data instantly. However, many devices still do not have proper standards and protocols. In addition, there is a great deal of ambiguity about data ownership in the IoT network in medicine and health. Problems such as these have led to many security threats; Hackers may infiltrate patients ‘and physicians’ data and medical information. Hackers use the obtained data and fabricate fake ideas to buy drugs and medical equipment in the name of others. They can also abuse insurance.

Existence of multiple protocols and IoT devices in medicine

Manufacturers of IoT equipment in medicine and health have not yet reached a consensus on the use of a communication protocol and standard. Because of this, the existence of multiple devices with different protocols has made data integration very difficult. This has caused the scalability of this area to move very slowly.

Excessive volume and accuracy

Data integration is very difficult due to multiple communication protocols in IoT-based devices. However, each IoT device in medicine collects large amounts of data. This data is used to provide useful reports to the patient. The high volume of data in health is a problem that companies providing such services face. With the increasing use of IoT equipment, this concern is increasing.

Cost

We mentioned in the previous section that the Internet of Things could curb rising costs in medicine and health; However, the use of IoT equipment is not yet fully optimized and still works. It is not affordable to use medical and health hardware and applications, and not all people can afford them.

The use of the Internet of Things in medicine

The Internet of Things in medicine is becoming more and more widespread. Some of these applications are:

• Reduce waiting time in the emergency room queue
• Tracking patients, medical staff, and equipment
• Improve drug supply and demand management
• Ensure that the necessary equipment is available

The use of the Internet of Things in medicine is not limited to these cases; Numerous devices have been developed for patients and physicians. Some of these devices are:

hearing aids

New IoT-based hearing aids have completely changed the hearing experience of people with hearing loss. New hearing aids connect to your mobile phone via Bluetooth; This way, you can filter the sound and make various changes. Doppler Laboratory is the most famous manufacturer of such equipment.

Food sensors

Food sensors are the new heroes of the real world! These sensors are very similar to tablets or capsules, and when they enter the body, they can detect and report any problems. Oral sensors have many applications, especially for diabetics. Proteus Digital Health is a well-known example of these sensors.

How are you?

Moodle is a device that helps us maintain a good mood during the day! It may seem imaginary, but it is not far from reality! Thync and Halo Neurosciences are working on these devices and have made progress. Conditioners effectively improve our condition by sending weak currents to the brain.

Car vision technology

Machine vision technologies and artificial intelligence have enabled us to build drones that can perceive the world around us and make decisions based on perceptions. Skydio-like drones can detect various environmental obstacles using machine vision. I can also use car vision technology to help people with visual impairments.

Medical charts

Devices such as Audemix can save up to 15 hours per week by automating many patient visit processes. These devices make the reporting process much easier through voice commands and provide the physician with complete and optimal access to patient information.

Conclusion

The IoT will revolutionize the medical and healthcare industry shortly. From today, we must try not to fall behind the new wave in this area.