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Press Releases
British Airways send
real time vital signs back to land based medical centres over Boeing
Connexion using VitalLink 1200.
23 May 2002: On Thursday 13 May on flight BA 175 from London Heathrow
to New York, real-time vital signs were sent via Boeing Connexion
to land based medical centres world wide. This was part of a Connexion
by Boeing trial being carried out by British Airways and TeleMedic
Systems to see how VitalLink 1200, a remote medical diagnostics
device, performs at 37,000 feet. The real-time vital signs were
sent over the latest in on board communications, Boeing Connexion,
to call centres in Sydney, Johannesburg, Philadelphia, London and
to MedLink, Phoenix, Arizona.
Dr Nigel Dowdall, Senior Consultant Occupational Physician, British
Airways was actively involved in the trial and acted as "Doctor
on duty" at the' London call centre. As the vital signs were
transmitted Dr Dowdall was able to monitor the 'patient' and could
control VitalLink, for instance, to inflate the blood pressure cuff,
or to pause the ECG trace. Dr Dowdall commented on the vital signs
transmission, "I am very impressed at how easy it is for the
doctor in the land based Medical Centre to have first hand visibility
of what is happening with the patient. The data that the doctor
receives would certainly help them in making an informed diagnosis
and decision".
Robert Dietterle, Chief Technology Officer for Connexion by Boeing,
said "the successful VitalLink 1200 demonstration validates
Connexion by Boeing's broadband approach. Our unique broadband capability
can host applications that go well beyond providing valuable Internet
services to passengers." Dietterle further stated, "As
VitalLink 1200 tests demonstrated, Connexion by Boeing can carry
critical information to help medical professionals on the ground
determine whether a passenger's chest pain, for example, is a symptom
of a serious heart attack - requiring the captain to land at the
nearest suitable airport - or a minor case of heartburn. By removing
the guesswork as to whether the flight should be diverted for a
medical emergency, lives may be spared, airlines avoid costly and
unnecessary diversions and passengers' travel plans aren't disrupted
unnecessarily."
Matthew Burke, VP of Research and Engineering, TeleMedic Systems,
was carrying out the trial on board flight BA 175. He said, "the
successful transmission of real-time vital signs has once again
demonstrated the robust communication capabilities of VitalLink
1200."
VitalLink 1200 is a medical monitoring device designed for ease
of use to help non-medical personnel manage a medical emergency
situation in the air. The water resistant backpack contains medical
parameters which measure a patient's vital signs (ECG, blood pressure,
pulse oximetry, temperature and heart rate).
VitalLink guides the cabin crew, through on screen instructions
and voice prompts, on how to the attach the device to the sick passenger.
Once attached vital signs will be displayed on the screen and the
cabin crew simply connect VitalLink to the Boeing Connexion. Boeing
Connexion then allows real-time transmission of vital signs to the
land based medical centre so the doctor can diagnose and advise
on how best to manage the patient.
Connexion by Boeing is a mobile information services provider bringing
fast internet, data and entertainment connectivity to aircraft in
flight.
Further to this successful British Airways Boeing Connexion trial,
Lufthansa have been looking at VitalLink for use on board their
aircraft. Lufthansa have been trialing Boeing by Connexion on flights
from Frankfurt to Washington and as part of their trial they used
VitalLink to transmit real time vital signs back to the medical
centre. The VitalLink trial went seamlessly and Lufthansa were very
happy with the ability of VitalLink and its ease of use. Several
articles have been published in Germany which can be viewed on the
following link: http://www.telemedicsystems.com/corpsite/main/tms/press_coverage/german.htm
VitalLink received European CE Mark and FDA approval in 2001. It
has been installed and is in use on business jets, gas and oil exploration
platforms, merchant ships, luxury yachts, rural health facilities,
armed forces and media news crews.
TeleMedic Systems was founded in the UK in 1995 by a management
team with medical and clinical information management, software
product development, and internet business experience. With head
quarters based in Taunton, UK there are also offices in Charlotte
NC, USA.
For more information, please contact:
TeleMedic Systems Ltd.
4, Dunkleys Way
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2LX, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: +44 (0) 8701 417425
email: info@telemedicsystems.com
web: http://www.telemedicsystems.com
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TECHNIP-COFLEXIP
adopts latest in emergency telemedicine systems for vessel dive
crew
22 May 2003, Aberdeen - Technip-Coflexip (NYSE: TKP, Euronext:
13170) announced today that it is installing the latest in telemedicine
systems, the VitalLink 1200 manufactured by TeleMedic Systems, into
the hyperbaric dive chamber complex of one of its diving support
vessels, the CSO Alliance. The system, which is designed to be used
by non-medically trained personnel, enables a member of the dive
crew within the dive system chamber to electronically measure the
vital signs of a fellow diver in need of medical attention. Connected
to a satellite phone, the system then links real time into medical
experts onshore who are able to provide assistance with treating
the patient. This is the first time that a system of this type has
been used in the hyperbaric chamber of a diving vessel anywhere
in the world and demonstrates Technip-Coflexip's continued commitment
to ensuring the health and safety of all of its staff at all times.
Whilst living in the hyperbaric chamber, divers are kept at a certain
pressure to enable them to carry out their work subsea safely on
a daily basis. Before they come out of the chamber into normal air
pressure it is necessary for them to undergo a decompression stage
which can take up to five days. In such circumstances, it is impossible
for a diver to come out of the chamber early even for emergency
medical treatment. The VitalLink system means that the majority
of emergency cases can be treated without delay and whilst still
in the chamber, thereby ensuring that the diver receives the best
medical care possible.
VitalLink is a ruggedised, water resistant pack which contains
devices for measuring the vital signs of a patient (ECG, blood pressure,
blood oxygen, temperature and pulse). The vital signs are measured
and sent real time into the AberMed centre for viewing and interpretation
by a doctor. Using the satellite phone within the hyperbaric chamber,
the diving crew can also communicate via voice and text, and send
and receive files or images to the doctor to help them deal with
the medical problem.
Commenting on the implementation of the VitalLink system, Nigel
Hope, QHS&E Manager for Technip Offshore UK said: "It is
an essential part of our role as employers that we are able to look
after our people even when they are in the isolated environment
of a hyperbaric chamber. Using the VitalLink system will provide
our diving crews with the added security and knowledge that they
are in safe hands and never too far from medical help.
With a workforce of about 19,000, TECHNIP-COFLEXIP ranks among
the top five in the field of oil and petrochemical engineering,
construction and services. Headquartered in Paris, the Group is
listed in New York (NYSE: TKP) and in Paris (EURONEXT: 13170). The
main engineering and business centers of TECHNIP-COFLEXIP are located
in France, Italy, Germany, the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, the
United States, Brazil, Abu-Dhabi, China, India, Malaysia and Australia.
The Group has high-quality industrial and construction facilities
in France, Brazil, the UK, the USA, and Finland as well as a world-class
fleet of offshore construction vessels.
TeleMedic Systems was established in 1995 in the UK, and has offices
in Charlotte, USA. VitalLink received European CE Mark and FDA approval
in 2001. It has been installed and is in use on business jets, gas
and oil exploration platforms, merchant ships, luxury yachts, rural
health facilities, armed forces and media news crews.
Statements in this news release other than historical financial
information are forward-looking statements subject to risks and
uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially depending
on factors such as capital expenditures in the oil and gas industry,
the timing of development of offshore energy resources, materialization
of construction risks, the strength of competition, interest rate
movements and stability in developing countries.
For more information, please contact:
TECHNIP OFFSHORE UK LIMITED
Lucy Heffernan
Tel: +44 1224 744044
E-mail: lheffernan@technip-coflexip.com
TELEMEDIC SYSTEMS LTD
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: +44 (0) 8701 417425
E-mail: info@telemedicsystems.com
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Surrey Ambulance Service
adopts the very latest in emergency telemedicine systems
Within seconds of arrival at the scene of an accident or emergency,
paramedics of the Surrey Ambulance Service are now able to monitor
and transmit a casualty's real time vital signs back to the accident
and emergency department of the receiving hospital, where the doctors
can assess the situation in advance and make preparations that could
save precious minutes on their arrival at the hospital.
 |
Called 'Paramedix', and designed by Taunton-based
TeleMedic Systems. The unit is specifically for use by the ambulance
service. The system transmits vital signs into a hand-held unit
carried by the ambulance crew from where it is transmitted to
the receiving hospital and also to the Surrey Ambulance Service
Headquarters in Banstead. |
"In emergency situations where rapid response is critical,
this system can make a life-saving difference," said Iain McNeil,
Surrey Ambulance Service Medical Director. "Not only can vital
signs be transmitted in real time to the accident and emergency
department of the receiving hospital, they can also be stored in
an electronic patient record." In addition to patient care,
Paramedix will also generate an accurate and timely record suitable
for audit and assessing risk management. By eliminating the need
for a paper-based system, Paramedix will offer an accurate and timely
patient record.
The expertise, and several years experience, with their VitalLink
1200 medical emergency vital signs system had been the catalyst
from which TeleMedic Systems had designed and developed the Paramedix
system.
Designed to be lightweight, compact, robust and easy to use, the
medical parameters of Paramedix are: non-invasive blood pressure,
pulse oximetry, 12 lead ECG, oral temperature, impedance respiration,
heart rate and pulse. Powered by an internal battery, when not in
use the unit is under continuous charge from the 12 volt dc ambulance
power supply. The medical unit consists of a clear touch-screen
by which the paramedic can monitor and assess vital signs as well
as control the display parameters. Alarms on the medical unit can
be pre-programmed or can be set to individual requirements.
TeleMedic Systems was founded in the UK by a management team with
medical and clinical information management, software product development,
and internet business experience. The TeleMedic Systems flagship
product, VitalLink 1200 is currently used in rural healthcare, by
the gas and oil exploration industry, commercial shipping, luxury
yachts, corporate jets, the military and many expeditions which
by their very nature will be going to remote areas of the world.
For further information:
TeleMedic Systems Ltd
4, Dunkleys Way
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2LX, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: + 44 (0) 8701 417425
Email: info@telemedicsystems.com
Web: www.telemedicsystems.com
Surrey Ambulance Service:
Iain McNeil
Medical Director
Tel: 01737 353333
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TeleMedic Systems
signs up CyberSol Ltd to deal with business in the Middle East.
CyberSol Ltd and TeleMedic Systems recently signed an agreement
for CyberSol to be a distributor of VitalLink to the Middle East.
CyberSol bring together the skills of their technology partners
in order to deliver and integrate computer and communications solutions
for harsh and extreme conditions. CyberSol are the leading provider
of rugged solutions for remote areas and as part of their portfolio
wanted to present their customers with the perfect remote medical
monitoring solution.
CyberSol offer the total solution for mobile or remote units where
communication is limited. With the use of the Iridium or Inmarsat
service, communication can be delivered to the remote area and customers
can carry on working in their remote office.
Philip Lumsden, Managing Director, CyberSol said, "VitalLink
is the perfect tool to have on the CyberSol product list as it is
rugged, robust and gives customers peace of mind when they are in
remote areas that they are close to medical help, any time, anywhere."
With customers covering all areas including military, law enforcement
and national security agencies, emergency services, utilities, industrial,
oil and gas exploration and processing, and healthcare CyberSol
have the contacts for the remote medical solution.
VitalLink is a remote medical monitoring device designed for the
non medical user. VitalLink is a rugged water-resistant lightweight
backpack, weighing 8 Kilos, and consists of a Medical Unit (MU)
and a touch-screen Patient Display Unit (PDU). The MU contains the
medical leads which are attached to the patient; temperature probe,
pulse oximetry clip, blood pressure cuff and ECG whilst the PDU
controls VitalLink and displays the vital signs. The PDU and the
MU communicate via wireless link and can be separated by up to 300ft
(100m). This wireless feature is essential where a casualty is often
not near a communication device, and allows the PDU to be carried
to the phone rather than having to move the casualty. Having attached
VitalLink to the patient, a process for which minimal training is
required, the device then plugs into the communication system; landline,
mobile cellular telephone or satellite and transmits the vital signs
in real time to an emergency room staffed by professional healthcare
workers for diagnosis and treatment advice. VitalLink can help support
unnecessary and costly medical evacuations but can also aid save
lives as important information to help the doctor's decision making
can be sent almost immediately to the medical centre.
VitalLink received European CE Mark and FDA approval in 2001, is
designed to meet requirements of DO-160D, and has since been in
use on business jets, gas and oil exploration platforms, merchant
ships, cruise liners, luxury yachts, rural health outpost, armed
forces and expeditions.
For more information:
Philip Lumsden
CyberSol
pcybersol@onetel.net.uk
ph - + 44 (0) 7968 019 205
www.cybersol-ltd.co.uk
TeleMedic Systems Ltd
4, Dunkleys Way
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2LX, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: + 44 (0) 8701 417425
Email: info@telemedicsystems.com
Web: www.telemedicsystems.com
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New Telemedicine
Initiative in Training Undergraduate Nurses
News Item - February, 2003
TeleMedic Systems and UNITEC Institute of Technology, School of
Health Sciences in Auckland, initiate world-class telemedicine learning
initiative.
'The installation by TeleMedic Systems of its portable medical
vital signs monitor, 'VitalLink 1200', provides the hands-on opportunity
for Unitec students to experience and learn about advanced information
and communication telemedicine technology' - says Dr. Denise Dignam,
Associate Professor of UNITEC's School of Health Sciences. The 'VitalLink
1200' for use in remote or rural locations where there is an absence
of primary medical support, can record and transmit patient information
to health professionals anywhere in the world, enabling them to
be in touch with quality health care in real-time. User-friendly,
it functions by measuring the patient's vital signs (3 lead electrocardiograms,
the level of oxygen within the blood, blood pressure, respiration
and temperature). These recordings can be sent by either wireless
(cell phone) or conventional phone lines to a health professional
anywhere in the world who can advise the nurse about appropriate
treatment for the patient, or keep the nurse informed about the
patients ongoing condition, enabling him/her to respond quickly
and appropriately. You can also talk, exchange text messages and
send jpeg images via the VitalLink 1200.
The Nursing Council of New Zealand and health care industry increasingly
requires students to be familiar and competent with the use of a
variety of emerging technologies. The 'VitalLink 1200' will help
students integrate specialised knowledge, skills and attitudes required
to deliver comprehensive nursing care for patients in remote locations,
while enabling them to be knowledgeable about the potential of information
and communication technology and competent in nursing informatics.
UNITEC's nursing students will be able to use the 'VitalLink 1200'
in their clinical learning resource centre and apply that knowledge
to use of technology within rural communities and in aged care facilities.
This will enable them to understand patient conditions more accurately.
This may include early diagnosis and treatment of acute situations
that may or may not require medical attention or emergency transportation
to a hospital - e.g. injury or falls, hydration consequences, or
suspected cerebral vascular accident. The remote capability of the
'VitalLink 1200' means medical intervention may be initiated following
an immediate telephone call to the patient's GP, as opposed to awaiting
an on site medical assessment.
The School of Health Science, is a multi-disciplinary school within
the UNITEC Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, and includes
Nursing, Medical Imaging and Osteopathy. The school prides itself
on having a leading role in ensuring that students have the opportunities
to learn using contemporary technologies, which will 'ready' them
for the technological world of health care delivery in which they
will eventually practice.
In keeping with the school's direction toward applied technology
research Dr Dianne Roy, lecturer within the UNITEC School of Health
Science, is about to study the impact of technology upon the scope
of nursing practice as it relates to the VitalLink 1200 and it's
implementation in a rural New Zealand aged care facility.
TeleMedic Systems is a world leader in the provision of telemedicine
for use in remote/out-of-hospital locations. They have ongoing rural
health programmes underway in the United States and India. See:
www.telemedicsystems.com for information about the Company and an
online demonstration of VitalLink 1200.
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Co-operative effort
makes remote medical support easy
February 14th 2003: A good physician
is hard to find. A good physician in Antarctica can be found, but
on a continent one and one-half times the size of the U.S., the
good physicians cannot be everywhere they are needed. However, thanks
to a joint effort between TeleMedic Systems, The University of Texas
Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB), and Iridium satellite technology,
medical support at remote locations may no longer be a scarce commodity.
As part of a National Science Foundation expedition to Antarctica,
the crew onboard the Research Vessel Nathaniel B. Palmer, tested
a revolutionary way to get their medical care. En-route to Antarctica
from California, the crew sent their medical vital signs in real
time to physicians who could monitor them from thousands of miles
away.
Using the VitalLink 1200 a remote medical diagnostic tool created
by TeleMedic Systems, and the Iridium satellite technology, the
crew sent their vital signs to the physicians at the University
of Texas. Those physicians were then able to monitor the crew members'
vital signs as well as send text, image and voice messages through
the VitalLink software. This technology allowed the Texas-based
physicians to remotely manage the health of the crew members on
board, regardless of where they actually were.
Thankfully, everyone on the research vessel was very healthy. However
if someone were to become ill or injured, the need for this type
of technology would quickly become apparent. Should someone experience
chest pain or a high fever, the crew onboard the vessel could use
the VitalLink/Iridium/UTMB technology to send those vital signs
to the attending physician. That physician would then evaluate the
person's vital signs and make a validated decision as to whether
that person should be medically evacuated which in places like Antarctica
can be risky as well as expensive. If it was not necessary for an
immediate evacuation, the physician could continue to monitor the
patient and advise those attending to him on how best to care for
him. This new technology enables employees and crew-members to have
the best medical support possible, no matter where they are located.
The VitalLink 1200 received European CE Mark and FDA approval in
2001, and has since been in use on business jets, gas and oil exploration
platforms, merchant ships, cruise liners, luxury yachts, rural health
outposts, armed forces and expeditions.
TeleMedic Systems was established in 1995 in the UK, and has offices
in Taunton, UK, and in Charlotte, USA.
TeleMedic Systems brought together a unique team of the world's
leading medical and IT professionals to develop VitalLink which
transmitted the first ever successful air to ground communication
in real time, of a passenger's vital signs. Before becoming commercially
available, VitalLink has been tested in some of the most rigorous
conditions such as at 17,000ft at the Mount Everest base camp and
carried on the Virgin Challenger Around-the-World Balloon.
For further information on VitalLink 1200 please contact:
TeleMedic Systems Ltd
4, Dunkleys Way
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2LX, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: + 44 (0) 8701 417425
Email: info@telemedicsystems.com
Web: www.telemedicsystems.com
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UK companies combine
forces to bring telemedicine in to reality -
Bringing immediate medical assistance to the remote emergency: Live
vital signs, video and voice bringing telemedicine in to reality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10th February 2003 (London) - UK companies LiveWorks and TeleMedic
Systems have formed a strategic alliance to offer the first ever
rugged and durable telemedicine product, combining real time vital
signs with two way audio and video. What makes this combined link
so unique is that vital signs and the two-way video/audio call are
both simultaneous. Unlike existing systems, there is no 'store and
forward' element with the LiveLink / VitalLink solution. This innovative
system will provide non-medically trained personnel with the ability
to provide assistance to casualties in remote medical emergency
situations.
By simply activating the VitalLink system and following a series
of voice and on-screen prompts the non-medically trained operator
connects the casualty to the Medical Unit (MU) which then automatically
measures and monitors ECG, pulse oximeter, blood pressure and temperature.
The LiveLink unit is then activated and a video call to the medical
centre initiated by way of an ISDN connection provided by an Inmarsat
GAN terminal or a V-SAT uplink. Once the connection is established,
the VitalLink transmits the vital signs alongside the real-time
video images.
Commenting on this new alliance LiveWorks' Nick Johansen said:
"We are continually striving to improve our products and services,
bringing innovative products to our customers and defining new expanding
markets all over the world. We see this latest venture with TeleMedic
Systems as being of real benefit to non-medically trained personnel
having to cope with medical emergencies in remote locations."
Staff at the emergency medical monitoring centre benefit from accurate,
conveniently available critical information every second of the
emergency. By combining the LiveWorks product with VitalLink, emergency
medical teams now have access to the most rugged and durable combined
telemedicine system in the world.
"TeleMedic Systems is very pleased to work with LiveWorks
to offer an integrated view of a casualties vital signs," said
TeleMedic Systems' Commercial Director. "By having access to
real-time patient information anywhere and anytime, physicians can
direct care more effectively. We are proud to make a contribution
to improving quality of emergency care."
Located near Gloucester, UK, Live Works is a company at the cutting
edge of video communications technology, dedicated to producing
integrated service based video communication products and actively
involved with telemedicine. Their LiveLink system is the most rugged
video conferencing system in the world, and is currently in use
with the Military, Oil & Gas and Broadcast industries.
TeleMedic Systems was founded in the UK in 1995 by a management
team with medical and clinical information management, software
product development, and Internet business experience. TeleMedic
Systems' flagship product, VitalLink 1200, has been in development
for three years and is currently used in rural healthcare, by the
gas and oil exploration industry, commercial shipping, luxury yachts,
corporate jets, the military and many expeditions which by their
very nature will be going to remote areas of the world.
For further information:
TeleMedic Systems:
TeleMedic Systems Ltd
4, Dunkleys Way
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2LX, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: + 44 (0) 8701 417425
Email: info@telemedicsystems.com
Web: www.telemedicsystems.com
LiveWorks:
Nick Johansen
Commercial Director
LiveWorks
www.LiveWorks.tv
Tel: + 44 (0) 1453 541 500
Fax: + 44 (0) 1453 541 501
BACK TO TOP
VitalLink plays a vital
role alongside the SuperBowl
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7 February 2003
TeleMedic Systems' remote vital signs monitor, VitalLink, successfully
came through one of its toughest tests yet during the 2003 ShadowBowl.
The ShadowBowl was a simulated civil defense training seminar that
occurred concurrently with the largest, US sporting event of the
year; the SuperBowl. Designed to see how emerging technologies could
be applied to America's anti-terrorist contingency plans, the lessons
learned from the ShadowBowl will provide cities and states with
models and guidelines for what protocols they should have in place
should a real terrorist attack occur.
Commenting on some of the difficult situations health systems are
faced with Carl Taylor - Interim Director Office of Emerging Health
Technologies University of South Alabama said: "As first responders
and health systems struggle with decisions on how best to manage
the anticipated surge capacity brought on by a sudden man-made or
natural disaster one thing is clear, casualties will need to be
managed for far longer at the casualty site than ever before. This
burden will require new highly portable communication tools to allow
those on the front line to acquire vital signs and communicate them
across a broad range of communication networks to caregivers both
within and without the impacted area. Our observations at the ShadowBowl
exercise revealed the VitalLink uniquely suited for this purpose."
The ability for immediate medical assessment, without having to
endanger a first responder will prove increasingly vital as cities
and states in the USA begin to construct their plans to deal with
local disaster emergencies. In these types of situations, VitalLink's
robust remote communications system demonstrated TeleMedic Systems'
ability to provide a rapid response and critical assistance for
any type of mass casualty situation.
Matthew Burke, VP of Research and Engineering, commented that the
outcome demonstrates the solid communication capabilities of the
VitalLink. He said, "The VitalLink was ideally suited for the
ShadowBowl exercise; we were able to transmit patient's vital signs
from the field through a car-mounted satellite communications unit.
The robust design of the VitalLink allowed us to monitor four or
more patients simultaneously through one laptop, then out a satellite
connection to a medical center. Having multiple patient monitoring
is critical in any mass casualty scenario, and the wireless nature
only adds flexibility, especially in when you can take the monitor
to the patient, not move the patient to the monitor."
The success of this test proves the increasing scope of VitalLink,
demonstrating TeleMedic Systems' ability to stay ahead of the technology
curve and the versatility of communication capabilities of the VitalLink
for use in remote areas, including disaster situations.
VitalLink has been designed to communicate with the medical monitoring
center via Internet, satellite telephone, GSM mobile telephone or
landline. For the remote medical emergency such as on board an aeroplane
or at a gas and oil exploration site, VitalLink can be connected
to the available satellite communications. It is at this point that
the usefulness of the wireless link between the Patient Display
Unit and the Medical Unit comes into its own.
The VitalLink 1200 received European CE Mark and FDA approval in
2001, and has since been in use on business jets, gas and oil exploration
platforms, merchant ships, cruise liners, luxury yachts, rural health
outposts, armed forces and expeditions.
TeleMedic Systems was established in 1995 in the UK, and has offices
in Taunton, UK, and in Charlotte, USA.
TeleMedic Systems brought together a unique team of the world's
leading medical and IT professionals to develop VitalLink which
transmitted the first ever successful air to ground communication
in real time, of a passenger's vital signs. Before becoming commercially
available, VitalLink has been tested in some of the most rigorous
conditions such as at 17,000ft at the Mount Everest base camp and
carried on the Virgin Challenger Around-the-World Balloon.
For further information on VitalLink please contact:
TeleMedic Systems Ltd
4, Dunkleys Way
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2LX, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: + 44 (0) 8701 417425
Email: info@telemedicsystems.com
Web: www.telemedicsystems.com
BACK TO TOP
For less than US$5
telemedicine initiative could mean the difference between life and
death for thousands of pilgrims
For immediate release
Inmarsat Global Area Network
(GAN) and VitalLink emergency medical monitoring system provides
emergency medical monitoring from Sabarimalai - the 2nd most popular
pilgrimage centre for the Hindu's around the world.
As is the custom, thousands of pilgrims making their way through
the hills of Sabarimalia to pay homage at the temple home of Lord
Ayyapa must cover at least the last 10 kilometres on foot - with
many opting to take a more strenuous route covering 45 kilometres.
With upwards of 100,000 pilgrims each day, many of them elderly
and infirm, the threat of exhaustion, stress and heart problems
is only too real.
But thanks to a joint initiative by the Apollo Hospital group, the
seventh largest private hospital group in the world, and the largest
outside of the USA, and the government of Kerala, the pilgrims will
have access to enhanced telemedicine support using mini M and TeleMedic
Systems' VitalLink Rural Health Solution.
The VitalLink Rural Health Solution shares the simple, intuitive
and easy-to-use features of the VitalLink 1200 product, that was
developed for use by non-medically trained personnel in remote commercial
locations where there was an absence primary medical support. The
VitalLink Rural Health Solution allows district nurses the ability
to quickly and easily, measure and record, a patient's vital signs
and transmit them in real-time to the Apollo Hospital Group's telemedicine
monitoring centre in Chennai, India. Doctors at the Apollo Hospital
can monitor these remote patients without having to bring them in
to the hospital.
With the risk of health problems being at their greatest during
peak visitor periods a remote medical facility was set up at the
footstep of the temple by Apollo Hospitals with the help of Elektronik
Lab the distributors of Thrane & Thrane in India and Taunton-based
TeleMedic Systems.
The equipment used for this remote telemedicine link is:
· Vital Link 1200 telemedicine unit, a compact portable system
that monitors heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygenation levels,
pulse and temperature (Connected to a Mini M)
· Inmarsat - Mini M from Thrane & Thrane - Denmark
· UIC - ISDN video conferencing equipment (Connected to GAN)
· Inmarsat - GAN from Thrane & Thrane - Denmark
Speaking on this initiative of providing telemedicine from a remote
location Dr. Reddy Chairman Apollo hospitals says " the major
concern in a remote telemedicine solution is the ability to transmit
vital signs using monitoring equipment and video conferencing equipment
in locations that do not have a power source. It is a blessing for
us that Inmarsat equipment is easily portable and can be set up
for use in minutes anywhere in India." Mr. Reddy added that
"even low bandwidth Inmarsat equipment like the GAN can easily
transmit vital signs (using VitalLink) of a suspected cardiac patient
in less than 3 minutes for the cost of less than US $5. This $5
can be the difference between life and death and help save unwanted
medical evacuation where it is not needed."
TeleMedic Systems was established in 1995 in the UK, and has offices
in the USA. TeleMedic Systems brought together a unique team of
the world's leading medical and IT professionals to develop VitalLink
1200 which transmitted the first ever successful air to ground communication
in real time, of a passenger's vital signs. Before becoming commercially
available, VitalLink has been tested in some of the most rigorous
conditions such as at 17,000ft at the Mount Everest base camp and
carried on the Virgin Challenger Around-the-World Balloon.
 |
Holy man from
Sabarimali temple attached to VitalLink having his vital signs
sent back to Apollo Hospital
|
For further information on VitalLink 1200 please contact:
TeleMedic Systems Ltd
4, Dunkleys Way
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2LX, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: + 44 (0) 8701 417425
Email: info@telemedicsystems.com
Web: www.telemedicsystems.com
BACK TO TOP
TeleMedic
Systems Patent Granted on "The Snake"
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
London February 3rd 2003
TeleMedic Systems, the Taunton-based company specialising in remote
medical diagnostics, has received notification of grant of their
patent application for a novel device called "The Snake".
The Snake refers to the incorporation of the 6 intercostal leads
on a standard 12-lead ECG cable into a single strand. Each of the
terminals are designed to be quickly attached to electrodes and
applied to the patient's torso in a matter of seconds.
The development of the Snake has been very well received by senior
medical executives in the UK. Dr Ian McNeill, Medical Director of
Surrey Ambulances NHS Trust commented;
"This is an absolutely fantastic invention. Anyone who has
tried to attach a conventional 12 lead harness will know what a
terrible tangle you can get yourself into. You can snap-on electrodes
and have them applied to the chest in the right order and the right
spacing, in a matter of seconds. It is going to make life a lot
easier, particularly if you are on the move".
The company stresses that whilst the concept of an integrated electrode
array is not new, the Snake offers much greater flexibility and
versatility than the "one-size-fits-all" concept, since
it can be accurately attached in a wide variety of individuals from
neonate to large adult.
TeleMedic Systems is in discussion with leading medical cable companies
to take the Snake from prototype to production stage and hopes to
be able to launch the finished device by late summer.
END OF INFORMATION
BACK TO TOP
TeleMedic Systems'
VitalLink 1200 successfully tests with EMS Satcom Technologies.
November 28th, 2002: Further proof that the
technology behind TeleMedic Systems' remote medical emergency system
VitalLink 1200 is smart enough to anticipate the future came when
the VitalLink 1200 seamlessly connected up to the EMS Technologies'
Link High Speed Data product called the HSD-128. The HSD-128 provides
128kbps of high-speed data capability from aircraft via Inmarsat's
Swift64.
When the VitalLink was first developed, advanced
satellite communication systems like the HSD were not in existence.
VitalLink's ability to connect up immediately with this new communications
link qualifies the solid research and engineering that was incorporated
into the VitalLink's operating system at its inception.
Matthew Burke, VP of Research and Engineering,
said, "It has become apparent that any on board emergency medical
system must be able to easily connect with the modern communication
systems currently being developed or installed by leading commercial
airlines and corporate jet specialists. This successful link to
the EMS system demonstrates the robust communication capabilities
of the VitalLink 1200."
Ray Larkin, Director of Sales and Marketing, EMS Technologies said
"The VitalLink connected effortlessly with our HSD-128. We
connected it up, and it worked. Its Ethernet interface makes it
extremely adaptable to most airborne networks."
For further information on VitalLink 1200 please contact:
TeleMedic Systems Ltd
4, Dunkleys Way
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2LX, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: + 44 (0) 8701 417425
Email: info@telemedicsystems.com
Web: www.telemedicsystems.com
Background Information:
VitalLink 1200, designed to international
standards of conformity related to safety of electro-medical equipment,
safety of electromagnetic equipment and rigid US Federal Aviation
RTCA/DO-160D electromagnetic discharge (ENC) performance standards,
received European CE Mark and USFDA approval in 2001. VitalLink
1200 is in use on business jets, offshore gas and oil exploration
platforms, merchant ships, cruise liners, luxury yachts, rural health
outposts, armed forces and remote expeditions.
VitalLink 1200, designed for use by non-medically trained personnel,
transmits a patient's vital signs (EKG, Blood Pressure, Blood Oxygen
Saturation, Temperature and Pulse) in real-time via satellite, internet,
cellular or landline to a designated 24/7 medical monitoring center
anywhere in the world. Using TeleMedic Systems' receiving software
'VitalSoft', qualified medical staff at the medical centre can view
the vital signs in real-time and provide appropriate medical diagnosis
and support.
TeleMedic Systems was established in 1995
in the UK, and has offices in the USA. TeleMedic Systems brought
together a unique team of the world's leading medical and IT professionals
to develop VitalLink 1200 which transmitted the first ever successful
real-time air to ground communication, of a passenger's vital signs.
VitalLink 1200 was tested in some of the most rigorous environmental
conditions including the Mount Everest base camp at 17,000ft and
carried on the Virgin Challenger Around-the-World Balloon, where
altitude and temperature testing was conducted before submission
for USFDA approval and subsequent commercial release.
EMS has major clients in the corporate aviation
and military markets. Founded in 1968, EMS Technologies (NASDAQ:
ELMG) is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced technology
hardware products for commercial space, defense, and wireless communications,
and focuses on the needs of mobile and broadband users. With headquarters
in Atlanta, EMS Technologies employs almost 1,900 people worldwide
and has manufacturing facilities in Atlanta, Ottawa, Montreal and
Brazil.
BACK TO TOP
Telemedicine initiative
brings vital medical support to rural communities in India: TeleMedic
Systems and the Apollo Hospital Group announce strategic alliance
TeleMedic Systems
Ltd today announced their strategic alliance with India's Apollo
Hospital Group, the seventh largest private hospital group in the
world, and the largest outside of the USA.
The Apollo Hospital Group will provide enhanced telemedicine support
to remote communities in India using Telemedic Systems' VitalLink
Rural Health Solution. This VitalLink solution is currently being
used by medical staff in rural communities in the USA to monitor
patients and transmit their vital signs data to a medical facility
via a standard telephone line. The VitalLink unit will also utilise
cellular or satellite communications where rural infrastructures
are not developed.
The VitalLink Rural Health Solution shares
the simple, intuitive and easy-to-use features of the VitalLink
1200 product, that was developed for use by non-medically trained
personnel in remote commercial locations where there was an absence
primary medical support. The VitalLink Rural Health Solution allows
district nurses the ability to quickly and easily, measure and record,
a patient's vital signs and transmit them in real-time to the Apollo
Hospital Group's telemedicine monitoring centre in Chennai, India.
Doctors at the Apollo Hospital can monitor these remote patients
without having to bring them in to the hospital.
Dr. T. Varghese George, Head of telemedicine
at the Apollo Hospital in Chennai, commented: "Our company
is not only very much aware of its responsibility towards the rural
population of India, we also want to provide a model of telemedicine,
which self propagates throughout India and into the developing world.
VitalLink has shown itself to be user-friendly, reliable and a practical
tool that will help Apollo Hospital Group bring telemedicine within
the reach of every individual no matter how remote their home may
be from professional medical care."
Telemedicine solutions such as VitalLink Rural Health have been
targeted as a way of providing quality, low cost healthcare in remote
locations such as rural villages and towns. It is expected that
this requirement will increase over the next few years.
Offering medical advice via remote communication
networks has grown to become an established service in the developed
world and telemedicine has been recognised by the World Health Organisation
as a cost effective, practical method to deliver healthcare to all.
Reflecting on the challenges the geography of India poses to healthcare
professionals, Dr. George added: "Telemedicine allows us to
present a time based, but value-added model, that efficiently utilises
scarce resources allocated for healthcare services."
A TeleMedic Systems spokesman commented: "The
alliance underlines our commitment to providing the best overall
telemedicine solution to those communities living and working in
locations that are remote from expert professional medical support.
We are delighted to have formed this alliance with the Apollo Hospital
Group and expect that state-of-the-art communications technology
built into VitalLink will prove to have added benefit as the Apollo
Hospital Group continues their goal of establishing community out-reach
programs within the rural communities in India."
TeleMedic Systems was established in 1995
in the UK and has offices in the USA. In India TeleMedic Systems
is being represented by Elektronik Lab, Chennai.
For further information please contact:
Dr. T. Varghese George
Vice President
Apollo Hospital Group
Chennai, India
Tel: + 91 829 333 ext 5436
http://www.apollohospitals.com
Mr. K. Nanda Kumar/Mr. R. Nair
Elektronik Lab
14A Masilamani street
T. Nagar
Chennai - 600 017
Tel: +91 44 4336953
TeleMedic Systems Ltd
4 Dunkleys Way
Taunton
Somerset, TA1 2LX. UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: +44 (0) 8701 417425
http://www.telemedicsystems.com
BACK TO TOP
Connexion by Boeing
and VitalLink - a Seamless Transmission
Wednesday, October
23, 2002:
TeleMedic Systems' emergency vital signs monitoring
medical system, VitalLink 1200, was successfully demonstrated on
the ground at Boeing Field in Seattle, Wash., USA. VitalLink 1200
was put through its paces, via Ethernet and 802.11b, onboard the
Boeing Connexion One research, test, validation and demonstration
airplane. During the test, the VitalLink 1200 successfully communicated
and transmitted medical vital signs in real-time to the TeleMedic
Systems' office in Charlotte, N.C., USA.
Matthew Burke, VP of Research and Engineering,
commented that the outcome demonstrates the robust communication
capabilities of the VitalLink 1200. He said, "Although we had
never tested VitalLink with the Connexion by BoeingSM system before,
it established an immediate connection with our office in Charlotte
and successfully sent real-time vital signs with no problems. The
success of this test proves the increasing scope of VitalLink 1200,
demonstrating TeleMedic Systems' ability to stay ahead of the technology
curve and the versatility of communication capabilities of the VitalLink
for use in remote areas, including commercial aviation."
Connexion by Boeing is a mobile information services provider that
is bringing the fastest, most capable Internet, data and entertainment
connectivity to aircraft in flight. The service is currently available
to the executive services market in the U.S., which includes operators
of private and government aircraft. Connexion by Boeing remains
on track with leading European carries Lufthansa and British Airways
to begin service demonstrations in early 2003. In addition, Japan
Airlines has announced its intent to equip 10 of its long-range
jetliners with the Connexion by Boeing service from 2004.
Robert Dietterle, chief technology officer for Connexion by Boeing,
said the successful VitalLink 1200 demonstration validates Connexion
by Boeing's broadband approach. "Our unique broadband capability
can host applications that go well beyond providing valuable Internet
services to passengers," Dietterle said. "As the VitalLink
1200 tests demonstrated, Connexion by Boeing can carry critical
information to help medical professionals on the ground determine
whether a passenger's chest pain, for example, is a symptom of a
serious heart attack - requiring the captain to land at the nearest
suitable airport - or a minor case of heartburn. By removing the
guesswork as to whether the flight should be diverted for a medical
emergency, lives may be spared, airlines avoid costly and unnecessary
diversions and passengers' travel plans aren't disrupted unnecessarily.
"
The VitalLink 1200 received European CE Mark and FDA approval in
2001, is designed to meet the requirements of DO-160D, and has since
been in use on business jets, gas and oil exploration platforms,
merchant ships, cruise liners, luxury yachts, rural health outposts,
armed forces and expeditions.
VitalLink 1200 has been designed to communicate
with the medical monitoring centre via Internet, satellite telephone,
cellular mobile telephone or landline. For the remote medical emergency
such as on board an aeroplane or at a gas and oil exploration site,
VitalLink can be connected to the available satellite communications.
It is at this point that the usefulness of the wireless link between
the Patient Display Unit and the Medical unit comes into its own.
TeleMedic Systems was established in 1995
in the UK, and has offices in the USA. TeleMedic Systems brought
together a unique team of the world's leading medical and IT professionals
to develop VitalLink 1200 which transmitted the first ever successful
air to ground communication in real time, of a passenger's vital
signs. Before becoming commercially available, VitalLink has been
tested in some of the most rigorous conditions such as at 17,000ft
at the Mount Everest base camp and carried on the Virgin Challenger
Around-the-World Balloon.
For further information on VitalLink
1200 please contact:
TeleMedic Systems Ltd
4, Dunkleys Way
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2LX, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: + 44 (0) 8701 417425
Email: info@telemedicsystems.com
Web: www.telemedicsystems.com
BACK TO TOP
VitalLink Comes
to the Aid of Ailing Passenger on US Airways Flight
Press Release -
4th October 2002
When you are on board a commercial airliner
traveling at several thousand feet the last thing that you need
is to start suffering from shortness of breath. This is exactly
what happened to an elderly woman during a US Airways flight between
Seattle, WA and Pittsburgh PA on early Friday morning, September
27th, 2002.
Reacting quickly to the situation the cabin
crew moved the woman to the forward galley where she was given oxygen.
Fortunately for the passenger, further help was on hand in the form
of TeleMedic Systems' Matthew Burke, and his company's portable,
medical vital signs monitoring device, known as the VitalLink 1200.
Noticing that his fellow passenger was in some distress, Matthew
volunteered the use of his company's device.
After applying the medical unit, Matthew and
the two flight attendants monitored the woman's EKG, blood pressure,
pulse oximetry, and temperature. As the flight progressed, Matthew
noticed her oxygen saturation decline from 98% to 85%. A quick inspection
determined the oxygen cylinder had been completely used, but accidentally
overlooked as the ambient noise muffled the sound of flowing oxygen.
A replacement oxygen cylinder was found, and the woman's oxygen
saturation rapidly rose back to a normal level of 98%. If the oxygen
had not been replaced, the woman would have returned to a state
of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
After several more minutes of monitoring,
the woman was placed in a nearby first class seat with the oxygen.
The flight proceeded normally to the destination, Pittsburgh. Both
flight attendant's expressed great appreciation for the VitalLink
1200 as it reduced both their stress levels and the patient's.
The VitalLink 1200 is designed for non-medically
trained personnel to be used in medical emergencies in commercial
aviation. It is able to transmit a passenger's vital signs via satellite
communications from the cockpit or from seatback phones to a ground-based
physician for accurate diagnosis.
The VitalLink 1200 received FDA approval in
October, 2001 and is being successfully used in many different situations
including business jets, gas and oil exploration platforms, merchant
ships, cruise liners, luxury yachts, rural health locations and
the armed forces.
TeleMedic Systems was established in
1995 in the UK and has offices in Charlotte, USA.
BACK TO TOP
New technology
enables VitalLink, a remote medical monitoring device, to be used
in the off-shore and oil gas industry in Australia
What happens when
an employee falls ill while sequestered on a remote assignment?
At best remote medical support may include a Registered nurse or
a First Aider. How does a Company's Chief Medical Officer or a Company's
remote medical service provider make a transportation decision 'do
we need to evacuate this person or not?' when they are not on the
scene of the medical emergency? Perhaps a blood pressure reading,
a temperature reading is the only information they have. When an
employee rubs his/her chest and says "I just don't feel well',
what do you do from one hundred or ten thousand miles away? When
in doubt, evacuate, but there is the company budget constraint and
pressure to consider. A helicopter may be sent to evacuate a casualty
from the rig, who later may be found to have just had indigestion?
Or maybe the casualty is stabilized but then suffers a mild stoke
or heart attack or the ultimate disaster, dies of complications
related to the initial medical episode?
In today's world of rapidly moving technology
and medical product developments, it is not an easy task to stay
current with all product developments are they are published. This
is especially true in the newer field of telemedicine. Telemedicine
in Australia has been around for as long as the Flying Doctor Service
has been operational and supported by RF radio communication. Tele-radiology
has been available for the past fifteen years or so using landlines
with available high bandwidth. However, it is only with recent developments
in communications capabilities and IT technology, that there is
provision of medical support for remote locations where satellite
link is the only form of communication available.
The medical industry has rarely invented its
own instruments whether they be measurement or surgical… they
have always been borrowed. Today, telemedicine is driven by IT and
communications technologies and one company, TeleMedic Systems,
is at the leading edge of remote medical development.
The Company manufactures a portable IT-based
medical monitoring system, VitalLink 1200 (VL 1200). It is designed
for use by non-medically trained personnel in remote situations
where there is an absence of primary medical support. The VL 1200
records and transmits in real-time a patient's vital signs (electro-cardiogram,
blood oxygen (SPO2), blood pressure, heart rate and temperature)
to a 24 x 7 medical call centre where appropriate medical staff
can provide an initial diagnosis and professional medical advice
to assist in a transportation decision. The medical monitoring centre,
with the Telemedic Systems medical receiving software, domiciles
on an IBM compatible PC with an open modem line, can be located
anywhere in the world. A patient's vital signs data can be transmitted
to the medical monitoring centre via Satellite, Iridium or cellular
phone or standard landline connection.
Established in 1995, the Company transmitted
its first medical vital signs data in 1996 via an Inmarsat satellite
link from Southern Africa back to a medical centre in the UK. The
VL 1200 was in use at the base camp of Mt. Everest conducting altitude
and temperature testing in the 1998-1999 climbing season, and in
2000, supporting both of the Sir Richard Branson's Around-the World
balloon attempts. TeleMedic Systems has its head office in Taunton
UK, with product manufacturing and software development carried
out in Charlotte, North Carolina in the USA.
Supported by its United States Food
and Drug regulatory approval (FDA), Underwriters Laboratory 'UL'
Mark, European CE Mark, and the Australian Therapeutic Goods and
Services approval, the VitalLink 1200 is currently used in the off-shore
oil and gas industry, commercial maritime, remote mineral and mining,
business jets, government agencies and the military, rural health,
luxury yachts and on live international news agency locations. In
2002, the Company was short listed for the prestigious Flight International
Aviation Training and Safety Award and for the CITIS Innovation
in Ship's IT and Communications Award.
BACK TO TOP
TeleMedic Systems
VitalLink finalist for the Stockholm Challenge Awards
The Vitallink 1200 recently qualified as a
finalist for Stockholm Challenge, the prestigious global awards
programme that attracts IT-entrepreneurs from all over the world
and rewards for best practice of information technology. Nearly
600 projects from 78 countries have given the international jury
a hard task to evaluate and select the finalists and winners.
The VitalLink 1200 is a monitoring device
for use in remote medical emergencies. The VitalLink 1200 is portable,
user-friendly and designed specifically for use by non-medically
trained personnel in a remote medical emergency. VitalLink 1200
allows communication between the operator and a medical centre by
means of voice or text transmission. VitalLink 1200 transmits over
a very narrow bandwidth allowing the full range of communication
options including satellite telephone, mobile telephone or landline
to be used.
The Stockholm Challenge is an annual awards
programme for pioneering IT projects in areas where IT has a great
impact on people's lives. The participating projects show in practice
how IT can be applied to social welfare and health care programs,
or as a tool in favour of democracy. The Challenge seeks to abbreviate
the gap between the information-rich and information-poor and seeks
to spread the use of IT to larger groups in society.
For more information about The Stockholm Challenge Award:
www.challenge.stockholm.se
BACK TO TOP
PRIVATAIR installs
VitaLink 1200 emergency medical monitoring system on board its aircraft
London, UK. - June 25th, 2002 - PrivatAir,
the global leader in business aviation has just completed fitting
VitalLink 1200 emergency medical monitoring systems to two of its
executive jets, a Citation X and a Challenger 604.
Currently operating a fleet of over 50 aircraft in the U.S. and
Europe, PrivatAir is one of the largest and most respected providers
of corporate aviation services worldwide. Speaking from their Taunton
Headquarters, the Chief Executive Officer of TeleMedic Systems said:
"We are naturally very pleased that PrivatAir has chosen VitalLink
1200 as the onboard emergency medical monitoring system for the
Citation X and Challenger 604 aircraft."
"I think it is a great piece of equipment to have on board
our planes. The simplicity makes it especially appealing,"
said Alan Hyde, Regional Maintenance Director, PrivatAir. He continued:
"It is very lightweight which would also lend itself to use
on any aircraft with weight restrictions." PrivatAir maintenance
technician Mike Krakowski added: "It is non-invasive, so you
don't have to scare anyone at all."
The VitalLink system uses on board communications systems, providing
an integrated approach to any on-board medical emergency by transmitting
the vital signs of any passenger in real time to the ground based
medical monitoring facility.
VitalLink 1200 fits into a specially designed
compact, water resistant and robust easy-to-carry bag and could
mean the difference between life and death for air travelers who
suffer a medical emergency in a location that is remote from professional
medical help.
Once connected to the patient / casualty,
VitalLink 1200 monitors the vital signs of cardiac rhythm, blood
pressure, temperature, blood oxygen saturation, and heart rate.
The VitalLink has been designed to communicate
with the medical monitoring center in real time via satellite telephone,
mobile telephone or landline. For the medical emergency on board
an airplane, the system can be connected to the onboard satellite
communications. It is at this point that the usefulness of the wireless
link between the Patient Display Unit (PDU) and Medical Unit (MU)
can be seen. Should the casualty be in a situation where they cannot
be moved, (for example at the rear of the aircraft) and the communications
necessary for connection are some distance away, the PDU can be
moved to the communication device whilst still monitoring real time
the vital signs of the patient. Uninterrupted wireless communications
between the PDU and the MU can be sustained throughout the length
of the aircraft even whilst the PDU is attached to communications
in the cockpit.
By making available that real time link TeleMedic
Systems are providing reassurance for those non-medically qualified
people at the site of the emergency. Real time electronic readings
of the patient's cardiac, circulation functions, and temperature,
from the VitalLink 1200 assist medical professionals located in
a remote medical call center in recommending the most appropriate
course of action to take on the patient's behalf.
In addition to its aerospace applications,
VitalLink 1200 is currently in use with the US military, on remote
gas and oil exploration platforms, commercial shipping, private
yachts and as part of the portfolio of emergency medical care services
in rural communities.
With its European Headquarters located in Taunton, UK, TeleMedic
Systems Limited is a young, dynamic company setting new standards
in the development and provision of affordable and practical telemedicine
solutions. Product and software development is carried out in Charlotte,
N. C., the US headquarters of TeleMedic Systems.
BACK TO TOP
INVSAT LIMITED ANNOUNCES
INITIATIVE FOR MOBILE TELEMEDICINE MARKET
Tuesday 25th June 2002
Westhill, Aberdeenshire, Scotland ; 255h June
2002 - Invsat Limited, the VSAT and systems integration subsidiary
of Inmarsat Ventures plc, has announced details of an initiative
with Taunton-based TeleMedic Systems, a leader in the supply of
remote telemedicine diagnostics. The aim is to speed up the delivery
of emergency medical care using cutting-edge communications technology
that supports TeleMedic Systems technical implementation.
Central to this initiative will be VitalLink
1200 - a compact, lightweight system allowing monitoring of heart
rate, blood pressure, blood oxygenation, temperature and electrocardiogram.
These parameters are automatically transmitted by a satellite or
terrestrial link, whichever communication is best adapted to the
geographical site of the device.
Announcing the initiative at the International
E-health Conference in Cardiff, Andrew Ruck, Invsat's director of
sales and marketing said, "Invsat's core strengths lie in the
provision of communications systems integration and satellite communications
in remote locations and at sea, so a move into the provision of
support for the telemedicine field is a natural step for us. VitalLink
1200 is an enhanced emergency monitoring medical system and we are
delighted to be working with TeleMedic Systems to offer a wireless
device that is not only compact and robust, but one that could mean
the difference between life and death."
For Invsat's core offshore oil and energy
and marine environment customers, VitalLink 1200 is a natural complement
to the other value-add communications solutions it provides and
allows anyone anywhere to be in contact with a trusted source of
medical expertise
Ends
About Invsat
Invsat Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat Ventures
plc. The company project manages and delivers VSAT solutions, satellite
and broadband networks and VPN's to a global client base, incorporating
the maritime oil and gas, government and emergency services sectors.
Further information is available from the Invsat website at www.invsat.com
About TeleMedic Systems
TeleMedic Systems (TMS) was established in
1995 in the UK and today has offices and partners throughout the
world. TMS brought together a unique team of the world's leading
medical and IT professionals to develop VitalLink 1200. The VitalLink
1200 transmitted the first ever 'air-to-ground' communication in
real time of a passenger's vital signs. VitalLink 1200 is currently
in use in many remote situations, including oil-rigs, cruise liners
and luxury yachts throughout the world.
Ends
For further information, please contact
Kevin Dorrian at KDA-PR on 0131 538 2705 or email kevin.dorrian@kda-pr.com
URL - www.kda-pr.com
BACK TO TOP
TeleMedic Systems
announce sales success of VitalLink 1200 emergency medical monitoring
system in the luxury yacht market
Fort Lauderdale, USA - June 13th
2002 - TeleMedic System has sold its VitalLink 1200 to two luxury
mega yachts for integrated emergency medical monitoring and support
systems.
 |
Emile Bootsma, the experienced captain of the 165' mega yacht
'Blue Moon' recognizes the value of VitalLink 1200 to both
the crew and passengers. "VitalLink forms an integral
part of emergency care support available on board. Modern
communication tools such as the Internet and e-mail keep vessels
in touch with contacts world-wide." With the promise
of lower communication costs and higher connection speeds
the interest in web-based services has taken off dramatically
in the maritime market. By linking up emergency medical systems
such as VitalLink 1200 to dedicated maritime communications
systems such as Inmarsat, we have an emergency medical system
that is easy to use with the most reliable and cost efficient
communications platform available and one that transmits cross
a broad band width down to 2400 baud.
Mega yachts are often remote and Captain Bootsma recognizes
the need to explore anything new. "Equipment such as
VitalLink is not only a step in the right direction, it helps
the captain and crew to access professional medical support
in any medical emergency. However, before agreeing to take
VitaLink we put it through rigorous endurance testing both
at sea and in port. We ran it non-stop and found that it performed
exceptionally well."
|
Although all crewmembers are
trained first-aiders one member of the crew is also a trained nurse.
With a normal cruising area of the Caribbean, Great Lakes and occasionally
the Mediterranean, Captain Bootsma added: "It's good to know
that with VitalLink we can transmit vital signs of a casualty to
a fully staffed emergency medical center 24/7 no matter how remote
we are."
Dean Maggio, a captain of luxury yachts for 15 years, with the last
5 years as Captain with Sea Hawk in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA,
has worked on three new build projects and is currently overseeing
a new build project of a new 150' Sea Hawk. He recognizes the need
for reliable voice, distress and safety communications on board
a vessel. Captain Maggio said: It's important that technology is
tailored to the needs of those people who use it. The ease of use
of VitalLink removes any uncertainty or fear from a non-medically
trained crew member."
The online transmission of vital signs in real time removes any
guesswork in times of a medical emergency. Unless you are a fully
trained emergency room technician it is often difficult to tell
just how serious the medical emergency is. For example, in situations
involving air evacuations from the ship - such as allergic reactions,
suspected stroke or heart attack - it is good to know that VitalLink
is there doing its job.
|
Referring to how quickly things can change when you are at
sea Captain Maggio said: "Every situation is different
and you can never have enough training, but the direct link
via the VitalLink 1200 to the medical monitoring center provides
the reassurance and professional help to see you through any
medical emergency."
Simple to use, VitalLink 1200 features easy to follow instructions
to guide the user with how to connect the casualty up to the
system and unlike other remote diagnostic devices, VitalLink
1200 provides a 'voice and chat' option that allows the first-aider
to have direct, live contact with the emergency medical centre.
|
|
Not only a boost to the confidence
of those taking care of the casualty, but also a valuable tool by
which the medical staff can obtain additional details about the
condition of the casualty.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Having attached VitalLink 1200
to the casualty - a process for which minimal training is required
- the device then plugs into the vessel's satellite communication
system and transmits the vital signs in real time to an emergency
room staffed by professional healthcare workers for diagnosis and
treatment advice.
Speaking from the European Headquarters of TeleMedic Systems in
Taunton, UK, a TeleMedic Systems spokesman said: "VitalLink
1200 is portable, user-friendly and designed specifically for use
by non-medically trained personnel in medical emergency situations
such as those on board an ocean going yacht or any location that
is remote from professional medical help. The operator simply presses
the on-switch and attaches the medical devices to the casualty with
the assistance of voice-prompts and on-screen instructions."
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Once connected to the casualty,
VitalLink 1200 monitors the vital signs of blood pressure, temperature,
blood oxygen saturation, ECG, and heart rate and transmits these
vital signs in real time via the ship's satellite communications
system to the 24/7 emergency medical centre. By providing the
medical monitoring centre staff with accurate and timely vital
signs data, captains and boat owners will be better informed
and able to take measured decisions such as diverting to the
nearest port or continuing on the planned course. VitalLink
1200 can also improve the range of communications options between
the captain and the medical centre as it allows communication
by text, voice or file transfer where any file may be sent "ship
to shore" such as an image from the digital camera, or
"shore to ship" such as instructions on managing the
casualty. " VitalLink 1200 is housed in a rugged water-resistant
lightweight backpack, weighs less than 20 lbs, and consists
of a Medical Unit and a touch-screen Patient Display Unit. |
The medical unit contains the
medical leads to be attached to the patient, while the touch-screen
patient display unit controls the VitalLink and displays the vital
signs. The PDU and the MU communicate via wireless link and can
be separated by up to 300ft (100m). This wireless feature is essential
in the maritime situation where a casualty is often not near a communication
device, and allows the PDU to be carried to the phone rather than
having to move the casualty.
VitalLink 1200 is available by outright purchase or on a monthly
rental basis. For more information please contact: info@telemedicsystems.com
In addition to its luxury yacht application, VitalLink 1200 is currently
in use on remote gas and oil exploration platforms, commercial shipping,
executive / corporate aircraft with the US military and as part
of the portfolio of emergency medical care services in rural communities.
With its European Headquarters located in Taunton, UK, TeleMedic
Systems Limited is a young, dynamic company setting new standards
in the development and provision of affordable and practical telemedicine
solutions. Product and software development is carried out in Charlotte,
USA.
For more information:
TeleMedic Systems Ltd
4 Dunkleys Way
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2LX, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: + 44 (0) 8701 417425
Email: info@telemedicsystems.com
NOTE:
To fully appreciate the benefits of
the wireless technology of VitalLink 1200 you have to see it with
your own eyes. To arrange for a live demonstration of VitalLink
1200 please call one of our agents at TeleMedic Systems on +44 (0)
8701 417330
BACK TO TOP
TeleMedic Systems
announces FDA Approval of VitalLink 1200 - remote medical emergency
system
London, 4th October 2001:
TeleMedic Systems Limited, today announced it has received U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its remote medical
emergency system, VitalLink 1200. This is the latest in a series
of positive announcements concerning VitalLink and complements the
earlier receipt of the European CE Marking in August 2001.
VitalLink 1200, is an enhanced, remote medical
emergency system suitable for use in any medical emergency where
the casualty is distant or isolated from professional medical care
and can be considered to be a vital piece of emergency medical kit
in a wide range of applications such as oil and gas exploration
platforms, commercial airlines, private yachts, private business
aircraft, nursing homes, and commercial shipping such as container
ships and tankers.
Speaking from the European Headquarters of
TeleMedic Systems a TeleMedic Systems spokesman said: "We are
very pleased with this latest regulatory approval of VitalLink.
This is the culmination of seven years of hard work by our highly
skilled and professional research and development team. As a result
we have taken emergency medical monitoring systems to a new level
by incorporating several significant technology advances, not least
of which is the first telemedicine solution to offer a wireless
device specifically designed to take up next to no space at all,
and designed to be as simple as possible to use.
"VitalLink 1200 fits into a compact and
robust carry bag and could mean the difference between life and
death for anyone who suffers a medical emergency in a location that
is remote from professional medical help. Once connected to the
patient / casualty, VitalLink monitors the vital signs of blood
pressure, temperature, saturated blood oxygen, ECG and heart rate."
The VitalLink has been designed to communicate
with the medical monitoring centre via satellite telephone, cellular
mobile telephone or landline. For the remote medical emergency such
as at a gas and oil exploration platform or on board an aeroplane,
VitalLink can be connected to the available satellite communications.
It is at this point that the usefulness of the wireless link between
the Patient Display Unit (PDU) and Medical Unit (MU) can be seen.
Should the casualty be in a situation where they cannot be moved,
(for example on a building site or at the rear of an aircraft) and
the communications necessary for connection are some distance away,
the MU can be moved to the communication device with the PDU continuing
to monitor real time the vital signs of the patient. Wireless communications
between the PDU and the MU can be sustained up to 300 feet (100m),
whilst the PDU is attached to communications in the cockpit. This
wireless communication feature of VitalLink has been demonstrated
on oilrigs, ships, and aeroplanes and in remote locations such as
15,000 feet up Mount Everest, and has allowed rescuers to maintain
communications with a medical centre while leaving the casualty
undisturbed.
Dr David Streitwieser, Medical Director of
MedLink, MedAire, U.S.A. believes that units such as VitalLink are
the future of telemedicine. He said: "We have been supporters
of TeleMedic Systems for the last 4 years and we are delighted that
they have received FDA approval." TeleMedic Systems has a commercial
relationship with MedAire, a leading provider of emergency medical
and support services based in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. The relationship
extends to TeleMedic Systems using MedAire's MedLink communications
centre, to support the medical monitoring technologies sourced for
established, medical device manufacturers and strategic partners
who have already obtained FDA approval.
By making available that real time link TeleMedic
Systems are providing reassurance for those non-medically qualified
people at the site of the emergency. Real time electronic readings
of the patient's temperature, circulation, and cardiac functions
from the VitalLink 1200 assist medical professionals located in
a remote medical call centre in recommending the most appropriate
course of action to take on the patient's behalf.
With its European Headquarters located in
Taunton, UK, and its research and development centre in Charlotte,
U.S.A., TeleMedic Systems Limited (http//www.telemedicsystems.com)
is a young, dynamic company setting new standards in the development
and provision of affordable and practical telemedicine solutions.
Product and software development is carried out in Charlotte, USA.
For further information contact:
TeleMedic Systems Ltd
4 Dunkleys Way
Taunton,
Somerset,
TA1 2LX, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 8701 417330
Fax: + 44 (0) 8701 417425
Email: info@telemedicsystems.com
Web: www.telemedicsystems.com
BACK TO TOP
Telemedicine solution
provider, TeleMedic Systems and TC Communications enter into vital
partnership
London, 4 September:
TeleMedic Systems Limited, a company setting new standards in the
development, and provision, of affordable and practical remote telemedicine
solutions and TC Communications of Sydney, Australia, experts in
satellite communications and the movement of electronic data have
entered into a commercial alliance to support the technical implementation
of the TeleMedic Systems telemedicine solutions throughout Australasia
and the South Pacific.
Speaking from the European Headquarters of
TeleMedic Systems a TeleMedic Systems spokesman said: "This
alliance is a natural fit for both companies. Through our VitalLink
1200 enhanced emergency monitoring medical system, TeleMedic Systems
are proud to be the first telemedicine solution provider to offer
a wireless device that is not only compact and robust, but
one that could mean the difference between life and death. The VitalLink
1200 unit has been designed to take up next to no space at all,
and to be as simple as possible to use. When you compare the skills
and expertise of the two companies, it makes sense for us to partner
with TC Communications as they are experts in working in remote
areas, satellite links and distance communication."
"With our extensive knowledge and experience
in the wireless & data communication fields, the TeleMedic Systems
VitalLink 1200 fits in with the many value added solutions we provide
to remote area customers. This application allows anyone anywhere
to be in contact with the medical profession, it really can mean
the difference between life and death" says Todd McDonell the
CE | 
