IoMT – Internet of Medical Things

The revolution brought by the Internet of Things (IoT) is beginning to take over more and more areas of everyday life. This also includes the use of such solutions in medicine and health care. This phenomenon is already so common that it has its name – IoMT (Internet of Medical Things). How does IoMT support […]

The revolution brought by the Internet of Things (IoT) is beginning to take over more and more areas of everyday life. This also includes the use of such solutions in medicine and health care. This phenomenon is already so common that it has its name – IoMT (Internet of Medical Things). How does IoMT support the functioning of health care? What are the benefits for doctors and patients? This will be discussed later in the article.

Internet of Medical Things – what is it?

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is a term for medical devices and systems that are traceable, connected to the Internet and can communicate with each other. Identification and connectivity allow for real-time resource information, including location. Remote or automatic management of systems and devices is also possible. The most important features of IoMT solutions are flexibility and personalization, allowing them to adapt to the needs of any medical facility. Moreover, it is possible to integrate with existing solutions.

What benefits does IoMT guarantee for the medical services sector?

The Internet of Medical Objects (IoMT) is a combination of medical devices and applications that can connect to healthcare information systems using network technologies. By using them, it is possible to reduce unnecessary hospital visits and reduce the burden on healthcare systems by connecting patients with their doctors online and enabling the transfer of medical data over a secure network. 

IoMT is also commonly used in medical devices worn by patients to measure human life parameters, for example, pulse rate, and in intelligent implants. Thanks to modern technology, they can communicate with the receivers located in the doctor’s office or the hospital. In this way, patients can get medical advice without leaving home, and an ambulance can automatically be called for older people who feel unwell.

Thanks to IoMT, data receivers from medical devices can operate even in cars and “monitor” the health of passengers and drivers. In case of detection of danger and deterioration of health of people in the car, they can automatically call for help.

Intelligent digital medical devices such as stethoscopes can also communicate in IoMT networks. For example, they allow the transmission and recording of heart or lung sounds, which are then processed (amplified, reduced background noise). Better sound quality allows for a more accurate diagnosis than based on the patient’s hearing with a traditional stethoscope.

Forecasts for the IoMT market

According to an analysis by Frost & Sullivan, the global IoMT market was worth $22.5 billion in 2016. It is expected to be worth $72.02 billion by 2021. This data should not surprise anyone. IoMT is the inevitable future of the medical market. IoMT connects the digital and physical worlds to improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis, treatment, and real-time patient monitoring. It also increases operational efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare organizations by improving clinical processes, information and workflow. Sensor-to-device connectivity helps you to care for your patients in real-time, even from remote locations. IoMT also improves communication within and between medical facilities. The large amount of data generated creates better opportunities for new models of preventive and personalized care. IoMT connects people (patients and caregivers), physicians, data (patient or performance data), processes (care delivery and patient support) and devices (connected medical equipment and mobile applications) to achieve better patient outcomes effectively.

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