1. TeleMedIS
A Cellular-Based Mobile-Health System in Sweden
Avner Amir*, Dror Shklarski*, Heikki Teriö**, Ofer Atzmon*, Sven Jonsson** and Rustam
Nabiev**
* Tadiran LifeCare Division, Tadiran Spectralink Ltd., Kiryat-Shmona, ISRAEL
** Biomedical Engineering Dept., Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, SWEDEN
Contact: Avner Amir - Tardiran LifeCare Division General Manager
aamir@tadspec.com
Mobile: +972-50-7249758
Avi Keret - Tardiran LifeCare Division R&D Manager
avikeret@tadspec.com
Mobile: +972-52-8968782
Introduction
A new mobile wireless telehealth system - TeleMedIS system - has been developed and
evaluated as a joint project between Israeli and Swedish partners.
The TeleMedIS system was design to supply patients monitoring, communication between
patients and physicians and real-time; remote; on-demand control on and commands to
the personal medical device for measurements vital signs. The system was design also to
provide remote updates to all the patients’ personal medical devices.
System Description
The TeleMedIS system consists of:
MDKeeper
A personal wireless wrist-wearable remote monitoring device, developed by Tadiran
LifeCare Division (Kiryat-Shmona, Israel).
The MDKeeper combines sensors for measurements of pulse rate; 1-lead ECG; and blood
oxygen saturation level (SpO2) together with a built-in embedded cellular modem module
manufactured by Siemens AG.
TeleMed HC (Telemedicine Home-Care)
A software platform for remote management of biomedical equipments, developed by the
Biomedical Engineering Department at Karolinska University Hospital (Stockholm,
Sweden);
Cellular Network infrastructure
Network provided by telecom operator TeliaSonera (Stockholm, Sweden).
The TeleMedIS system enables intermittent and on-demand monitoring of the vital signs.
The system enables also two-way voice-based real-time communications with medical
professionals in the medical center from anywhere using the built-in cellular phone.
Objectives
The main objective of TeleMedIS project was to investigate possible deployment and
commercialization of TeleMedIS System in the Swedish healthcare environment.
The motive behind providing such a service is that patients moving around home or at
work, or in emergency medical situations, can be monitored from the hospital in real time.

2. This is based on the assumption that future telemedicine services have to adapt to the
patients’ and physicians’ mobility needs. Patients will be able to move without restriction
nearly everywhere, and at the same time sending and/or receiving real-time medical
information and be in contact with the physicians.
Strategic motives behind the project were to provide the medical center the availability to
monitor patient remotely without the patient actually be present in front of the caregiver.
In that way the monitoring during rehabilitation and follow-up periods will be improved and
patients visits at hospitals/clinics will be reduced.
The monitoring on demand and the ability to look at clinical data from the past and
compare with the real-time time data will give the physicians new tool for observation on
process such as effects of medication.
Goals of the project
 Stage I Integration and facilitation of secure and reliable transfer of
real-time medical data via wireless network between the
TeleMed HC Platform (TP) and the MDKeeper
 Stage II Provision of user-friendly Tele-monitoring of clinical data to
healthcare professionals’ mobile units
 Stage III Evaluation and assessment of the technical aspects of the
TeleMedIS System (engineering trials)
 Stage IV Evaluation and assessment of the clinical performance of the
TeleMedIS System (clinical trials)
The objective of the Clinical Trials phase is to perform testing of
the TeleMedIS system in real life situations, both in hospital
environment and outside the hospital environment. The
measurements with the MDKeeper would be compared to
measurements made by conventional equipment at the
Hospital. The usability of the MDKeeper and the TP will be
done both Inside Hospital and Outside Hospital. The Clinical
Trials Inside Hospital will be done at the Department of
Respiratory Diseases and Allergy at Karolinska
Universitetssjukhuset, Huddinge and the Clinical Trials Outside
Hospitals will be done at the patients’ home. No medical
decisions are to be taken based upon the measurements of the
MDKeeper during this study.
 Stage V Market exploitation, and commercialization of the TeleMedIS
System
Results
Currently Stages I – III were preformed successfully while Stage IV was started and
scheduled to finished by the end of June 2006.
The clinical study results will be achieved from 32 patients’ trials inside hospital and on 44
patients’ trials outside hospital.
Based on the engineering trials the results demonstrate the usability of the system
performing these missions:
Usability tests
 Manages user, MDKeepers and patients.

3.  Manages associations between patient and MDKeeper.
 Stores information of patient, MDKeeper and users.
 Manages and view technical and medical parameters and boundaries of the
MDKeeper.
Communication tests
 TeleMed HC commands and text messages reach the MDKeeper via SMS.
 Software updates form the TeleMed HC reaches the MDKeeper via GPRS.
 TeleMed HC and MDKeeper communicate with hospital database.
 Voice communication between TeleMed HC and MDKeeper.
Reliability tests
 TeleMed HC operations with multiple MDKeepers devices simultaneously.
 Technical and clinical data from MDKeeper can be viewed by TeleMed HC
personnel.
Security and Safety test
 Data received from MDKeeper is protected/secured.
Overall the MDKeeper has demonstrated good performance with all of Stage III aspects
and complies with the specification requirements.
Conclusions
Tadiran LifeCare Division with Biomedical Engineering Department of Karolinska
University Hospital have developed a telehealth system together with the aid TeliaSonera.
All engineering aspects of the system were tested and performed satisfactorily.
Based on the trials outcomes and the expected results of the clinical trials we recognized
the potential benefits for patients, physicians, administrators and other stakeholders using
the TelMedIS telehealth system, as follows:
 On-line contact with medical center
 More efficient medical treatment
 Better post-hospital treatment and recuperation
 Early detection of acute situations
 Cost savings to providers and users by reducing the number of visits at the clinic
 Enhanced, timely information for physicians & patients
 Eliminate the need to travel to clinic for unnecessary visits
 Enhanced lifestyle and peace of mind