Receive Biometric Signals from 'COVID-19 Patients' Remotely

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] A non-face-to-face vital sign monitoring system that can prevent secondary infections among medical staff caring for infectious disease patients, such as those with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has been developed. The government completed the approval process for this system in just 2.5 months to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 21st that the "Infectious Disease Patient Non-Face-to-Face Real-Time Vital Sign Monitoring System" (hereinafter referred to as the Vital Sign Monitoring System), supported for COVID-19 response, obtained medical device certification on the 16th through inter-agency cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (hereinafter ‘MFDS’).

This system consists of a Patient Vital Sign Measurement Device (VDR-1000) and a Patient Central Monitoring Device (VMA-1000). When the VDR-1000 measures the patient's electrocardiogram, pulse wave, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure, medical staff can monitor the patient's condition in real time through the VMA-1000.

The government significantly shortened the testing and approval period, recognizing that the system can minimize secondary infections among medical staff caused by COVID-19. The process, which normally takes six months, was completed in just two and a half months through inter-agency agreement.

Thanks to this, the company that developed the system has gained opportunities to supply domestic hospitals and export overseas.

The small and medium-sized enterprise stated, "Domestic and international demand for the Vital Sign Monitoring System is rapidly increasing. Many domestic hospitals, including Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul Boramae Hospital, and the National Cancer Center, have shown purchase intentions, and we are currently discussing export plans with the WAA Group for exports to Kuwait." WAA is a global consulting company headquartered in Los Angeles, USA, expanding its network in the Middle East region.

Kim Gyu-hyung, head of the Medical IT Convergence Research Division at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), which developed the system, said, "We developed this system through joint research with Seoul National University Hospital, designated as a life treatment center for COVID-19 response, at the Talent Development Institute (located in Mungyeong, Gyeongbuk) last March." He added, "It is expected to contribute not only to the management of viral infectious disease patients but also to improving the efficiency of medical services in hospitals."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.