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News: Newsletter 10

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August 27, 2002

In this newsletter:

  • Emerging technologies: intelligent biomedical clothing
  • Evolving shape of the Telemedicine Trade Fair
  • South African primary healthcare telemedicine workstation research
  • doc@HOME: the bridge to care!
  • TANA Telemedicine and the Russian telemedicine market
  • Telemedicine opportunities in Kazakhstan
  • Submit your presentation for the Telemedicine Trade Fair's educational program
  • Tools that will make your participation at the Telemedicine Trade Fair even more successful
  • Newsbriefs
  • Conferences


Intelligent biomedical clothing (IBC) has the potential to substantially change the provision of health and health care services for large population groups, e.g. those suffering from chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular, diabetes, respiratory and neurological disorders) and the elderly with specific needs. Smart sensor systems and new approaches to analyse and interpret data together with cost-effective telematics approaches can fundamentally change the interface between patient and healthcare provider. Biomedical clothing and functional textiles are a key enabler technology for cost-effective disease management as well as for prevention. Fitness and health are trendy and are becoming a life style. Biomedical fashion offers a unique opportunity to seamlessly integrate health care into the daily lives of citizens. Today, intelligent monitoring wearable systems exist in pre-commercial or commercial stage. Examples of such systems are: Mamagoose-Pyjama for the detection of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Verhaert, Belgium), and LifeShirt-Continuous Ambulatory Monitoring (VivoMetrics, USA). Other research and development activities in real time personal care wearable systems are ongoing in Europe and worldwide, e.g. AMON (Wrist Telemedical Monitor) and Lifebelt (wearable device for health monitoring during pregnancy) currently funded by the IST programme of the EC.
A longer term approach and research challenge is the full integration of sensors/actuators, energy sources, processing and communication within the clothes. Examples of research and development activities in this area are: VTAMN-Nomad Medical Tele-assistance Cloth (a prototype smart jacket integrating medical sensors and electronics in the textile for disease monitoring, communication, alarms - MEDES-CNES, France), Wearable Motherboard Smart Shirt (textile platform for biomedical monitoring, processing, communicating - Sensatex, USA), and Future e-Textiles, where sensing, processing and communications are integrated in a woven structure to monitor biomechanical variables and physiological signals. While still in an embryonic stage, the smart and functional textile technology has the potential to become ubiquitous. The enabling technology is multidisciplinary. This is even more true for IBC: for the final integration of all devices e.g. sensors, actuators, wired and wireless communications, displays and energy sources, a strong co-operation between diverse technical fields should be adopted, including engineers and scientists from fields ranging from wireless to microsystems/microelectronics, energy, textile & fibre materials, medicine and economics. Crucial to the success of this technology is the user acceptance and the user benefits. This requires a clear and communicable added value for the user as well as a user centred design. For a real success story the economic aspects of the offering have to be addressed at an early stage as well. This includes the formation of the complete value chain as well as a co-development of the business model(s) with health and/or life insurance (third payer).
The subject of IBC and other emerging technologies will also be featured in the exhibition and educational programs of the Telemedicine Trade Fair 2003 (April 9-11, 2003). More information about this will be available soon on www.telemedicine.lu and in this newsletter.


In addition to a special focus on emerging technologies like intelligent biomedical clothing (see above), the Telemedicine Trade Fair (with assistance from ITU and WHO) will also put emphasis on telemedicine projects which are under implementation in several selected countries around the world, and also on EU funded projects (with assistance of the EC Information Society Directorate General), with live demonstrations showing potential benefits and explaining operational procedures.
The idea is for the organizations, companies and people involved in these project to share their experiences with others from around the world, so that they could learn from the successes and also the problems of those projects and so that they would obtain useful and valuable information which will help to implement telemedicine systems and services in their own countries or institutions. It will also allow the participating project partners to establish contacts with new suppliers, investors, researchers, etc., and for the companies and institutions who are involved in the projects it will give tremendous opportunities to market and commercialize their products.
The Telemedicine Trade Fair will of course also continue its general focus of bringing together suppliers and buyers/users of telemedicine products and services (in the fields of digital imaging, home monitoring, data transmission, etc.) and of offering a range of educational and informational programs.
For more information on the special "country and project focus", or to take part in this focus area of the event, feel free to contact us at . More information about the Telemedicine Trade Fair can also be found at www.telemedicine.lu.


The healthcare delivery system in South Africa faces many challenges. Some people are offered services comparable with the best in the world, while millions are without access to even the most basic services. The South African government is committed to providing basic health care to all its citizens. To achieve this goal, telemedicine has been identified as a strategic tool for facilitating the delivery of equitable healthcare and educational services irrespective of distance and availability of specialised expertise, particularly in rural areas. In 1999, a National Telemedicine Research Centre was established as a joint project of the Department of Health and the Medical Research Council of South Africa (MRC).
For their primary healthcare (PHC) telemedicine workstation research, the Telemedicine Research Centre are looking for partners and co-financers who can help funding the research and setting up viable telemedicine systems.
The overall goal of the project is to establish a PHC workstation with appropriate and affordable hardware and software to interface with a bandwidth that is cost-effective for rural development in support of primary healthcare services such as mother and child healthcare, TB, Malaria, STD’s, HIV/AIDS and health education. The key component of the research will be the development of appropriate telecommunication and 'clinical' hardware and software. In particular, the project will investigate low cost peripherals to support telemedicine, e.g. clinical examination using tools such as scopes, digital cameras and tele-education.
Telemedicine protocols will be developed to operate over a broad bandwidth and will include wireless communication and the internet to permit medical education and training of care providers, health awareness and care of patients.
More information can be read by clicking here. Or contact Dr. Sam Gulube at the MRC () for more details and to discuss opportunities for cooperation.


Docobo Inc. uses a unique doc@HOME concept for the care of citizens by allowing them to take an active role in the medical treatment process while greatly lowering the cost of overall healthcare. Docobo's goal is to target the population with special needs where remote care and health related data exchange will provide services improving their quality of life, life freedom and increased control over their condition. Based on that there is an expectation to cut overhead costs up to 50% by delegating more responsibility to patients themselves and providing convenient tools for self-care. The doc@HOME concept is easily adaptable to different patient groups such as patients with heart rhythm disorders, ischemia, diabetes, asthma, heart disease and hypertension to mention a few.
In January 2000, Docobo signed an agreement with the European Commission that supports further development work of the system with 1 million Euros. The project involves nine partners in four European countries and culminates with a research and demonstration trial in countries like Finland, Sweden, Germany, United Kingdom and Estonia. More information about the doc@HOME concept will be available at the Telemedicine Trade Fair 2003 in Luxembourg.


TANA, a Moscow-based group of company, develops computerized medical equipment and related software for medical institutions. Their equipment includes automated workstations for physicians, low radiation digital fluoropgraphs, digital angiographic surgical facilities, telemedical equipment, etc. TANA also provides telemedicine consulting services. Specialists working in Russian space research founded TANA in 1993 with the aim of implementing advanced technologies into the daily activities of the country's medical institutions. Since 1994 TANA has pioneered the use of telemedicine technologies in Russia. The TANA Group has created two subsidiaries that deal with computerized medical systems and telemedical systems respectively. They also established a subsidiary in the USA, Telemedicine General, Inc.
In 2000, TANA, the Russian Satellite Communication Company and the Moscow Technical University of Communication and Computer Science launched Vitanet, a public corporation whose basic challenge is providing communication services in areas such as telemedicine and remote education.
TANA develops, implements and supports medical information systems and software/hardware systems that provide registration, processing and transfer of medical images and accompanying information, received through different diagnostic equipment. The TANA software/hardware and other types of systems are: computerized working places for physicians, ward local information systems and hospital information systems, and telemedicine facilities.
In addition, TANA is building a telemedicine network in Russia working with small and medium enterpises with assistance of the Federal Fund for SME Support.
TANA actively participates in the formation of the Russian market of telemedicine services, acting both as a supplier of solutions and equipment and a provider of telemedicine consulting (information) services, and also preparing and implementing telemedical projects with participation of Russia's regions, CIS, Baltic and other countries. The TANA group also cooperates with Russian, international and intergovernmental organizations, including the Russian Red Cross, the International Telecommunication Union and the UN Development Program representation in Russia.
The telemedical system of the Russian Red Cross hospital in Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia) is currently launched on contract with the Russian Red Cross.
Recently, TANA, Classica and Vitanet signed an agreement to combine their efforts and to found a Telemedicine Agency. The agency will act as a provider of telemedicine services in Russia.


The Republic of Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country in the world, but with a low population density of about 5.5 per km². The promotion of healthcare is in the hands of the state. Total healthcare budget in 2000 was about 344 million USD (2.1% of GDP). There are more than 9000 medical institutions, which employ 54000 physicians (5106 of whom are engaged in the private sector).
Kazakhstan is gradually taking steps to incorporate IT into the organization of healthcare, health education and physician's daily practices, and there are some local initiatives in the field of telemedicine.The adoption of a strategic State Program for the formation and development of an information infrastructure gives solid grounds to predict that modern IT will soon be integrated into the Kazakhstany health system. Several Kazakhstany institutions were previously also already involved in a number of R&D projects funded by the European Commission (such as EUPHIN-EAST, DENEMA, TELEINVIVO).
On the telecommunication front, Kazakhstan has developed a rather extensive infrastructure over the past decade (digital fiber optic backbone channels; powerful data networks of national scale; satellite networks; DTH TV (Direct-to-Home TV) satellite network providing broadband internet). So, one of the aspects, necessary for the implementation of telemedicine services and activities, is already well established. But for a successful implementation of telemedicine, it will be equally important to also educate physicians and users about how and where telemedicine can be used and what the benefits can be, and to have the necessary medical and technical products, devices and systems available.
Karine Kotoyants of Kazinformtelecom in Kazakhstan who attended the Telemedicine Trade Fair 2002 in Luxembourg commented on how actual and timely the Telemedicine Trade Fair was and is for Kazakhstany specialists and how beneficial the contacts have been with representatives from international institutions and organizations like the European Commission, International Telecommunication Union and others. Dr. Kotoyants was also very interested by the range of products and services that were promoted in the exhibition and by the information provided in the trade fair's educational programs and encourages everyone who is looking for telemedicine products, or who is looking for basic information on telemedicine implementation, to take part in the future editions of the Telemedicine Trade Fair.
For more information on Kazinformtelecom or ongoing telemedicine activities in Kazakhstan, feel free to contact Dr. Kotoyants at .


If you have information about projects, experiences, tests or studies in the field of telemedicine, or if you want to highlight the use and benefits of certain systems or applications, make sure to take part in the educational program of the Telemedicine Trade Fair and submit your speaker application form and abstract NOW by going to the Educational Program page on www.telemedicine.lu. Presentations on a wide range of topics are welcomed: business models, broadband and wireless networks in telemedicine, cost-benefit studies, current telemedicine realizations and projects, developing countries and telemedicine, distance learning, emergency telecare, home monitoring and homecare applications, internet and telemedicine, legal and ethical aspects of telemedicine, military telemedicine experiences, pediatrics, reimbursement issues and telemedicine, telecardiology, teledermatology, telemedicine and psychological impact including e-therapy, telemedicine and transport systems (air, rail, road, sea, space), telemedicine from doctors' point of view, telemedicine integration into routine medical practice, teleneurology, telepathology, telepsychiatry, teleradiology, telewoundcare and others.
As the number of available time slots in the educational program is limited, accepted presentations of exhibitors/supporters of the trade fair will receive a priority (above non-exhibitors) in the final time slot allocation! So do not delay your submission and act today!
For more information or to submit your proposal, click here or contact us at .


A participation at a trade show is an investment on which you obviously want to see as much return as possible. That is why the Telemedicine Trade Fair wants to offer its participants (both attendees and exhibitors) as much exposure as possible, before, during and even after the actual event takes place. One of the tools that's being added this year to increase exposure and to enhance the business contacts during the trade fair itself is the creation of a list of "offer and demand". Registered visitors can submit their search for specific products or services and exhibitors can submit their specific offerings or indicate the (geographical) areas where they are looking for representation or customers. The information will be posted on the www.telemedicine.lu website and will also be mentioned in the Telemedicine Trade Fair newsletter.
In addition, visitors and exhibitors can also post other news for inclusion in the newsletter; special arrangements can be made for companies who wish to hold sales meetings or special training sessions for their sales personnel, distributors or customers during the trade fair; meeting rooms and other services can be provided; exhibitors can submit presentations for inclusion into the educational program, giving them additional exposure and profiling them as industry leaders; for an all inclusive fee of only €25, visitors get access to the exhibition for 3 days, access to all the educational programs organized in conjunction with the trade fair and to the social events (receptions) which are being held in the margin of the trade fair; special travel and hotel arrangements have been negotiated to facilitate a trip to the trade fair.
For more information on how to become part of the Telemedicine Trade Fair and and on how to post your "offer" or "demand", contact us at .


  • The Dutch Electronic-Highway Platform (EPN) is conducting new research into the changing rolls of patients/care consumers and caretakers/care providers in homecare as a result of telemedicine applications. According to EPN, the use of telemedicine in healthcare/homecare will become a necessity in a few years, making it very important to map out now how the role of mainly the caretakers/care providers in homecare is changing and how this needs to be addressed within the frame of homecare organizations --- click here for more information (in Dutch).
  • EPN also announces the introduction of a new yearly telemedicine award which will be given to an initiative that provides optimal grounds for the growth and development of telemedicine. The award is meant to encourage telemedicine applications and implementation in The Netherlands. The first award will be given in September 2002 --- click here for more information (in Dutch).
  • The Association of Telehealth Service Providers (ATSP) in the U.S. announces that it is forming a partnership with the National Association for Home Care (NAHC) and that it supports the growth of the home telehealth segment of telemedicine. According to ATSP: "A partnership with NAHC gives us a venue to provide information about home telehealth to the home health care community". (Source: ATSP Newsletter Summer 2002)
  • Nigerian Organization Explores Telephone-based Telemedicine Network, ATSP reports --- click here for more details.
  • Interview with Robert W. Duggan (CEO, Computer Motion) by Frost & Sullivan with comments on the applications of "telepresence" for the future of surgery --- click here for link to the article and other Frost & Sullivan market insights.
  • The current installment of the Home Telehealth Community of Care from Information for Tomorrow focuses on home telerehabilitation. A new installment on telediabetes care will be online mid-September 2002.


  • The business of telehealth is changing rapidly and the ATSP's Telehealth 2002 (September 9-12, 2002) is the place to find information about trends and issues facing the industry. Telehealth 2002 will be a pioneering teleconference that can be accessed from any room with a phone line. Enjoy significant savings as there is no travel time or costs. The registration fee is per site; attendees may include as many people at their site as they wish. More information including the full program, speaker biographies, and registration forms can be found at www.telehealthconference.org.
  • The University of Regensburg (Germany) will host the "7th International Conference on the Medical Aspects of Telemedicine – Integration of Health Telematics into Medical Practice - ICT 2002" on 22-25 September this year. Experts from more than 45 countries and five continents will give outstanding presentations on a wide number of topics including space telemedicine, emergency telemedicine and robotics. The conference will be one of the largest telemedicine events outside the United States with more than 300 presentations. The program can be accessed on the internet at www.ict2002.org. For further information, contact .
  • The Nordic (www.nordictelemed.org) and the Norwegian Telemedicine Associations host Nortelemed, 4th Nordic Congress on Telemedicine/Norsk Telemed 2002, 30 September-2 October 2002 in Tromsø, Norway. The event is organized by the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine (NST, www.telemed.no) at the University Hospital of North Norway. The Nortelemed conference has invited a number of organizations to prepare the extensive programme of parallel symposia besides plenary sessions. The event has attracted considerable interest throughout the Nordic countries and beyond, resulting in a programme that reflects the crossdisciplinarity of telemedicine, while at the same time allowing various professions and interests represented to elaborate on topics of particular concern. The programme is now available online at the conference website www.nortelemed.com, where you can also register for the conference.
  • The Biofeedback Foundation of Europe (BFE) is a non-profit organization located in the Netherlands. It was founded to promote a greater awareness of biofeedback techniques and technology among European health professionals. The BFE presently sponsors a wide variety of workshops across Europe and North America. The BFE is holding its 7th annual meeting in Italy from February 18-22, 2003. The meeting will be held at the Hospital Gervasutta in Udine, one of the largest rehabilitation hospitals in Italy. There will be SEMG and EEG biofeedback tracks and choices of one-day and two-day workshops led by well-known clinicians from Europe and North America. These clinicians will demonstrate the latest biofeedback techniques and technology for many applications. For more information, contact Mark Schwartz at .

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