Nokia has reportedly announced the launch of a research program in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (Fraunhofer HHI) and Charité – University Medical Center Berlin to explore the use of wireless sensing technology in the medical field. The collaboration will focus on how to use sub-terahertz (sub-THz) frequencies for remote vital sign monitoring, driving the future of non-invasive medical monitoring and diagnostics.
Sub-terahertz technology: a revolutionary breakthrough in medical monitoring
The unique characteristics of sub-terahertz frequencies (90 GHz to 300 GHz) make it a great potential for wireless sensing applications. Similar to traditional radar technology, sub-terahertz sensing technology enables real-time monitoring with higher accuracy through high bandwidth and subtle wavelengths. This technology not only improves the accuracy of the test, but also allows doctors to continuously track vital signs such as heartbeat and breathing rate without touching the patient.
Nokia, Fraunhofer HHI and Charité are working together to explore how sub-terahertz frequencies can enable extremely high-resolution spatial scanning in hospital environments. With this wireless perception network, hospitals can monitor each patient's health in real-time without relying on traditional sensors such as electrocardiogram electrodes or pulse oximeters, even as patients move and exit the restroom.
Non-Invasive Medical Monitoring: Improving Patient Freedom and Hospital Efficiency
Traditional medical monitoring devices often need to be in contact with the human body and can cause false alarms due to detachment or displacement. One of the biggest advantages of sub-terahertz technology is that it does not require physical contact, which avoids false alarms caused by the displacement of the wearable. Patients not only enjoy greater freedom of movement, but also receive ongoing health monitoring, which is especially important for inpatients and post-operative monitoring.
For example, a hospital's perception network can track each patient's vital signs, ensuring that the patient is constantly under monitoring without the need for intervention. Patients can move around freely and even use the restroom without worrying about interruptions in monitoring. This technology provides hospitals with a more efficient way to monitor and reduce the burden on traditional monitoring systems, especially when there is a surge in patient numbers in patient rooms.
Figure: Nokia drives the use of wireless sensors in medical monitoring
Smart Healthcare: From Hospitals to Home Health Monitoring
Wireless sensing technology can not only play a role in hospitals, but also has a wide range of application prospects. As the technology matures, smart home systems can also use this technology to track patients' vital signs and transmit data to doctors in real time. When a patient's health status changes, the system can immediately send an alarm to remind the doctor for further diagnosis and intervention.
This remote monitoring and instant feedback system will greatly improve the convenience of home medicine, especially in the health management of the elderly or chronically ill patients. This not only reduces the pressure on the hospital, but also improves the quality of life of patients, allowing them to effectively manage their health in a familiar environment.
Interdisciplinary collaboration: Accelerating medical technology innovation
The collaboration brings together three leading scientific and medical research institutes – Nokia Bell Labs, Fraunhofer HHI and Charité. Fraunhofer HHI will provide professional support in the field of sensor technology, while Charité, Europe's largest academic research hospital, will be responsible for the validation and evaluation of these technologies. Nokia Bell Labs applies its wireless design and perception technology to the medical field, promoting the practical application and commercialization of this technology.
This interdisciplinary collaboration model demonstrates the great potential of the convergence of science and medicine. Nokia's research is not only limited to communication technology, its wireless perception technology will be further extended to the medical field, especially in the context of 6G network, joint communication and perception (JCAS) technology will make the network have the ability to perceive, and promote the intelligent development of the future medical industry.
Future outlook: the combination of 6G and wireless sensing
As an important part of the future 6G network, Joint Communication and Perception (JCAS) will not only be used for communication, but also be able to perceive the network environment in real time. This means that the healthcare system of the future will not rely solely on traditional devices and diagnostics, but will enable all-round health monitoring through wireless sensing technology. With the advent of 6G, hospitals, homes and even public spaces will be able to track people's vital signs through high-precision wireless sensing networks, detect health hazards in time, and greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy of public health management.
Conclusion: The perfect combination of technological innovation and social responsibility
The collaboration between Nokia, Fraunhofer HHI and Charité marks a revolutionary advance in wireless sensing technology in the medical field. This technology can not only provide patients with more convenient monitoring methods, but also provide doctors with more accurate health data, ultimately enabling more intelligent and non-invasive medical services. Nokia has demonstrated its social responsibility as a global technology leader by closely integrating wireless sensing technology with healthcare, bringing this innovation to millions of households to improve global healthcare management.
