Sony helps ZYDACRON improve home healthcare options

The ZYDACRON products will supply a Dutch government funded telehealth project named KOALA which is the largest Dutch telehealth initiative. The KOALA contract is with the SCOTTY GROUP, which supplies the system software, and is the parent company of ZYDACRON. Patients who have conditions such as diabetes are given ZYDACRON's CareStation140 videophones in their homes to provide remote access to healthcare workers. The system allows service-provider ZYDACRON to offer interactive remote care and video monitoring of patients in response to their needs.

A patient simply pushes a button on his TV remote control to create a live video connection to a nursing care centre. The patient's medical records appears on a nurse's screen at the online call centre and the nurse's face and name are displayed on the patient's TV. Medical devices such as blood pressure monitors or glucose level meters are monitored by SCOTTY's unique software and the nurse/carer determines whether to provide treatment advice to the patient online or send a healthcare worker to the patient's home. This reduces the number of home visits needed and the associated costs incurred.

The system at the patient’s home consists of a camera, set-top box unit, remote control and table microphone with a call button, all of which interface with a domestic television. This communicates via ADSL with ZYDACRON’s central call centre where the healthcare professionals are equipped with Windows-based PCs holding patient records and treatment plans, and camera and PSTN access facilities similar to those in the patient’s home. As well as audio, video and textual communication facilities, the Carestation 140 set-top box can interface with a variety of personal medical devices such as blood pressure and blood sugar monitors, foetal monitors and pulse oximeters.

“Being designed for use by the elderly, the Carestation 140 system must be as simple to use as possible,” said Georg Weber, CEO of Zydacron. “Sony’s EVI-D100P camera allows us to automate the entire image capture and videoconferencing aspect of the system. We anticipate Carestation 140 being used in a variety of situations: by at-risk patients, expectant mothers, those who suffer chronic illness such as asthma, and in the event of emergency or more acute illness.”

The EVI-D100 product series features fast maximum pan and tilt speeds of 300°/s, and 125°/s respectively. Six-position presets can be stored (even when the camera is powered down) and the unit uses direct drive motors to reduce noise dramatically. A built-in conversion lens offers 65° field of view, and various picture effects – such as contrast enhancement and still image – are available.

“We are delighted to have been chosen to help ZYDACRON implement the Carestation 140 system,” said Julien Dalle, Sales Manager Europe at Sony. “The advanced features of the EVI-D100 product series means that it is often used in applications such as videoconferencing and remote security shooting: deploying those features to help maintain people’s health is a logical next step.”