Wireless biosensor platform frees patients from cables

5th October 2016

Enaie Azambuja

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HMicro and STMicroelectronics have launched their cooperation to create the industry’s first single-chip solution for clinical-grade, single-use disposable smart patches and biosensors. The product, HC1100, targets the 5 billion wired wearable sensors, such as those for vital-sign monitors and electrocardiogram leads, utilised annually. The HC1100 chip is based on the WiPoint technology and a purpose-built silicon platform jointly created by HMicro and ST.

HC1100, the first product based on WiPoint, embeds three ultra-low-power radios for Wi-Fi, Ultra-wideband, and Medical Band (MBAN), multiple sensor interfaces, an ARM Cortex M0 application processor, 352kB of RAM, and power-management circuits on a single chip.

The dual-core ARM Cortex M0 architecture leverages ST ultra-low-power design technology and wireless-connectivity IP to ensure long worry-free operation. The multi-sensor interfaces support monitoring of heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and respiration, as well as the capability to interface to MEMS microphones and motion MEMS sensors that could be used to monitor and detect patient behavior via activity recognition.

The HC1100’s patent-protected specifications meet key requirements for mission-critical products and functions that demand ultra-high reliability through a robust wireless connection suitable for high sensor-data accuracy. While meeting these uncompromising demands, the HC1100 is both cost-effective and highly optimised.

The WiPoint technology and the HC1100 employing it are the first results of the close cooperation between HMicro and ST. The Companies’ next step is the deployment of this technology platform for other high-volume clinical and industrial IoT applications.

“Disrupting the current wired protocols of multi-monitor use is where we believe the IoT can be most effective in the medical and industrial settings,” said Surendar Magar, CEO and co-founder of HMicro.

“Creating and developing a fully optimised, unique silicon platform makes possible the conversion of high-volume sensors to the equivalent wireless, disposable sensors. We aim to seamlessly cut the body wires in current clinical settings while maintaining the same clinical procedures and monitoring equipment.”

“One decade ago we started the MEMS revolution by offering ultra-low-power cost-effective micro sensors to the consumer market. Now, together with HMicro we are merging ultra-low-power wireless connectivity with a high-resolution analog front-end and the best processing portfolio based on ARM platform,” said Benedetto Vigna, EVP and GM of STMicroelectronics’ Analog and MEMS Group. “The HC1100 is the first product of the new wireless sensor family that can find application whenever ultra-low-power RF and highly accurate sensor interfaces are needed.”

The HC1100 is already in high-volume production and is available from HMicro.