Multi-core can fuel innovation in medical applications
The world of medical electronics is shifting fundamentally. Equipment designs have traditionally lasted 20 years, with years of heritage and testing behind each design. Now, more innovation is demanded, with new features and new versions being developed much faster, based on digital systems. More focus is being put on cost-effective implementation so more units can be deployed across more...
Designing Robust Wireless Sensor Applications
    Originally Published MEM Fall 2009 WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY         An engineer works on a medical project being developed on a platform running both Windows and Linux on a separation kernel and hypervisor. Wireless sensors are quickly making inroads into prehospital, in-hospital, ambulatory, home monitoring, and long-term care settings. These sensors...
Integrating RTOS Platforms and Multicore Processors
  Originally Published MEM Fall 2008 OPERATING SYSTEMS       (click to enlarge) Figure 1. A high-capacity blood analyzer from Abbott Labs. The underlying process technologies employed in medical diagnostics applications continue to evolve and drive the need to add different features or processing steps to diagnostic test equipment. At the same time,...
A Critical Look at Embedding Windows into Medical Instrumentation Applications
Originally Published MEM Fall 2002 Operating Systems A Critical Look at Embedding Windows into Medical Instrumentation Applications Windows is the most widely available operating system for the PC platform, but what are its benefits and limitations for deterministic responsiveness? Kim Hartman Trade and business publications are full of articles about mission- and time-critical...