Analog Devices (ADI) released a single integrated circuit (IC) that can measure key vital signs such as heart rate and electrocardiogram. After acquiring Maxim Integrated, ADI appears to be accelerating the expansion of its healthcare and Internet of Things (IoT) product portfolio.
ADI announced on the 23rd that it has released 'MAX86178', a core IC that can measure patient vital signals with remote wearable devices. It is the first healthcare product released by ADI after taking over Maxim, an analog semiconductor company, at the end of last month.
The new product can measure major vital signs of a patient, such as ECG, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and respiration rate, with one IC. It has integrated 3 clinical grade measurement systems: optical signals, electrocardiography (ECG), and bioimpedance, which measures body composition by passing microscopic electricity through the body. By eliminating the inconvenience of using multiple devices to measure each vital sign, this product allows one device to monitor patient condition.
The product package size is 2.6mm × 2.8mm, which can minimize the size ofmonitoring wearable device. Its strength is that it has responded to the demand for wearable Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) solutions that can be operated at low power. MAX86178 is designed to provide configuration options for each subsystem of ultra-low-power devices and optimize battery life for the environment.
ADI is expanding its existing analog semiconductor business by launching new products, a strategy to diversify product portfolio by embracing Maxim's main business. ADI previously released Maxim's ultra-power encryption controller for IoT. Maxium focuses on IoT, communication, and automotive semiconductor fields among analog semiconductors.
“This product offers new possibilities for chronic disease management, infectious disease diagnosis, and remote monitoring. In addition, the smaller size of wearable devices can improve the quality of medical services and lower costs by reducing the hospital visit rate,” said Andrew Bert, the Executive Business Manager, Maxim IntegratedIndustrial & Healthcare Business Unit.
By Staff Reporter Dong-jun Kwon, djkwon@etnews.com