Biotelemetry remotely observes and measures physiological functions in humans or other organisms. It includes medical, animal, and implantable biotelemetry. Wireless systems with sensors and transmitters are used to monitor vital signs, and cardiovascular patients benefit from remaining mobile. Animal behavior and migration patterns can also be studied with biotelemetry. Implants are used for internal monitoring, but powerful transmitters may affect behavior or energy levels.
Biotelemetry is the use of telemetry methods to remotely observe, document, and measure certain physiological functions in humans or other living organisms. The field consists of several subfields, including human and medical research telemetry, animal telemetry, and implantable biotelemetry. Medical telemetry is of particular significance because it can be used to remotely monitor the vital signs of outpatients. Generally, a biotelemetry system used for this purpose measures functions such as body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and muscle movement.
The use of biotelemetry systems began as early as the late 1950s, during the space race era. At the time, these systems were used to record the physiological signs of animals or humans traveling through outer space in a space shuttle. The signals were then relayed to a space station on earth for observation and study.
Most biotelemetry systems are wireless. They usually consist of several components, including sensors, transmitters, a radio antenna, and a receiver. Patients or animal subjects typically wear transmitters on the outside of the body. The signals are then sent from the transmitters to a receiver in the biotelemetry laboratory to be examined and analyzed. A display unit in the lab allows lab employees to view the vital signs information of several patients or animals simultaneously.
In particular, cardiovascular patients benefit from the use of wireless biotelemetry systems. These devices offer heart patients the ability to remain mobile while being observed. The systems used for these patients usually depend on radio frequency communications to monitor heart rate, blood flow, and blood pressure. All this without requiring the patient to be connected to a bedside monitor with a wired connection.
Biotelemetry can also be used to conduct research on animal behavior in their natural environments or animal migration patterns. Typically, this search is conducted by placing a transmitter on the animal. The biologists then follow the animal following the transmission signal. Even on sleeping mammals or birds, animal telemetry devices usually record everything from respiration, heart rate and heart muscle activity to neural and cardiac movements.
When implants are used in biotelemetry, it usually means that the transmitter devices are implanted in the animal or human being studied. For example, cochlear implants usually have built-in telemetry systems that allow you to monitor the internal device. More powerful transmitters may be more difficult to implant in a subject, and powerful transmitters with large batteries may affect a subject’s behavior or energy levels.
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