Freescale expands enablement portfolio for healthcare apps

AUSTIN, USA: Freescale Semiconductor is expanding its offerings for the health and wellness markets with two comprehensive solutions that help OEMs quickly develop ultra-low-power, portable and wireless medical products.

The activity monitor reference design allows recorded data to be interpreted and summarized for improved health and fitness performance, enabling consumers to better manage their fitness activities. The MED-SPO2 application development tool based on the Tower System is intended for pulse oximetry development and implementation.

The activity monitor reference design is an integrated system composed of several modules. It is hardware-ready to support the ZigBee software stack and a complimentary Freescale USB stack that supports the personal healthcare device class (PHDC) and complies with industry standards. The reference design is a non-invasive acquisition system incorporating a pedometer, electrocardiograph, food intake table, data storage, ZigBee transceiver, timer and a chronometer. Biometric data can be saved and stored in the integrated Micro SD card reader, and a touch-sensing interface allows the user to control the device through a capacitive touch sensing film. All documentation, hardware and software design files are provided to facilitate rapid prototyping.

The MED-SPO2 development tool is based on Freescale’s popular Tower System modular development platform. It includes complimentary software stacks and hardware design files to allow faster software and hardware development for pulse oximetry applications. The tool also allows the medical device designer to evaluate the integrated measurement engine capabilities of the compatible Freescale microcontroller (MCU) families. The board can connect to a pulse oximeter sensor (not included) and send the data it collects to a Freescale MCU with an integrated measurement engine, such as the Kinetis 32-bit K50, 32-bit MCF51MM or 8-bit 9S08MM devices. The compatible Freescale MCUs perform the required signal conditioning using integrated transimpedance and operational amplifiers.

The MED-SPO2 expansion board can connect to Freescale’s TWR-K53N512, TWR-S08MM128 and TWR-MCF51MM Tower System platforms. This flexibility allows the medical device designer to use Freescale 8- and 32-bit solutions and expand functionality using numerous Tower System peripheral modules like graphic and segment LCD, USB and Ethernet connectivity.

“Freescale continues to bring value to the healthcare market by providing reference designs and development systems that help simplify application development,” said Bruno Baylac, director of Metering, Medical and Connectivity Solutions for Freescale. “Our latest offerings join a growing list of healthcare enablement products that enable OEMs to quickly and affordably serve the growing market of portable medical devices with wireless connectivity.”