Enclustra FPGA Solutions | Enhancing care: How portable FPGA solutions could improve healthcare and medical applications | Enhancing care: How portable FPGA solutions could improve healthcare and medical applications

Enhancing care: How portable FPGA solutions could improve healthcare and medical applications

Overcoming the size, weight, and power constraints of FPGA solutions will unlock new use cases in portable healthcare and medical applications.

Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have become indispensable in applications that push standard microprocessors beyond their limits. Implementing algorithms directly on their physical architecture lets FPGAs speed up signal and data processing, achieving latencies measured in nanoseconds. Their enhanced computational efficiency reduces power requirements for machine learning and artificial intelligence, while their parallel processing chops increases the throughput of resource-intensive tasks like image processing.

But to this day, the size, weight, and power constraints of even the most compact FPGA modules have hindered their integration into portable healthcare and medical devices.

In this article, we investigate how lightweight, battery-powered FPGA modules will help the technology break into new portable applications, delivering much-needed processing power and unprecedented intelligence where it has maximum impact. Read on to discover how portable FPGA solutions could enhance care by enabling real-time image processing, near-zero-latency sensor fusion, and edge-based artificial intelligence.

Real-time image processing

Real-time image processing isn't just about capturing visual data; it's about deriving immediate insights to guide subsequent actions. With their ability to be specifically designed to serve as hardware accelerators for image processing applications, FPGAs excel in this arena, where they already enable various medical use cases.

Extending this capability to portable medical and healthcare applications with portable FPGA solutions could spark a new wave of innovation, enhancing the performance of everything from remote patient monitoring to portable diagnostic imaging and robotic surgery.

At home, assisted living solutions could deploy mobile or stationary surveillance cameras equipped with portable FPGA technology to keep an eye on elderly or otherwise vulnerable individuals. These systems would not only call for help during accidents; they could also track patients’ activity and gait to assess their recovery or response to treatments.

FPGA technology could augment portable imaging devices for point-of-care diagnostics, for example, by processing ultrasound data collected during house visits. These solutions could also facilitate field-deployable sensing systems to monitor patient responses in clinical trials conducted in remote settings.

Finally, in clinics, smart glasses could leverage compact, lightweight FPGA solutions to feed valuable information right into the sight of doctors and other medical professionals, for example, offering real-time guidance during medical examinations or surgical interventions.

Real-time image processing

The low-latency data processing capabilities that distinguish FPGA in real-time image processing also enable lightning-fast sensor fusion – seamlessly combining data from diverse sensors to enable complex real-time monitoring and control applications. The advent of compact, battery-powered FPGA technology extends its reach into portable and wearable healthcare and medical use cases currently beyond their scope.

These might, for example, involve wearable sensors for continuous monitoring of motion – using inertial sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes – and physiological parameters.

Additionally, they could enable autonomous mobile robots to support the medical staff and their patients in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes by, for example, disinfecting surfaces and facilities. Empowered by FPGA technology, these robots could fuse data from various sensors to safely navigate in dynamic environments, identify obstacles, and avoid collisions.

Edge intelligence

As digital technology evolves, smart devices will increasingly be expected to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to make split-second decisions based on the data they sense and interpret in real time.

Embedding the algorithms for AI inference into the FPGA fabric extends the power autonomy of these otherwise power-hungry applications. It also allows them to perform their functions independently of the cloud, making them more resilient to wireless signal outages.

Similarly, ultra-low latency wearable physiological monitoring devices will be able to detect early signs of deteriorating vital signs, giving medical staff advanced warnings of potential complications before they spiral out of control.

Portable FPGA modules put unprecedented intelligence where it’s needed

Lightweight, battery-powered FPGA modules targeting medical and healthcare applications are within reach for the first time, driven by the ongoing miniaturization of microprocessors, GPUs, and FPGA fabric. Despite their compact size, portable FPGA solutions promise to enhance healthcare at home, in the field, or the clinic. In the process, they will inspire new use cases that will increase the effectiveness of patient care.

These compact FPGA modules will tackle pain points and challenges across various the healthcare and medical sectors. With hardware development continuing at pace, now is the time to ask yourself: Are you ready to seize the potential they offer?

Plan ahead by partnering with Enclustra, your partner in FPGA modules

Empower your customers by tapping into the benefits of FPGA technology as they arise by outsourcing development to a trusted partner. Learn more about our products, download our selection guide to explore our vast product portfolio, or reach out to discuss your project via our design service enquiry form.

If you are interested in reading this article in German, you can do it in the Meditronic Journal here.