SEATTLE, Sept. 9 -- connectBlue's Serial Port Adapter, supplied by Code Blue Communications, Inc., has been integrated as a key wireless component of the first Bluetooth medical application to be granted market approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

An OEM version of the Serial Port Adapter enables wireless communication between operating room equipment and a central control system developed by Stryker Endoscopy -- a leading supplier of medical equipment for operating room applications worldwide.

"This decision marks a major milestone for the Bluetooth industry and clearly reinforces our long held conviction that the technology has a solid future beyond the consumer segment," said Rolf Nilsson, President at connectBlue.

"The opportunity to have wire-free equipment in a medical/surgical environment has its obvious advantages. For instance, an ECG may be sent via Bluetooth directly to a printer or internal camera images could be transmitted to a screen in the operating theater."

Code Blue Communications, connectBlue's product distributor for the North American medical industry, worked closely with Stryker Endoscopy to integrate the connectBlue solution into the control system. The company also acted in a consulting capacity throughout the system's regulatory approval process.

Bill Saltzstein, founder and President of Code Blue Communications said, "As the regulatory body responsible for public health, the FDA's primary concerns are safety and efficacy. To acquire FDA approval, a company must demonstrate that the system doesn't interfere with other radio technologies or medical equipment present in the environment. The operating room is a particularly challenging environment with its sensitive devices and additional sources of RF emission.

"Securing marketing approval for the first Bluetooth medical application was a significant hurdle, and is based on excellent work by Stryker which establishes the precedent for many additional exciting applications in the future."

About connectBlue

connectBlue, based in Sweden, is a leading provider of professional Bluetooth solutions in industrial, medical, automotive, logistics and instrumentation segments. connectBlue provides standard products and customer specific hardware and software solutions.

About Code Blue Communications Inc.

Code Blue Communications Inc., based in Seattle, Washington designs, develops and markets Bluetooth interface devices and integrated solutions for vertical markets, specializing in the medical industry.

About Stryker Endoscopy

Stryker Endoscopy, a division of Stryker Corporation, is a global technology leader in the medical device industry. We develop, manufacture and market state-of-the-art medical video products, powered equipment and related instrumentation for minimally invasive surgery. Stryker Endoscopy was founded in 1989 on the commitment to advance state-of-the-art medical video technology.

 

Report on Electromagnetic Interference in Hospitals.