22 February, 2019

5G network slicing is one of the most significant innovations in communications this decade and the SIGMA Research Group at Cork Institute of Technology is at the forefront of building new applications for 5G test-bed deployments.

As part of the Horizon 2020 €8 million EU funded SliceNet project, the SIGMA Group has been actively experimenting with technologies such as Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence, Mobile Edge Computing and 5G Network Slicing.

A key aim in the SliceNet project is to demonstrate a verticals-oriented 5G network, focused on control of end-to-end Network Sliced services. Dedicated ‘slices’ of the network are guaranteed, to ensure the quality of service (QoS) necessary for the delivery of mission critical services, such as emergency telemedicine.

Generalised in-ambulance telemedicine is a recent development and the SIGMA Group has been trialling these technologies to facilitate widespread use of an in-ambulance telestroke diagnostic service. This service has the potential to radically improve future patient treatment pathways.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In Ireland, approximately 10,000 people have a stroke related event annually, with 7,000 acute hospital admissions and upwards of 30,000 people living in the community with disabilities as a result of stroke, costing the State is up to €557 million a year.

SIGMA has designed a MEC-based TeleStroke Assessment service, which can be accessed on demand by paramedics in the ambulance, to assess symptoms of patients suspected of suffering from a stroke.

The 5G “Connected Ambulance” will function as a connection hub for emergency medical equipment and wearables, which will allow storage and potential real-time streaming of patient data to staff at the destination emergency department.

Retrieval and streaming of patient data will commence as soon as paramedics arrive at the scene and will continue as the patient is being transported to hospital. The goal is to provide real-time video streaming, and other sensor related data, so emergency department clinicians can monitor the patient and decide on the optimal treatment required.

This enhanced and interactive communication between the medical professional teams and the remote paramedics attending to the patient will lead to fundamental improvements in emergency medical care and improve the probability of better patient outcomes.

If you would like to collaborate with CIT get in touch. Email extendedcampus@cit.ie or call 021 4335302.