Wired patients monitor blood pressure and heart rate. For cardiac patients, these miniaturized mplants are a significant improvement over the bulky external electrocard gram monitors they previously wore. Another important feature of an implantable, cardiac biosensor is its capacity to be linked to a sophisticated Internet-based monitoring network that allows patients to transmit device and physiologic data to their clinicians without having to leave their homes. Patients do this by holding a small, computer- shaped mouse antenna over their implants, which then sends the collected data to clinicians over standard phone lines. Clinicians can remotely monitor the condition of patients by logging into a secure clinician Web site. In some locations, clinicians can access patient data by means of a handheld computer or personal digital assistant(PDA). Patients also have access to a secure patient Web site where they can obtain health-related information and person alized device data What are some of the benefits that stem from the use of Internet-based cardiac biosensors? First, as mentioned above, patients can provide physiologic and device data to their clinicians from the convenience of their homes that previously required an office visit. Second, because these devices can provide p-to-the-minute monitoring, patients may gain greater peace of mind, which could reduce, if not eliminate, unwarranted emergency room and office visits Finally, because clinicians can obtain real-time physiologic data about their patients, clinicians can be more proactive and less reactive in the care of their patients. Consequently, patients can receive better informed treatments, which in turn, are likely to result in better health outcomes for patients and reduced healthcare expenditures As with the prosthetic application discussed above, the realization of the full benefit of a cardiac biosensor depends on the existence of a sophisticated information and telecommunications infrastructure that can itself record, store and transmit the physiologic data monitored by the implanted biosensor Enhancement Applications The third application of implantable microchips and biosensors deals with the enhancement of human function, for example, the extension of our senses beyond the immediate environment, improvement in memory and physical strength, or the general augmentation of our abilities to perform various tasks Like prosthetic and monitoring applications, many of the current enhancement applications of implantable microchips and biosensors depend on the larger telecommunications infrastructure For many, enhancement of human function brings to mind sci-fi images of borgs with superior physical and mental powers. But we don' t have to imagine some possible future to see how human function can be enhanced with microchips and biosensors. In fact, less"sexy" human enhancements for aug- menting our normal functions are already in use. For example, implantable microchips, in conjunction with global positioning satellites(GPS), are cur- rently being used to track pets. As a telescope extends our ability to see long microchips in pets enhances normal human functioning and abilities. There is 83monitor blood pressure and heart rate.6 For cardiac patients, these miniaturized implants are a significant improvement over the bulky, external electrocardio￾gram monitors they previously wore. Another important feature of an implantable, cardiac biosensor is its capacity to be linked to a sophisticated Internet-based monitoring network that allows patients to transmit device and physiologic data to their clinicians without having to leave their homes. Patients do this by holding a small, computer￾shaped mouse antenna over their implants, which then sends the collected data to clinicians over standard phone lines. Clinicians can remotely monitor the condition of patients by logging into a secure clinician Web site. In some locations, clinicians can access patient data by means of a handheld computer or personal digital assistant (PDA).7 Patients also have access to a secure patient Web site where they can obtain health-related information and person￾alized device data. What are some of the benefits that stem from the use of Internet-based cardiac biosensors? First, as mentioned above, patients can provide physiologic and device data to their clinicians from the convenience of their homes that previously required an office visit. Second, because these devices can provide up-to-the-minute monitoring, patients may gain greater peace of mind, which could reduce, if not eliminate, unwarranted emergency room and office visits. Finally, because clinicians can obtain real-time physiologic data about their patients, clinicians can be more proactive and less reactive in the care of their patients. Consequently, patients can receive better informed treatments, which, in turn, are likely to result in better health outcomes for patients and reduced healthcare expenditures.8 As with the prosthetic application discussed above, the realization of the full benefit of a cardiac biosensor depends on the existence of a sophisticated information and telecommunications infrastructure that can itself record, store, and transmit the physiologic data monitored by the implanted biosensor. Enhancement Applications The third application of implantable microchips and biosensors deals with the enhancement of human function, for example, the extension of our senses beyond the immediate environment, improvement in memory and physical strength, or the general augmentation of our abilities to perform various tasks. Like prosthetic and monitoring applications, many of the current enhancement applications of implantable microchips and biosensors depend on the larger telecommunications infrastructure. For many, enhancement of human function brings to mind sci-fi images of cyborgs with superior physical and mental powers. But we don’t have to imagine some possible future to see how human function can be enhanced with microchips and biosensors. In fact, less “sexy” human enhancements for aug￾menting our normal functions are already in use. For example, implantable microchips, in conjunction with global positioning satellites (GPS), are cur￾rently being used to track pets. As a telescope extends our ability to see long distances, this particular application of an implantable microchip increases our ability to “see” where our pets are. In doing so, the use of implantable microchips in pets enhances normal human functioning and abilities. There is,


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