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The first telemedicine expedition to K2 – the second highest mountain in the world – is underway, after successful trials in the Himalayas in March. The WiCis-Sports app, running on Thuraya SatSleeve+, will monitor every step of the #K2Adventure16 Madison Mountaineering trip, taking pioneering technology onto one of the world’s most challenging peaks.
The expedition will demonstrate how telemedicine can provide instant access to medical expertise around the globe. OCENS is providing continuous pinpoint weather data and forecasts via their patented WeatherNet software through the WiCis-Sports app.
The #K2Adventure16 project began on 12 June and is set to reach the summit in mid-August. Led by Garrett Madison, the team of ten is accompanied by porters from Pakistan and Sherpas from Nepal. One of the most remote places on Earth, with only 46 permits issued in 2016, K2 is the second highest and arguably the world’s most intimidating mountain.
Select adventurers will wear lightweight, breathable, Bluetooth-enabled garments featuring embedded or integrated sensors, under normal climbing gear. The sensors continuously monitor heart rate, oxygen saturation, skin temperature, geo-location, altitude, speed and bearing.
Data will be streamed to the WiCis-Sports internet platform using Thuraya Sat-Sleeve+, and will be available within one to two seconds on any internet-enabled device on the planet. Dr Leo Montejo, CEO of WiCis, will keep track of the party’s progress from California. The data will also be streamed online in real time on a public dashboard. Access to the dashboard is open to everyone: http://publicdashboard.wicis.com/#e7812.
Remote monitoring will reduce costs for adventure climbers who do not have a doctor at base camp, and will allow more expeditions access to remote medical support in real time. WiCis-Sports is also combining and analyzing vital sign data to provide a snapshot of the climbers overall health status. Should a medical or other emergency arise, rescue teams will have immediate access to the data needed to assess the climbers’ condition and the exact location.
Bilal El Hamoui, Thuraya Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We share a desire to save and improve lives with WiCis, and we’re delighted to work together on something we feel will be standard expedition kit within five years. Thuraya-connected wearables will help adventurers push their boundaries farther and safer.”
Two successful trial expeditions were undertaken earlier this year in the Himalayas. Montejo, a team leader in the first of the two, tested the Thuraya SatSleeve+ and WiCis-Sports App. Three expedition members were forced to withdraw through illness; one acute mountain sickness case was so serious that a rescue helicopter was called for, using Thuraya SatSleeve+.
Montejo said: “The time we spent testing the equipment meant we could make improvements to the system. Thuraya SatSleeve+ is reliable and blends nicely with the WiCis-Sports App. Now we’re ready for K2, our ultimate challenge. Basically, if it works there, it will work anywhere. If we can offer you support through technology, there is no reason to be totally alone.”
Public dashboard of data
The public dashboard carries real data in real time, including the GPS location, altitude and speed of the expedition team. It also monitors and displays oxygen, heart rate and body temperature information. Medical conditions such as oedema, hypothermia and cardiac arrest can occur if climbers push themselves too hard and too far in the ultra-thin air. Any medical issues that do occur can be addressed immediately, with Montejo also conducting daily assessments of each member of the team’s data. This information can also serve as a record of recent health data, to help doctors decide on the best future treatment.
OCENS is providing continuous pinpoint weather data and forecasts via their patented WeatherNet software. This information is displayed in real time on the WiCis-Sports dashboard and also on the WiCis-Sports Android App which the climbers will use.
Successful tests in the Himalayas
A range of wearable health monitoring devices was tested in the Himalayas, in March 2016. Two members of the team were designated on alternate days as test subjects and given trial equipment to wear. Lightweight, wearable sensors were attached to the body and a Bluetooth connection between the devices and the WiCis-Sports App was set up on a smartphone. The app gathered health data and allowed it to be transmitted in usable form over the internet.
The smartphone was then connected to the Thuraya SatSleeve+ to establish a continuous data stream via satellite. With a lightweight back-up battery attached, the team found they could stream continuously from the Thuraya SatSleeve+ for eight hours a day without any problem, recharging batteries with portable solar panels.
About Thuraya Telecommunications Company
Thuraya Telecommunications Company is an industry leading mobile satellite services (MSS) operator and a global telecommunication provider offering innovative communications solutions to a variety of sectors including energy, broadcast media, maritime, military and humanitarian non-government organisations (NGO’s).
Thuraya’s superior network enables clear communications and uninterrupted coverage across two thirds of the globe by satellite and across the whole planet through its unique global system for mobile communications (GSM) roaming capabilities. The company’s diverse range of technologically superior and highly reliable mobile satellite handsets and broadband devices provide ease of use, value, quality and efficiency.
About WiCis-Sports: http://wicis-sports.com
Founded in 2011 by Harvard and Stanford anesthesiologist Dr. Leo Montejo (also founder of WiCis), and in the Lake Tahoe area in the United States, the company’s goal is to promote the use of mHealth and tracking devices to make adventure sports safer and engage their followers with real time data that is either private or also available to social medial platforms.
About Dr Leo Montejo
Dr. Leo Montejo has been designated the expedition doctor for K2 using the WiCis-Sports solution as a telemedical tool. He did his residency at Harvard in anesthesiology and critical care medicine, has been a Professor at Stanford in this specialty, and is an extreme sports enthusiast. Dr Montejo has participated in three Himalayan expeditions.
About OCENS: www.ocens.com
At OCENS, we strive every day to separate our company from the fad and fancy of the satellite phone marketplace by reminding ourselves of the extreme realities our customers face. This abiding attitude is reflected in the software we develop, the products we sell and the commitment we make to after-sale support.
Our patented WeatherNet weather service combines a transfer engine specifically configured for satellite phones with a library of classical and modeled weather and ocean data and an intuitive file management system.
About Madison Mountaineering: http://madisonmountaineering.com
Madison Mountaineering is a boutique mountain guide service based in Seattle, Washington. It specializes in mountaineering expeditions to the “7 Summits” and other renowned international and domestic peaks, as well as unclimbed peaks in extremely remote regions. It provides education and training for climbers who aspire to become self-sufficient, aware and respectful of the local culture; stewards of the environment; and for whom safety is the number one priority in all climbing endeavors.
Garrett Madison began guiding professionally in 1999 on Mount Rainier, and is now America’s premier Everest climber and guide. As Expedition Leader, he has personally lead 37 climbers to the summit of Everest over the last 7 years, more than any other American.
Original published at: http://spacewatchme.com/2016/07/thuraya-wicis-ocens-partner-provide-telemedicine-service-expeditions-himalayas/
