Tulsa-based research expected to transform everyday medicine

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Posted: Saturday, February 13, 2016 12:00 am | Updated: 7:42 am, Mon Feb 15, 2016.By GINNIE GRAHAM News Columnist | Tulsa World

OU-Tulsa researchers Dr. Hazem Refai (left) and Omar Al Kalaa are leading the way in development of wireless medical devices with assistance from the Tandy Supercomputer at the Oklahoma Innovation Institute. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World

 Imagine a hospital room without wires. A patient could move freely as sensors instantly send information about heart rate, organ functions and hormone levels to the doctor.

Advances in wireless medical devices go beyond a medical facility’s walls.

Parents with a diabetic toddler could check the child’s glucose levels from their smartphones. Patients with chronic illnesses wouldn’t have to stop by offices for vital-sign checkups.

This is a sliver of the research being conducted by the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa’s Telecommunications Engineering program in partnership with the Oklahoma Innovation Institute’s Tandy Supercomputer. This type of innovation originating in Tulsa is expected to be transformative to the medical community.

It’s an optimistic — and inspiring — view of the future when told by Hazem Refai, Williams professor in Telecommunications Networking and Electrical and Computer Engineering at OU-Tulsa. He’s also the director for the Center for Wireless and Elecromagnetic Compliance and Design.

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