Medical Device Firmware Optimization

Overview

A leading medical device manufacturer approached Wirelessmind Consultancy with challenges related to their wearable health monitoring device. The device was experiencing battery life issues and had limited functionality due to firmware constraints. They needed a comprehensive firmware redesign to improve power efficiency while enabling new features for their next-generation product.

The Challenge

The client faced several significant challenges with their existing firmware:

• Poor battery life that required frequent recharging, limiting the device's usability for continuous monitoring
• Monolithic firmware architecture that made adding new features difficult and time-consuming
• Inefficient sensor data processing that consumed excessive CPU resources
• Bluetooth connectivity issues that affected data transmission reliability
• Need to maintain regulatory compliance while implementing significant firmware changes

Our Solution

Wirelessmind Consultancy developed a comprehensive firmware redesign strategy that addressed all the client's challenges while ensuring regulatory compliance:

Architecture diagram of the redesigned firmware

• 1

  RTOS Implementation

  We replaced the bare-metal firmware with a lightweight RTOS (FreeRTOS) to enable better task management, power optimization, and modular architecture.

• 2

  Power Management Optimization

  We implemented advanced power management techniques, including dynamic frequency scaling, peripheral power gating, and optimized sleep modes to significantly reduce power consumption.

• 3

  Sensor Data Processing Algorithms

  We developed optimized algorithms for sensor data acquisition and processing, reducing CPU usage and enabling more efficient data analysis.

• 4

  Bluetooth Stack Enhancement

  We improved the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) stack implementation to enhance connection stability, reduce power consumption during data transmission, and support the latest BLE features.

• 5

  Modular Firmware Architecture

  We redesigned the firmware architecture using a modular approach with well-defined interfaces, making it easier to add new features and maintain the codebase.

• 6

  Regulatory Compliance Documentation

  We developed comprehensive documentation and testing protocols to ensure the firmware changes met all relevant regulatory requirements (FDA, CE, etc.).

Impact & Results

The firmware redesign delivered significant measurable benefits to the client:

Beyond these quantitative results, the client was able to introduce several new features in their next-generation product, including advanced health metrics, improved data visualization, and enhanced user experience. The modular firmware architecture has also significantly reduced maintenance costs and enabled faster iteration cycles for future product updates.