Low-power connected medical device with Bluetoo… — Enterprise Case Study

IOT · IoT devices · Bluetooth 5.0 · low-power embedded systems · wireless connectivity · edge devices

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Problem context

The client operated a connected medical device that relied on outdated hardware architecture and legacy communication interfaces. The system demonstrated excessive power consumption, limited wireless capabilities, and constrained scalability for future connected features. To support modern IoT use cases, the device required a fundamental redesign focused on connectivity, energy efficiency, and predictable device behavior at the edge.

Constraints

  • Battery-powered operation with strict power budget
  • Continuous acquisition of high-fidelity sensor data
  • Reliable wireless communication in medical environments
  • Backward compatibility with existing device workflows
  • Hardware and firmware redesign without compromising signal quality

Engineering decisions

Decision: Migrate to a modern low-power MCU with integrated wireless support
Reason: Enables higher processing performance while significantly reducing power consumption at the edge.
Trade-off: Required redesign of peripheral interfaces and firmware architecture.
Decision: Integrate Bluetooth 5.0 as the primary wireless communication layer
Reason: Bluetooth 5.0 provides improved range, stability, and energy efficiency for IoT-class devices.
Trade-off: Introduced additional protocol stack and power management complexity.
Decision: Re-architect firmware around event-driven and low-power states
Reason: Minimizes active duty cycle and enables predictable battery performance.
Trade-off: Increased firmware state-management complexity.

System overview

The resulting system is a connected edge device with optimized embedded firmware, low-power hardware architecture, and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless communication. The device performs local signal acquisition and processing while transmitting data wirelessly with minimized energy overhead. Power-aware design principles were applied across hardware, firmware, and communication layers.

Outcome

Approximately 40% reduction in total power consumption. Stable Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity with extended operational range. Improved edge-level processing efficiency. Architecture suitable for long-term IoT deployment and scaling. Reduced component count and improved manufacturability.

Engagement delivered under NDA. Details anonymized.

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