Skytrac has successfully transferred patient medical data via inflight cellular and satellite connection, using the company’s DAL-200 and ISAT-200A avionics and data from the Zoll X series monitor/defibrillator. The test of this new capability was performed in collaboration with helicopter EMS provider STAT MedEvac.

Skytrac engineers were able to configure the Zoll device to connect to an onboard Wi-Fi network enabled by the DAL-200. When cellular connectivity was available, the DAL-200 acted as a Wi-Fi/cellular bridge that allowed the Zoll to connect to its own servers. When cellular connectivity was unavailable, the DAL-200 enabled a redirection request to the ISAT-200A that encrypted and transmitted medical data through the Iridium satellite network to Skytrac. It was then forwarded to Zoll’s secure medical servers, enabling healthcare practitioners to access 12-lead reports before patients arrive in the emergency room.

"Transfer of care of critically ill patients is one of the riskiest phases of care, where up to 20 percent of patients in the U.S. may experience a harmful event. Current emergency and 911 communication systems are limited, utilizing archaic technology. Our work will be critical to developing future systems that allow early and robust coordination of care and alert waiting medical and surgical teams of inbound patients," said Dr. Leonard Weiss, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and assistant medical director for STAT MedEvac.