Overview
EN ISO 11073-30300:2005 (ISO/IEEE 11073-30300:2004) - "Health informatics - Point-of-care medical device communication - Part 30300: Transport profile - Infrared wireless" defines an IrDA-based transport profile and physical-layer approach for short-range infrared (IrDA) wireless links used in medical device communication. As part of the ISO/IEEE 11073 family, this standard provides a connection-oriented transport profile and communications services optimized for point-of-care (POC) environments, and is specified as a companion to ISO/IEEE 11073-30200, which covers cable-connected physical layers.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Transport profile for infrared wireless: Establishes a connection-oriented transport and physical-layer approach compatible with Infrared Data Association (IrDA) specifications.
- POC optimization: Tailored for near-patient use - low-latency, reliable short-range links for bedside data transfer and device interfacing.
- Support for handhelds and access points: Addresses common use cases such as PDAs/handheld personal digital assistants and network access points that implement IrDA communication.
- Interoperability focus: Defines communications services and protocols to enable plug-and-play integration of medical devices with clinical systems and gateways.
- Consistency with IrDA specs: Uses IrDA-defined link behaviors and services where applicable to leverage existing infrared infrastructure and legacy devices.
- Operational considerations: Emphasizes real-time exchange, device discovery/association, and the ability to work in clinical environments (e.g., bedside, ambulatory care).
Applications
- Wireless short-range data capture from bedside monitors, point-of-care testing (POCT) devices, pulse oximeters, ECG units and handheld diagnostic tools.
- Use in environments where radio-frequency wireless may be restricted or where line-of-sight infrared is preferred (e.g., certain ICU/sterile settings).
- Integration of legacy medical devices that already support IrDA with modern clinical gateways, PDAs, and local access points.
- Enabling automatic, time-correlated data capture for clinical documentation and real-time monitoring systems.
Who uses this standard
- Medical device manufacturers implementing infrared-based connectivity.
- Clinical engineers and interoperability architects designing device ecosystems.
- Hospital IT and biomedical teams integrating point-of-care devices into electronic health record (EHR) systems.
- Test labs and certification bodies validating ISO/IEEE 11073 compliance.
- System integrators building gateways and access points that bridge IrDA devices to hospital networks.
Related standards
- ISO/IEEE 11073-30200 - cable-connected physical layer (companion standard).
- The broader ISO/IEEE 11073 family for medical device communication and device information models.
- Infrared Data Association (IrDA) specifications (for link-layer consistency and behavior).
Keywords: health informatics, point-of-care, medical device communication, IrDA, infrared wireless, transport profile, ISO/IEEE 11073, EN ISO 11073-30300:2005, POC devices, device interoperability.
