BIOTELEMETRY IN THE 1970’S

Abstract

A date cannot be pinpointed for the concept of using telemetry for acquiring biological data; however, it is known that the birth of biotelemetry in the form of hardware occurred about 1921--with the report of a heart sound transmitter. Biotelemetry matured only slightly from the twenties to the early fifties. During the fifties and sixties large amounts of money were administered through the money pipeline of the federal government. As a consequence, the growth during this period was bath rapid and grotesque, with tentacles reaching into scores of industrial and educational institutions. Duplication of efforts was quite common during this period and hundreds of miniature biotelemetry systems were built, but results deriving from practical application were quite limited. During the last few years, much of the chaff was shucked from this new growth, a root system developed, and biotelemetry found limited use as a tool in clinical medicine and in medical research. In the past biotelemetry has not lived up to the expectations. What about the future--will it really occupy an important place in clinical medicine and medical research? What is the economic outlook--how many jobs will it support? Which areas will require new talent? And, finally, what are the most common problems and haw can they be solved?