A Czech hospital beds manufacturer claims to be leading the world with a unique sensory system that can send out an alert when a resting patient’s condition changes for the worse — for example if he or she is having a heart attack.
Linet has been four year in developing the technology that does not depend on wires and sensors attached to patients but is instead installed in the bed frame itself. Trials of a prototype are now taking place at a Prague hospital. The company is seeking a patent for some of the technology, with the new equipment likely to come onto the market within two years.
Wi-Fi alarm
Sensory equipment developed by Linet and installed in the bed frame allows breathing, body temperature and movement of the patient to be monitored. A specialized computer program analyzes the data and sends out an alarm by Wi-Fi if the data signals a sudden deterioration of the patient’s condition or an emergency such as a heart attack or stroke, the company said.
The system itself and installation in existing beds is expected to cost under Kč 10,000. The technology should go on show for the first time in mid-November at a medical equipment fair in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Around Kč 10 million of the development costs of the new technology were covered by a grant from the Czech state with the company finding the remaining Kč 19 million from its own funds.
Linet sells its production in 93 countries worldwide. Company founder and joint owner Zbyněk Frolík was given the White Lion award for service to the country by head of state President Václav Klaus on Czech national day, October 28.
No tax haven
The manufacturer, which is creating a holding company in the Netherlands to better coordinate the activities of its Czech company and German partner, WiBo GmbH, had come under fire from some sections of the Czech media which charged Linet with trying to dodge paying Czech taxes. Linet hit back saying that it will actually pay more corporate tax than in the Czech Republic under the new structure than before because Dutch and German business taxes are higher.
