This lower layer proposal allows device manufacturers to update their present and legacy devices with minimal changes. The new proposal offers device manufacturers a very inexpensive way to adopt IEEE 1073 for both recurring and non-recurring costs. There are several vendors offering IrDA software at very aggressive prices. IrDA pricing is being driven down by the entire computer industry, thus the medical device industry will gain lower costs, long term, from aligning with the computer industry. One hindrance to widespread adoption of IEEE 1073, to date, has been the lack of vendors offering tools.
Profiles offer vendors and users a way to rapidly modify standards for new use cases.
An example of such a profile could be one that enable closed loop control of infusion pumps. The IEEE and CEN Standards processes have been making significant progress in the last several years. This document is now stable for a period of two years, enabling usage in industry. Vital was produced with significant input from the IEEE 1073 Committee. This document defines several thousand terms used in medical device communications.