Advancing Smart Healthcare: AI Alert System Guards Dialysis Patients’ Health

To improve dialysis safety, Taipei Medical University (TMU) collaborated with Wistron Medical Technology. By leveraging advanced AI algorithms, the team successfully predicted the risk of intradialytic hypotension and muscle cramps up to 30 minutes in advance during clinical trials. This early warning system enables medical personnel to intervene proactively, helping prevent potential emergencies and enhance patient safety during dialysis.

Wistron Medical Technology has developed non-contact, AI-powered medical devices using millimeter-wave radar monitoring technology. Its research findings on sleep apnea detection have been published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, and the device is expected to obtain Taiwan’s Class II Smart Medical Device certification later this year. Building on this success, the research team is actively expanding radar-based applications into the field of kidney disease care.

Dr. Chia-Te Liao, Director of the Department of Nephrology at TMU-affiliated Shuang Ho Hospital, pointed out that intradialytic hypotension (IDH) occurs in up to 25% of dialysis sessions, with the incidence reaching as high as 50% among high-risk groups. These factors significantly compromise treatment tolerance, increase the risk of cardiovascular instability, reduce cerebral perfusion, and accelerate the failure of residual renal function (RRF). In the past, continuous monitoring of patients’ physiological status was challenging due to limited medical personnel.

“With the integration of millimeter-wave radar monitoring technology, medical personnel can now obtain real-time physiological data via sensors installed above the patient’s bed. The system enables continuous monitoring and early detection of hypotension and muscle cramps, providing up to 30 minutes of advance warning and enhancing the clinical response capacity.” Dr. Liao explained.

Dr. Cheng-Yu Tsai, assistant professor at TMU’s College of Biomedical Engineering, mentioned that over the past three months, the research team collected data from hemodialysis centers and found an incidence rate of 10% to 15% for intradialytic hypotension and muscle cramping during dialysis. The system detects these risks by using AI algorithms to analyze clinical indicators such as respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing patterns.

President Mai-Szu Wu announced that, in partnership with Wistron Medical Technology, the integrated AI-powered health monitoring system was initially implemented at Shuang Ho Hospital and is now being extended to TMU Hospital, Wanfang Hospital, and Hsin Kuo Min Hospital. Since March 2025, Hsin Kuo Min Hospital has taken over operations at the hemodialysis center in Fuxing District, Taoyuan, where millimeter-wave radar technology is implemented to provide remote care for patients in rural areas, significantly improving access to specialized treatment. This technology will be integrated into the TMU healthcare information system and applied to alert functions for heart failure, pleural effusion, and sleep apnea to elevate the quality of patient care.