Say hello to a childcare robot and a handset for diabetics...

Orange Business Services has been showing off a selection of healthcare technology this month.

At the Orange Labs R&D facility in Paris, the operator demoed an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) - pictured above - which is designed to monitor and treat life-threatening arrhythmia and heart failure by administering shocks as and when needed.

If the patient's heart is behaving abnormally, such as beating too slow or too fast, the device can deliver an electrical treatment accordingly.

The M2M device is made by medical equipment maker Sorin Group, and can also monitor a patient's daily breathing and activity levels.

Readings taken by the device can be wirelessly transmitted back to a physican via an IP network box installed in the patient's home.

Using the system, doctors can check on patients' progress remotely and adapt treatment as necessary.

Photo credit: Natasha Lomas/silicon.com