A remote vital sign detection device has a sensor, an integrated circuit, and antenna. The integrated circuit is in communication with the sensor and the antenna. The sensor detects and generates an electronic response from a desired vital sign such as body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure and sends a signal corresponding to that vital sign to the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit converts the vital sign signal into vital sign data and transmits the vital sign data off-board via the antenna. The vital sign data is then transmitted to an external reader. The external reader receives the vital sign data and processes it for display or read-out by medical staff. An option intermediate receiver may relay vital sign data from the vital sign detection device to the external reader. The vital sign detection device is placed in a non-implantable medical device.
