A personalized model for galvanic coupling in intrabody communication systems

Abstract

Intrabody communication (IBC) uses the human body as a transmission medium for electrical signals, providing an efficient channel to interconnect devices in Body Sensor Networks. For IBC galvanic coupling, the signal path is accomplished through two pairs of electrodes deployed on the skin, which suggest the dependence of the attenuation signal on the subject's electrophysiological skin properties. With the purpose of gaining an insight into the attenuation differences observed for diverse subjects, a simple transmission line-based model has been used for the identification of those personalized parameters that best emulate the attenuation behavior. Experimental results for two different subjects have been carried out using a harmonized measurement set-up. Model simulations have shown to match measurement data more accurately when individualized instead standard skin parameters were used, thus highlighting the need to deal with personalized models in IBC research. © Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2013.