IEEE body area networks and medical implant communications

Abstract

IEEE 802.15 established a new working group, wireless body area networks (WBAN), to develop short range wireless technology in and around human body recently. This paper investigates networking issues in implant communications of WBAN. The object is better understanding of medical implant sensor networks and how to start WBAN's work. We applied IEEE 802.15.4b and 802.15.4a-chirp spread spectrum (CSS) for implant communications. We found two issues: clear channel assessment of implant devices and adjacent-channel interference from free space signals. Both of them can be attributed to the rapid attenuation of electromagnetic wave through tissues. Therefore the carrier sense multiple access mechanism and transmit mask of 802.15.4b cannot be directly adopted. The modulation of 802.15.4a-CSS is a good reference to WBAN. Besides, a simple two-hop protocol which uses a body surface forwarder was presented for long distance wireless implant communications.