An ultra wideband propagation model for wireless cardiac monitoring devices

Abstract

Wireless communication is an important technology to improve e-health applications such as remote cardiac monitoring. In modern telemedicine it is desirable that implant cardiac devices such as pacemakers can be interrogated and reprogrammed remotely. Such functions require a reliable wireless communication channel between the implant device and an external control unit. In order to increase the longevity of the implant device, the communication link must consume extremely low power. The use of ultra wideband (UWB) signals for this wireless link can fulfill the above requirements. However, little is known about the propagation of UWB signals inside the human body, despite the enormous research effort that has recently been devoted to the characterization of the on-body UWB radio communication channel. This paper presents a propagation model of UWB signals through the human chest in the 1--6 GHz frequency band. This is based on numerical simulations using a heterogeneous anatomical model with frequency dependent tissue material properties. The provided model is suitable for the design of UWB in-body communication links for wireless cardiac monitoring devices.