Abstract
The use of wireless implanted medical devices (IMDs) is growing because they facilitate monitoring of patients at home and during normal activities, reduce the discomfort of patients and reduce the likelihood of infection associated with trailing wires. Currently, radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic waves are the most commonly used method for communicating wirelessly with IMDs. However, due to the restrictions on the available bandwidth and the employable power, data rates of RF-based IMDs are limited to 267 kbps. Considering standard definition video streaming requires data rates of 1.2 mbps and high definition requires 3 mbps, it is not possible to use the RF electromagnetic communications for high data rate communication applications such as video streaming. In this work, an alternative method that utilizes ultrasonic waves to relay information at high data rates is introduced. An advanced quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modem with phase-compensating, sparse decision feedback equalizer (DFE) is tailored to realize the full potential of the ultrasonic channel through biological tissues. The proposed system is tested in a variety of scenarios, including both simulations with finite impulse response (FIR) channel models, and real physical transmission experiments with ex vivo beef liver and pork chop samples as well as in situ rabbit abdomen. Consequently, the simulations demonstrated that video-capable data rates can be achieved with milimeter-sized transducers. Real physical experiments confirmed data rates of 6.7, 4.4, 4 and 3.2 mbps through water, ex vivo beef liver, ex vivo pork chop and in situ rabbit abdomen, respectively.
Highlights
M ANY modern wireless implanted medical devices (IMDs) make use of sensors within the Manuscript received May 2, 2020; accepted August 26, 2020
The form factors of the high-frequency transducers are too large to be used in an IMD such as video capsule endoscopy pill
Wireless IMD that is capable of video communications or with the ability to transfer data at rates necessary for video streaming would be revolutionary in medical therapy and diagnostics
Summary
M ANY modern wireless implanted medical devices (IMDs) make use of sensors within the Manuscript received May 2, 2020; accepted August 26, 2020. Applications employing IMDs include, but are not limited to, pacemakers that prevent cardiovascular malfunctions, insulin monitors, and pumps that control glucose levels in the blood and adjust insulin levels and capsule endoscopy cameras that record the digestive tract when swallowed and deliver diagnostic information about gastrointestinal conditions. Some of these devices, such as pacemakers, are designed to perform a task to overcome deficiencies of the patient’s body and to be replaced invasively once their batteries are exhausted. A medically significant need exists to develop an active and wirelessly communicating system that can relay information in real time or near real time to devices outside of the body and open up the possibility of instantaneous intervention
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