VLC-BASED MEDICAL HEALTHCARE INFORMATION SYSTEM

Abstract

Nowadays, wireless communication technologies are employed in medical body area networks to enhance flexibility and convenience for caregivers and patients. However, there is always the risk of disturbance from electromagnetic waves toward precision medical equipment. This study demonstrates a novel design and implementation of a medical healthcare information system using the emerging wireless visible light communication (VLC) technology. VLC technology can be implemented using visible light emitting diodes (LED), which is expected to be the main lighting source in the near future due to its energy efficient characteristic compared to conventional incandescent and fluorescent lighting. By manipulating the fast switching characteristic of LEDs, these lighting devices can be used simultaneously for illumination and wireless data communication. The prototype design of the VLC-based medical healthcare system can be used to provide data service and monitoring in radio frequency restricted hospital areas. High brightness LED (HB-LED) is used in the transmitter module to transmit medical and healthcare information using optical modulation method. High speed photodetector is used to detect the optical signal, then the signal is demodulated and conditioned at the receiver module. Medical caregivers or patients can download the biomedical data and healthcare information using a portable device with attached optical sensor.