Evaluation of a 433 MHz Band Body Sensor Network for Biomedical Applications

Sensors

Saim Kim¹  Christian Brendle¹  Hyun-Young Lee¹  Marian Walter¹  Sigrid Gloeggler²  Stefan Krueger² 

[1] Chair for Medical Information Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 20, Aachen 52074, Germany; E-Mails:;Department of Cardiology, Pneumology, Angiology and Intensive Care, University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany; E-Mails:

关键词: Body Sensor Network (BSN);    433 MHz ISM band;    wireless transmission;    sensors;    performance evaluation;    communication;    healthcare;    packet loss rate;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s130100898

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Body sensor networks (BSN) are an important research topic due to various advantages over conventional measurement equipment. One main advantage is the feasibility to deploy a BSN system for 24/7 health monitoring applications. The requirements for such an application are miniaturization of the network nodes and the use of wireless data transmission technologies to ensure wearability and ease of use. Therefore, the reliability of such a system depends on the quality of the wireless data transmission. At present, most BSNs use ZigBee or other IEEE 802.15.4 based transmission technologies. Here, we evaluated the performance of a wireless transmission system of a novel BSN for biomedical applications in the 433 MHz ISM band, called Integrated Posture and Activity NEtwork by Medit Aachen (IPANEMA) BSN. The 433 MHz ISM band is used mostly by implanted sensors and thus allows easy integration of such into the BSN. Multiple measurement scenarios have been assessed, including varying antenna orientations, transmission distances and the number of network participants. The mean packet loss rate (PLR) was 0.63% for a single slave, which is comparable to IEEE 802.15.4 BSNs in the proximity of Bluetooth or WiFi networks. Secondly, an enhanced version is evaluated during on-body measurements with five slaves. The mean PLR results show a comparable good performance for measurements on a treadmill (2.5%), an outdoor track (3.4%) and in a climate chamber (1.5%).

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.