Measurement tools for the immersive visualization environment: Steps toward the virtual laboratory

Int J Wireless Inf Networks

et al. 2010

Information regarding the propagation media is typically gathered by conducting physical experiments, measuring and processing the corresponding data to obtain channel characteristics. When this propagation media is human body, for example in case of medical implants, then this approach might not be practical. In this paper, an immersive visualization environment is presented, which is used as a scientific instrument that gives us the ability to observe RF propagation from medical implants inside a human body. This virtual environment allows for more natural interaction between experts with different backgrounds, such as engineering and medical sciences. Here, we show how this platform has been used to determine channel models for medical implant communication systems.

Section: A 3d Immersive Platform For Medical Implantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Channel Models for Medical Implant Communication

Int J Wireless Inf Networks

et al. 2010

“…The user can look at data representations at any scale and position, move through data, change orientation, and control the elements of the virtual world using a variety of interaction techniques including measurement and analysis [2]. All of these capabilities are extremely useful when studying RF propagation to/from medical implants.…”

Section: A 3d Visuaization System For Medical Implantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A statistical path loss model for medical implant communication channels

2009 IEEE 20th International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications

et al. 2009

154

104

-Knowledge of the propagation media is a key step toward a successful transceiver design. Such information is typically gathered by conducting physical experiments, measuring and processing the corresponding data to obtain channel characteristics. In case of medical implants, this could be extremely difficult, if not impossible. In this paper, an immersive visualization environment is presented, which is used as a scientific instrument that gives us the ability to observe RF propagation from medical implants inside a human body. This virtual environment allows for more natural interaction between experts with different backgrounds, such as engineering and medical sciences. Here, we show how this platform has been used to determine a statistical path loss model for medical implant communication systems.

“…The main interaction device is a hand-held three button motion-tracked wand with a joystick. A user in this virtual environment can look at data representations at any scale and position, move through data, change orientation, and control the elements of the virtual world using a variety of interaction techniques including measurement and analysis [1]. All of these capabilities are extremely useful when studying RF propagation for wearable or implantable medical sensors [7,11].…”

Section: A 3d Immerssive System For Wearablementioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of an aortic valve implant on body surface UWB propagation: A preliminary study

2011 5th International Symposium on Medical Information and Communication Technology

et al. 2011

-Efficient transceiver design in body area networks requires in-depth understanding of the propagation channel which in this case involves the human body. Several studies have been done to characterize RF propagation on the body surface and determine the parameters of an appropriate model. However, the possible effect of an already existing medical implant on body surface propagation has not been considered until during a recent measurement experiment. There it was discovered that an aortic implant may have an impact on Ultra Wide-Band (UWB) propagation between wearable nodes that are in the vicinity of the implant location. In this paper, we use a 3D immersive visualization environment to study and observe the impact of an aortic implant on body surface propagation. Specifically, we focus on the UWB impulse response of the channel between nodes located around the upper body. The difference in the obtained impulse responses (for scenarios with and without the implant) both in measurement and simulation points to the possible impact that such medical implants could have on body surface RF propagation.