Topology optimization for galvanic coupled wireless intra-body communication

Abstract

Abstract-Implanted sensors and actuators in the human body promise in-situ health monitoring and rapid advancements in personalized medicine. We propose a new paradigm where such implants may communicate wirelessly through a technique called as galvanic coupling, which uses weak electrical signals and the conduction properties of body tissues. While galvanic coupling overcomes the problem of massive absorption of RF waves in the body, the unique intra-body channel raises several questions on the topology of the implants and the external (i.e., on skin) data collection nodes. This paper makes the first contributions towards (i) building an energy-efficient topology through optimal placement of data collection points/relays using measurement-driven tissue channel models, and (ii) balancing the energy consumption over the entire implant network so that the application needs are met. We achieve this via a two-phase iterative clustering algorithm for the implants and formulate an optimization problem that decides the position of external data-gathering points. Our theoretical results are validated via simulations and experimental studies on real tissues, with demonstrated increase in the network lifetime.

Intra‐body microwave communication through adipose tissue

“…Several studies in the literature were conducted to investigate normal signal transmission through multilayer tissues, such as capacitive [9,10] and galvanic coupling [11][12][13], however little work has been done to investigate lateral signal transmission through a specific tissue. In this work, we investigate the lateral signal transmission in biological tissues and evaluate the use of these tissues as a communication channel for intra-body communication.…”