Ultra-wideband statistical propagation channel model for implant sensors in the human chest

Ali Khaleghi, Raúl Chávez-Santiago, Ilangko Balasingham

Implant medical wireless sensors for monitoring physiological parameters, automatic drug provision, and so on represent a new promising healthcare technology. Inherent characteristics of ultra-wideband (UWB) radio make this technology highly suitable for the wireless interface of implant sensors. A communication channel model is essential for developing these wireless systems. However, there are currently few models describing the radio propagation inside the human body. To address this problem, a statistical model is presented for UWB propagation channels inside the human chest in the 1-6 GHz frequency range. The proposed statistical model is developed from numerical simulations using a heterogeneous anatomical model that includes the frequency-dependent dielectric properties of different human tissues. Mathematical formulas for the computation of path loss, scattering and the statistical implementation of the channel impulse response at different depths inside the chest are described. Two typical depths for implanted sensors in the chest, namely 20 and 80 mm are analysed in detail. Average path loss of approximately 20 and 50 dB is observed in each case, respectively. Moreover, the channel exhibits little time dispersion with a root-mean-square delay spread below 1 ns in both cases. These results aim at facilitating the tasks associated with the design of in-body medical communication systems.