A Programmable Microsystem Using System-on-Chip for Real-time Biotelemetry

Abstract

Abstract-A telemetry microsystem, including multiple sensors, integrated instrumentation and a wireless interface has been implemented. We have employed a methodology akin to that for System-on-Chip microelectronics to design an integrated circuit instrument containing several "intellectual property" blocks that will enable convenient reuse of modules in future projects. The present system was optimized for low-power and included mixed-signal sensor circuits, a programmable digital system, a feedback clock control loop and RF circuits integrated on a 5 mm 5 mm silicon chip using a 0.6 m, 3.3 V CMOS process. Undesirable signal coupling between circuit components has been investigated and current injection into sensitive instrumentation nodes was minimized by careful floor-planning. The chip, the sensors, a magnetic induction-based transmitter and two silver oxide cells were packaged into a 36 mm 12 mm capsule format. A base station was built in order to retrieve the data from the microsystem in real-time. The base station was designed to be adaptive and timing tolerant since the microsystem design was simplified to reduce power consumption and size. The telemetry system was found to have a packet error rate of 10 3 using an asynchronous simplex link. Trials in animal carcasses were carried out to show that the transmitter was as effective as a conventional RF device whilst consuming less power.

In SituCharacterization of Two Wireless Transmission Schemes for Ingestible Capsules

“…The low-frequency capsules LF1 and LF2 used a purpose-made FM transmitter and the inductor coil was mounted such that its longitudinal axis was aligned to the longitudinal axis of the capsule. The high-frequency capsules each contained the same 868-MHz commercial transmitter (FM-RTFQ from RFsolutions) and used a microstrip transmission line between the transmitter and antenna so as to minimize the RF signal loss [22]. HF1 also had a copper ground plane of area ca.…”

Introduction

“…The concept of "ubiquitous" and "pervasive" human wellbeing monitoring with regards to physical, physiological, and biochemical parameters in any environment and without restriction of activity [45,46] has now become a reality with the important advances in sensor, miniaturised processor, and wireless data transmission technologies described earlier [47,48]. Recently, there has been a huge surge in the number of external (wearable) activity tracker devices currently in use to monitor activity levels ranging from wrist-bands to wearable devices to complement clothing in a range of environments.…”

Review of Communication Systems for Ingestible Miniaturized Integrated Sensor Microsystems

“…Project IDEAS (Integrated Diagnostics for Environmental and Analytical Systems) recently completed the development of an ingestible capsule aimed at the study of the human gastrointestinal tract [3][4][5][6]. The system block diagram is shown in Figure 1.…”