A Study on Lifetime Enhancement and Reliability in Wearable Wireless Body Area Networks

Abstract

The wireless body area network (WBAN) which consists of wearable or implantable sensor nodes, is a technology that enables pervasive observing and delivery of health related information and services. The radio-enabled implantable medical devices offer a revolutionary set of applications among which we can point to precision drug distribution, smart endoscope capsules, glucose level observers and eye pressure detecting systems. Devices with WBAN are generally battery powered due to sensitivity and criticality of the data carried and handled by WBAN, reliability becomes a critical issues. WBAN loads a high degree of reliability as it openly affects the quality of patient observing. Undetected life-threatening circumstances can lead to death. A main requirement is that the health care professionals receive the monitored data correctly in emergency situations. The major objective is to achieve a reliable network with minimum delay and maximum throughput while considering power consumption by reducing unnecessary communication.