Understanding the Applicability of Terahertz Flow-Guided Nano-Networks for Medical Applications

Abstract

Terahertz-based nano-networks are emerging as a groundbreaking technology able to play a decisive role in future medical applications owing to their ability to precisely quantify figures, such as the viral load in a patient or to predict sepsis shock or heart attacks before they occur. Due to the extremely limited size of the devices composing these nano-networks, the use of the Terahertz (THz) band has emerged as the enabling technology for their communication. However, the characteristics of the THz band, which strictly reduce the communication range inside the human body, together with the energy limitations of nano-nodes make the in-body deployment of nano-nodes a challenging task. To overcome these problems, we propose a novel in-body flow-guided nano-network architecture consisting of three different devices: i) nano-node, ii) nano-router, and iii) bio-sensor. As the performance of this type of nano-network has not been previously explored, a theoretical framework capturing all its particularities is derived to properly model its behavior and evaluate its feasibility in real medical applications. Employing this analytical model, a thorough sensitivity study of its key parameters is accomplished. Finally, we analyze the terahertz flowguided nano-network design to satisfy the requirements of several medical applications of interest.INDEX TERMS flow-guided nano-networks, body area networks, analytical model, nano-communications

Nanorouter Awareness in Flow-Guided Nanocommunication Networks

“…As a consequence, this gain can be used to reduce the number of nanonodes required in an application or to lower the response delay if the same number of nanonodes is used. As an example, the works presented in [9] and [6] make an estimation on the number of nanonodes required for several medical applications. The authors assume a frame size of 64 B, which, according to the analytical model used here, might lead to a throughput gain of almost 17%.…”

“…Flow-guided nanocommunication network model has been extensively presented in previous works [6]- [10]. A summary of all the variables used in this paper is given in Table I.…”

“…In this work, we focus on the communication between an individual nanonode and a nanorouter representing a gateway to the outside world. The nanorouter is assumed to be strategically positioned on the human body at a fixed location in the vicinity of the main veins or arteries [6]. Moreover, the nanorouter is assumed to be a more powerful device than the nanonode, given that the constraints on its size are substantially more lenient, hence battery-based powering can be supported.…”

“…Given the constrained communication range of the nanonode and limited coverage of the nanorouter in the environment of interest (i.e., the bloodstream), the communication between the nanonode and the nanorouter intrinsically features low reliability and high delay. In order to substantially improve the reliability of commu-nication, as well as the communication delay, a large number of such nanonodes can be introduced in the bloodstream [6]. However, the number of introduced nanonodes should at the same time be minimized, given that they may be invasive to the human body.…”

Light Energy Driven Nanocommunications With FRET in Photosynthetic Systems

“…Diagnosis can concern disease detection, e.g. via detection of specific bacteria, cytokines or bio-markers concentration in blood [4,5], as well as imaging techniques, e.g. with fluorescent molecules where Fӧrster resonance energy transfer (FRET) can be used both for communication and for molecular and cellular imaging [6].…”