Healthy Aims - Body Area Networks

As a partner in the 'Healthy Aims' project, Zarlink is developing novel in-body antenna designs and ultra low-power communications systems for Body Area Networks. Healthy Aims is a European initiative developing a range of new medical implant devices to help the ageing population and those with disabilities.

Work on the Healthy Aims project is currently underway at Zarlink's Advanced Packaging facility in Caldicot, South Wales.

For more on the Healthy Aims project, visit http://www.healthyaims.org/  

What is a Body Area Network?

Taking advantage of advanced ultra low-power RF (radio frequency) technology, Body Area Networks wirelessly connect implanted medical devices and on-body sensors with monitoring tools to provide patient health data in real-time.

The development of in-body communications systems has been spurred by the approval of the MICS (Medical Implantable Communication Service) band, a dedicated frequency band between 402 - 405 MHz for implanted device communications.

Using MICS, a healthcare provider can establish a high-speed, short-range wireless link between an implanted device and a base station. For example, an ultra low-power RF transceiver in a pacemaker can wirelessly send patient health and device operating data to a bedside RF transceiver. Data is then forwarded from the base station via telephone or the Internet to a doctor.

Advanced ultra low-power RF technology will dramatically improve the quality of life for patients with implanted medical devices. With a two-way RF link, doctors can remotely monitor the health of patients and wirelessly adjust the performance of the implanted device. That means fewer hospital visits for patients, and avoiding surgery that would otherwise be required to adjust the operation of an implanted device.