An ultra wideband communication channel model for capsule endoscopy

Capsule endoscopy is an increasingly popular alternative to a tube-based endoscope used in diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases. It enables the inspection of areas that are not easily accessible using traditional endoscopy and reduces patient discomfort. In addition to transferring high-capacity demanding image data, the capsule's wireless interface must provide a wireless link that enables real-time positioning and tracking of the capsule. Ultra wideband (UWB) interfaces have great potential for the communication links of this application due to their inherent low power consumption, high transmission rates, accurate localization properties and simple electronics. However, accurate knowledge of the propagation channel is essential for efficient design of such UWB wireless communication systems. This paper presents a channel model for the propagation of a UWB pulse in the digestive tract in the 3.4–4.8 GHz frequency band. For the development of this model, numerical electromagnetic (EM) simulations were conducted using a voxel anatomical model that includes the dielectric properties of human tissues; using this EM simulator the channel responses of many in-body probes were computed. Based on the analysis of the obtained data we provide the mathematical expressions to calculate the average path loss and its distribution at several receiver locations surrounding the abdomen. Our proposed model gives designers an important tool that approximates well the digestive tract's in-body channel properties, thereby eliminating the need for time consuming and complex numerical simulations.

[1]  A. Alomainy,et al.  Modelling and Characterisation of Radio Propagation from Wireless Implants at Different Frequencies , 2006, 2006 European Conference on Wireless Technology.

[2]  Ilangko Balasingham,et al.  An ultra wideband communication channel model for the human abdominal region , 2010, 2010 IEEE Globecom Workshops.

[3]  William G. Scanlon,et al.  Radiowave propagation from a tissue-implanted source at 418 MHz and 916.5 MHz , 2000, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[4]  Gopal Racherla.  Ultra‐Wideband: Applications , 2012 .

[5]  A.J. Johansson.  Performance of a radio link between a base station and a medical implant utilising the MICS standard , 2004, The 26th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[6]  W. Scanlon,et al.  RF performance of a 418-MHz radio telemeter packaged for human vaginal placement , 1997, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[7]  Jun-ichi Takada,et al.  Development of a WBAN channel model for capsule endoscopy , 2009, 2009 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium.

[8]  Qiong Wang,et al.  Channel modeling and BER performance of an implant UWB body area link , 2009, 2009 2nd International Symposium on Applied Sciences in Biomedical and Communication Technologies.

[9]  Ryuji Kohno,et al.  Performance evaluation of wireless communications through capsule endoscope , 2009, 2009 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[10]  I. Balasingham,et al.  Non-line-of-sight on-body ultra wideband (1ߝ6 GHz) channel characterisation using different antenna polarisations , 2009 .

[11]  Ilangko Balasingham,et al.  Improving in‐body ultra wideband communication using near‐field coupling of the implanted antenna , 2009 .

[12]  C. Gabriel.  Compilation of the Dielectric Properties of Body Tissues at RF and Microwave Frequencies. , 1996 .

[13]  I Balasingham,et al.  On ultra wideband channel modeling for in-body communications , 2010, IEEE 5th International Symposium on Wireless Pervasive Computing 2010.

[14]  Qiong Wang,et al.  Channel modeling and BER performance for wearable and implant UWB body area links on chest , 2009, 2009 IEEE International Conference on Ultra-Wideband.

[15]  Andreas F. Molisch,et al.  Ultra-Wide-Band Propagation Channels , 2009, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[16]  Y. Hao,et al.  Modeling and Characterization of Biotelemetric Radio Channel From Ingested Implants Considering Organ Contents , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[17]  David J. Edwards,et al.  Ultra wideband: applications, technology and future perspectives , 2005 .