09-05-2012, 11:13 AM
Body Sensor Networks
Body Sensor Networks are a specific category of wireless sensor.docx (Size: 33.51 KB / Downloads: 36)
Body Sensor Networks are a specific category of wireless sensor
networks intended to operate in a pervasive manner for on-body
applications. Much of the theory relating to general wireless
sensors relates also to Body Sensor Networks (BNSs) and issues
such as power optimisation, battery life performance and radio
design are key. These issues are examined in the first section of
the chapter and key design considerations such as the correlation
between Moore’s Law (i.e. integration density) and power/battery
performance are discussed. Key to body worn sensors are issues
such as usability, durability, robustness, how well the sensor ‘fits’
in with the application and reliability and security of the data.
Sensor networks suffer from the so called ‘reliability dilemma’
which means that the more reliable and secure you want to make
data transmission, the higher the data overhead and
consequently the higher the power required. Hence battery life is
reduced. These issues are discussed and some of the techniques
for overcoming this dilemma are discussed. System-On-Chip
developments which promise to significantly advance sensor
integration (and reduce cost) and some of the current offerings in
this area are presented. Notable research projects in this space
are summarised and current research within the EU is also
summarised.
This document also examines the software aspects of wireless
sensor networks and presents a brief history of operating systems
development from the original single thread, event-driven TinyOS
to some of today’s multithread systems such as Contiki and
Mantis. As sensor networks have evolved from the domain of the
programmer and scientist to general use, so have the means of
developing solutions and rapid prototypes. No longer do users
need to be proficient programmers and developers and
environments such as Moteview, LabVIEW and BioMOBIUS™ are CAPSIL Background and Common Clinical Requirements
presented as environments that facilitate non programming users
to build solutions and rapid prototypes.
Barriers to the general adoption of Body Sensor Networks are
then discussed. These issues are mirrors of barriers to
telehealthcare and telemedicine in general, and include lack of
reimbursement policy, lack of standards, interoperability issues,
privacy and security concerns and broadband proliferation issues.
These are presented with suggestions of how government
influence may help to remove these barriers.
The document finishes with a review of pilot activity and trials
that have been carried out both in the domain of telemonitoring
i.e. medical monitoring from the home, and also Ambient Assisted
Living.
Note: Follow the links within the text for more information on particular
subjects from the CAPSIL Wiki
Links to CAPSIL Wiki
Further information on issues discussed in this chapter can be
found in the CAPSIL Wikiat this link
Online versions of this chapter and other chapters from the
CAPSIL Roadmap can be found on the CAPSIL Wikiat this linkCAPSIL Wireless Body Sensor Networks
2 RECOMMENDATIONS
&ACTIONS
A necessary step in to
promote the use of wireless
sensor systems in healthcare
applications is the generation
of ‘hard data’ that shows
clinical benefits, cost benefits
and general improvement in
wellbeing. This data will act
as the catalyst to initiate and
fund fundamental technical
research, which needs to
happen. In summary the
gaps, and hence actions that
need to be taken, are:
Pilot Results
DisseminationPerform more
large-scale pilots
intelemonitoring and Assisted
Living areas. This scale pilots
are crucial. A large number of
small-scale ‘sandboxed’
efforts have been completed
to date. Now, commercial
devices are available and
certified so it is time to start
gathering return of
investment data to build a
business case. There is a lack
of ‘hard data’ in the Assisted
Living area many of the
results reported are very
general in nature and lack
specific detail. For
‘completed’ projects, result
dissemination needs to be
improved and strong
emphasis needs to be placed
on project follow up.