IEEE 802.15.4a UWB-IR radio system for telemedicine

This paper describes an IEEE 802.15.4a-based UWB-IR system realization suited for use in body area network, with a focus on telemedicine applications. Given its intrinsic properties, IEEE802.15.4a meets all requirements for remote healthcare quite nicely: low electromagnetic pollution allowing operation within close proximity from the body, no interference caused to surrounding medical equipments (i.e. FDA regulations), energy efficiency, low probability of intercept for the protection of electronic health data and transactions as well as a lower complexity and higher data rate capabilities than existing systems intended to similar applications. Besides a detailed description of the radio system architecture based on a non-coherent approach that we have developed, the paper also reviews the key features of the IEEE 802.15.4a standard while looking at the unique requirements set coming from the remote healthcare market.