Cognitive radio for medical wireless body area networks

Cognitive radio (CR) is a paradigm for opportunistic access of licensed (primary) parts of the electromagnetic spectrum by unlicensed (secondary) users. This emerging technology is aimed at improving the efficiency of wireless resource usage. In medical environments, CR has big potential to solve interference problems caused by the scarcity of spectrum allocated to medical applications. Hospital environments such as the operating room (OR) offer challenging scenarios to spectrum managers, in which CR is a viable solution to ensure electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). A recent trend in medical practice is the use of wearable wireless medical sensors. These devices are being introduced in unlicensed bands, where the usual concepts of primary and secondary users do not apply. This paper discusses some of the alternatives for implementing CR in such particular environments. A short survey of CR for hospital environments is also presented, highlighting the differences with the scenarios in which wireless sensors are used.