Interference characterization and UWB channel measurements for wireless intensive care patient monitoring

The electromagnetic environment in a hospital is characterized by means of a measurement campaign. This serves as a basis for the evaluation of best-suited future technologies to be used for wireless patient monitoring, where highest quality of service is required for sensors recording vital data. Results show that the UWB band features equal dynamic ranges as the ISM band but allows operation at a significantly lower power level, which is crucial for Body Area Networks where low power consumption is highly required. Furthermore UWB channel measurements are done in order to specify main propagation paths for scenarios with a volunteer in a bed. Multi-path propagation with reflections at the ceiling and the bedside monitor could be identified as main propagation paths beside the Line-of-Sight link. The impact of these propagation paths on the system performance were evaluated in system simulations using a non-coherent UWB system.