Wireless Patient Monitoring using IEEE802.15.4a WPAN

This paper evaluates delay time performance of patient monitoring through IEEE802.15.4a wireless personal are network (WPAN). In this patient monitoring, data packets conveying vital signs are categorized into continuous and routine vital signs. The continuous vital signs include blood pressure, oxygen saturation, body temperature, and so on. On the other hand, the routine signals cover ECG, EEG or other waveform type vital signals. In order to convey both the vital signals, parameters for a superframe structure will be optimized to minimize the delay time. The delay time is derived from computer simulation, in which a channel model for an intensive care unit (ICU) is employed. The results show that both the routine and continuous signals are transmitted by IEEE802.15.4a with reasonable delay time by setting the superframe parameters.