Modelling and Characterisation of Radio Propagation from Wireless Implants at Different Frequencies

Transmitting data, images and videos from inside the body taken by a radio system of a size of a pill seems to be the way to the future with capabilities of tracking the system, delivering drugs to specified organs and entering the body in non-invasive way. The paper introduces numerical and experimental investigations to study the radio channel characteristics of communication links inside and outside the body with transmitter placed in body organs. The study covers commonly used frequencies in medical communications, ultra high frequency (UHF) 402 MHz, 868 MHz and microwave frequency at 2.4 GHz. Initial models and analyses show that the choice of optimum frequency will directly affect radio range, device size and power consumption