Transceiver circuit supports wireless patient monitoring

The technology complies with the 400MHz band international standard IEEE 802.15.6 and is designed to extend battery life in devices used for wireless patient monitoring. Two independent modes are supported: a 4.5Mb/s high speed mode capable of transmitting brainwaves, images and other data, and an 11.7kb/s low speed, low power mode for low power operations when sensor nodes are on standby. By optimising the transceiver's architecture and circuitry, the collaborators were able to reduce the electric power requirements to just 1.6mW when receiving data and 1.8mW when transmitting – one tenth that of competing devices. Looking ahead, imec and Fujistu are keen to explore other uses for the technology. The former organisation believes it could be used as a sensing front-end interface for medical device management. Fujistu, meanwhile, is exploring how the wireless transceiver circuit could find use in such areas as agriculture and livestock management, monitoring of societal infrastructure and structures, factory monitoring and environmental monitoring.