Measurement System for the Characterization of the Human Body as a Communication Channel at Low Frequency

Abstract

Electronic data transfer by capacitive and galvanic coupling through the human body has been proposed by research and industry as a novel but highly promising technology for ultra low power wireless body LANs. Investigation on the most challenging questions considering data communication becomes enabled with a highly versatile measurement system for frequencies in the range of 10kHz to 1MHz. The human body is characterized as a transmission medium for electrical current by means of measurements and is investigated as communication channel for biomedical parameter monitoring by using different modulation schemes at low frequency. Excellent transmission was achieved on the thorax while the attenuation increases along the extremities. The injected current is 10 times below the maximum allowed contact current and more than 25 times below nerve stimulation. The new technology has shown its feasibility in clinical trials.