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01-07-2010 | Brief Communication

Basic study of a transcutaneous information transmission system using intra-body communication

Authors: Eiji Okamoto, Yusuke Sato, Kazuyuki Seino, Takashi Kiyono, Yoshikuni Kato, Yoshinori Mitamura

Published in: Journal of Artificial Organs | Issue 2/2010

Abstract

The transcutaneous communication system (TCS) is one of the key technologies for monitoring and controling artificial hearts and other artificial organs in the body. In this study, we have developed a new TCS that uses the human body as a conductive medium. Having no energy conversion from electric currents into electromagnetic waves and light provides energy-saving data transmission with a simple electrical circuit. Each unit of the TCS mainly consists of two electrodes, an amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulator and an ASK demodulator (carrier frequency: 4 and 10 MHz). A resonant frequency of an L-C tank circuit including the capacitance component of the body is tuned into each carrier frequency in order to apply the data current effectively into the body. Performance of the TCS was evaluated by a communication test on the surface of a human body. The TCS was able to transmit 3,315 bytes of data bi-directionally at a transmission rate of 115 kbps from a left wrist to a right forearm, to an abdomen and to a left calf without communication error. The power consumption of each TCS unit was 125 mW with an ASK modulated current of 7 mA (RMS). While further study is required to secure its safety, the TCS promises to be a next-generation transcutaneous communication device.

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Title: Basic study of a transcutaneous information transmission system using intra-body communication
Authors: Eiji Okamoto
Yusuke Sato
Kazuyuki Seino
Takashi Kiyono
Yoshikuni Kato
Yoshinori Mitamura
Publication date: 01-07-2010
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: Journal of Artificial Organs / Issue 2/2010
Print ISSN: 1434-7229
Electronic ISSN: 1619-0904
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10047-010-0502-3

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Basic study of a transcutaneous information transmission system using intra-body communication

Abstract

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