We present a device-free localization method oriented to Ambient Assisted Living applications. The system exploits the received signal strength (RSS) measured by fixed wireless communications devices, whose position is known a priori, in order to localize a person in the transmission coverage area. The proposed localization system is passive, by not requiring the user to wear anything, and is able to trade complexity for accuracy by simply changing the number of deployed devices. The presentation is validated by an indoor experimental study.

Designing HCI in a medical context is not trivial. It needs to provide patients and medical experts with essential information for the tasks to be performed while ensuring the safety of operations. In this paper, we tackle this issue focused on the HCI requirements and expectations revealed by the use of mobile devices (Smartphone for patients/Tablet for specialists) on the assistance of cochlear or cardiac implanted patients. To illustrate the feasibility of our research work, we report several experiments and evaluations attempting to guarantee the safety of operations on adjusting cochlear implants and supporting the monitoring of patients with cardiac implants. This work is carried out as part of an academic and industrial research project.

Intrabody communication (IBC) uses the human body as a transmission medium for electrical signals, providing an efficient channel to interconnect devices in Body Sensor Networks. For IBC galvanic coupling, the signal path is accomplished through two pairs of electrodes deployed on the skin, which suggest the dependence of the attenuation signal on the subject’s electrophysiological skin properties. With the purpose of gaining an insight into the attenuation differences observed for diverse subjects, a simple transmission line-based model has been used for the identification of those personalized parameters that best emulate the attenuation behavior. Experimental results for two different subjects have been carried out using a harmonized measurement set-up. Model simulations have shown to match measurement data more accurately when individualized instead standard skin parameters were used, thus highlighting the need to deal with personalized models in IBC research.

The paper presents an analogue front-end and ADC integrated circuit for processing signals of sensors implanted into joint prosthesis. The circuit is designed to be operated with Wheatstone bridge sensors, such as strain gauges, pressure, Hall Effect, magneto-resistive sensors, etc. It performs sensor supply multiplexing, sensor signal amplification with chopper modulation, offset compensation and 14-bit analog to digital conversion in a single chip. It can operate simultaneously up to eight sensors at an overall bandwidth of 8 kHz, and can be directly interfaced to a remotely powered RFID system in order to constitute a complete multi-sensor, low-power, small size and externally powered micro-system. Integrated into a 180 nm CMOS process, it measures 5 mm, is supplied with 1.8 Volt and consumes 1.8 mW.

Power efficient communication in a Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is critical for successful system deployment. Stringent constraints of size and weight of sensors significantly limit available sensor power, particularly in the case of implantable sensors. This paper discusses and analyses methods that could be used to improve power efficiency of implantable WBAN systems, with focus on the Wake Up Radio (WUR), which allows power efficient listening of wireless channel. The paper presents analysis of existing hardware and design trade offs in WUR implementation.