Evaluation and Verification of Channel Transmission Characteristics of Human Body for Optimizing Data Transmission Rate in Electrostatic-Coupling Intra Body Communication System: A Comparative Analysis

Derivation of Bioimpedance Model Data Utilizing a Compact Analyzer and Two Capacitive Electrodes: A Forearm Example

The paper investigates the impacts of the selected electrical equivalent circuit model, measurement setup, and surrounding environment on the trustworthiness of electrical bioimpedance measurement and obtained model data in the human body. The influence of these constitutive components of the system on finding the model parameters is analyzed and illustrated with examples. The results based on experimental measurements on a forearm near the wrist are provided by employing the model, measurement setup, and novel 16-bit compact wireless impedance analyzer (CIA) according to the outcome of the analysis. The area near the wrist is of interest because of attempts to get cardiac-activity-related impedance changes. It is concluded that a two-electrode system with voltage excitation suits better for determining bioimpedance model parameters in the β dispersion area. The results obtained with the CIA and two capacitive bracelet electrodes on a left forearm were used for the fitting model parameters. Despite the small dimensions of 60 × 60 × 25 mm of the CIA reducing stray capacitance to 8 pF, it provides relative impedance magnitude measurement error below 0.3% and phase error below 0.2 ° in the 10 MHz range. Analysis of the model parameters allowed separation of the electrodes, skin, and internal tissue spectra and revealed the relative significance of model components at different frequencies.

New Contact Sensorization Smart System for IoT e-Health Applications Based on IBC IEEE 802.15.6 Communications

This paper proposes and demonstrates the capabilities of a new sensorization system that monitors skin contact between two persons. Based on the intrabody communication standard (802.15.6), the new system allows for interbody communication, through the transmission of messages between different persons through the skin when they are touching. The system not only detects if there has been contact between two persons but, as a novelty, is also able to identify the elements that have been in contact. This sensor will be applied to analyze and monitor good follow-up of hand hygiene practice in health care, following the "World Health Organization Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care". This guide proposes specific recommendations to improve hygiene practices and reduce the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms between patients and health-care workers (HCW). The transmission of nosocomial infections due to improper hand hygiene could be reduced with the aid of a monitoring system that would prevent HCWs from violating the protocol. The cutting-edge sensor proposed in this paper is a crucial innovation for the development of this automated hand hygiene monitoring system (AHHMS).