Impact of Measurement Points Distribution on the Parameters of UWB Implant Channel Model

Abstract

Sophisticated medical implants that allow vital information delivery to/from the human body are opening the door to novel approaches in diagnosis and/or therapy of various health related issues. Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) technology is gaining the attention of researchers as a possible candidate for implant communication due to its high data rate and low power consumption capabilities. Characterization of a propagation channel often involves a measurement campaign (either virtual or physical) and selecting a set of candidate test points (i.e. sample measurement points) through which numerical values of the desired signal at the receiver are collected. Statistical analysis of those data will lead to a channel model representing the communication link. Focusing on UWB implant channel characterization, this paper aims to highlight the potential impact of the measurement points location distribution on the extracted parameters of the channel model. This is achieved through emulating a custom-design multi-layer liquid phantom measurement system and performing a sequence of matching simulations with different sample point distributions. The results are meant to serve as a guideline for future UWB implant measurement campaigns.