ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a research overview in the field of wireless body area networks. It presents an ultralow power radio design for the emerging healthcare applications. The chapter discusses some prototypes of current health monitoring systems and discusses the requirements of wireless systems for future wireless body area network (WBAN) healthcare applications. It provides link budget analysis that is carried out in order to determine the expected performance of such systems. The chapter discusses the design and the implementation of the ultralow power body area network (BAN) radio. It shows that the evaluation of the BAN radio system level performances in the BAN environment. The ultralow power wireless system consuming less than 1 mW is expected to enable autonomy and miniaturization of WBAN. The chapter highlights the benefits from the WBAN technology. The technology breakthroughs in WBAN can lead to new application opportunities in the areas of health, wellness, and lifestyle.
