Product category:
Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: Zarlink Semiconductor
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 16 July 2004
EU funded research seeks implantable
antennas
Zarlink Semiconductor is researching novel in-body antenna designs for body area networks as part of the Healthy Aims European Union Framework VI project.
Zarlink Semiconductor is researching novel in-body antenna designs for body area networks as part of the Healthy Aims European Union Framework VI project Healthy Aims programme partners are developing a range of medical implants to help the ageing population and those with disabilities
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Zarlink was selected as a project partner and secured a significant grant because of its experience in ultra-low-power and wireless product design.
Body area networks enable wireless communication from implanted medical devices to a base station up to three metres away, allowing healthcare professionals to easily gather device performance and patient data.
Zarlink's research and development activity will focus on novel in-body antenna design and ultra-low-power communications systems for implanted devices, such as hearing aids and muscle stimulators.
Transmitting signals from an in-body device to an external receiver poses unique design challenges, including power consumption, frequency, size and biocompatibility concerns.
For example, different body tissues - muscle, bone and fat - exhibit varying resistance to electrical signals.
Accordingly, antennas for wireless implanted medical devices must be extremely small in size and highly efficient to ensure that signal loss through the human body is kept to a minimum.
Work related to the Healthy Aims project is underway at Zarlink's facility in Caldicot, South Wales.
Zarlink has recruited four new engineers with RF and system architecture expertise to work on the project, and has invested in specialised software for modelling antenna field effects.
"The rapidly growing area of in-body electronics requires power-conserving designs to extend product life and support increased functionality", said Martin McHugh, Business Development Manager, Zarlink Semiconductor.
"Our work as part of the Healthy Aims project will help realise exciting new medical products and deepen our knowledge in ultra-low-power design and wireless technology".
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