Research Challenges in Wireless Networks of Biomedical Sensors*

Loren Schwiebert Wayne State University Department of Computer Science Sandeep K. S. Gupta Arizona State University Jennifer Weinmann Wayne State University

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Additional Authors: Ayad Salhieh, Vikram Shankar, Valliappan Annamalai, Manish Kochhal, and Greg Auner.

*This

material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants ANI-0086020 and DGE-9870720 and the Kresge Eye Institute.

Typical Future Sensor Node

Matchbox Size Battery Powered Power-conserving processor 100s of MHz 10s of MB of program and data memory Radio modem using TDMA Capable of running a scaled down version of Palm OS or Windows CE

Biomedical Smart Sensors??

Smart Sensor Biomedical sensor/actuator with integrated circuitry Biomedical Implanted in the human body Form Small with limited power, encased in inert material Function Alleviate chronic diseases and disabilities, monitor health

Example Applications
Glucose Level Monitor Transplant Organ Viability Monitor Blood Monitor Cancer Detection/Monitor Health Monitor Retinal and Cortical Prosthesis

Sensor-Based Visual Prostheses

Retinal Implant

Cortical Implant

Data Processing and Communication

Smart Sensor Retinal Interface

Multidisciplinary Research
Smart Sensors and Integrated Devices
Materials Characterization (Microstructure, optical, electrical)

Materials Development
Materials Simulation, Device Simulation, Design, and Testing

Device Development and Prototyping

Device Simulation Design and Testing Materials Processing (Special lithography and device fabrication development)

Electronic Integration Design

Data Communications and Interface Design VLSI Circuit Development Intelligent system Design and Development (Neuronet, logic)

Hybrid Technology and Packaging

Device Characterization, Testing, and Evaluation

Biomedical Sensor Constraints

Limited Computation and Data Storage Ultra Low Power Consumption Wireless Communication Continuous Operation Inaccessibility

Biomedical Sensor Requirements

Bio-Compatibility Material Constraints Robustness and Fault Tolerance Secure Data Communications Regulatory Requirements

Combination of Features Makes Biomedical Sensor Networks Unique!

Research Approach
Optimize across protocol layers Organize communication among sensor nodes Develop application-specific solutions Take advantage of biomedical sensor features fixed topology, pre-defined communication, and known membership Generalize these solutions

Communication Requirements of a Biosensor Application

Intra-sensor communication
Data aggregation

Distributed decision making

Sensors to External controller (basestation) communication Downlink: control operations. Uplink: feedback.

Designing for Energy-Efficiency

Sensor-sensor communication: nearest-neighbor ad hoc Sensor-base station communication: periodic long-distance sensor to base station communication Not energy-efficient to use the same routing protocol for both types of communication.

Research on Fixed Topologies

Vary # of Neighbors Trade-offs Exist
Number of Hops Number of Receivers Amount of Contention

Evaluate Power Usage Test Power-Aware Routing

Perf. Results: Fixed Topologies

Power-Aware Routing reduces Power Usage 3D is better than 2D 4 Neighbor Topology has lower Power Use Reason is always fewer Receptions

Cluster-Based and Tree-Based Approaches

Perf. Results: Sensor-Base Station

Cluster-based approach provides better . energy-efficiency than the tree-based approach. True for a wide range of path loss exponents. For high path loss exponents, fewer clusters is better.

Current Research Emphasis

Strict Power Management Efficient Wireless Spectrum Use Scalability Support as Many Sensing Elements as Possible Support Diagnostic Functionality Standardize Design with Other Research Groups

Wireless Networking is Key

Novel Sensing Materials Exist Low-Power Electronics are Available Wireless Communication is Next Step Should Interoperate with Other Wireless Protocols Enormous Potential for Social Benefit

Smart Sensors and Integrated Microsystems

Gregory W. Auner, PhD Pepe Siy, PhD Loren Schwiebert, PhD Vaman Naik, PhD Ratna Naik, PhD Lowell Wenger, PhD Xiaoyan Han, PhD Yuriy Danylyuk, grad student Dan Durisin, engineer Francette Fey, grad student (NSF IGERT) Sam George, research assistant Changhe Huang, PhD Chantelle Hughes, grad student (NSF IGERT) Changli Jiao, grad student Manish Kochhal, grad student (NSF ITR) Michael Lukitsch, grad student (NSF IGERT) Marvie Nickola, grad student (NSF IGERT) Mona Safadi, grad student (NSF IGERT) Ayad Salhieh, grad student (NSF ITR) David Sant, grad student Flaminia Serina, M.S. (NSF IGERT) Margarita Thompson, PhD Jennifer Weinmann, grad student (NSF IGERT) Jie Xu, professor Song Xu, PhD Feng Zhong, grad student

Retina and Cortical Implant Project

Ophthalmology
Gary Abrams, MD Raymond Iezzi, MD Alexander Dizoor, PhD

Neurosurgery
Pat McAllister, PhD Robert Johnson, MD Janet Miller, B.S. Hun Park, MD, PhD Todd Frances, M.S.

Veterinarian
Liz Dawe, D.V.M.

Arizona State University

Sandeep K.S. Gupta, PhD Valliappan Annalmalai, grad student (NSF ITR) Karthik Jayaraman, grad student (NSF ITR) Suresh Lalwani, grad student (NSF ITR) Vikram Shankar, grad student (NSF ITR)