Body Area Network
Body Area Network
Body Area Network BAN - a base technology for permanent monitoring and logging of vital signs is a proven method of
supervising the health status of patients suffering from chronic diseases, such as Diabetes and Asthma. Another
prominent area of application for long-term logging of patient data is cardiology, where 24-hour-ECGs are required
for therapy control and as early indicators for impending heart attacks.
The basic concept of BAN is the fusion of both ideas: a set of mobile, compact units which enable transfer of vital parameters between the patient´s location and the clinic or the doctor in charge. The vital signs data flow passes a chain of BAN modules from each sensor to a main body station, which consolidates the data streams of all sensor modules attached. It transmits the data to a home base station, from where they can be forwarded via telephone line or internet.
Considerable attention is spent on a high level of security for the new BAN transmission protocol. Appropriate encryption mechanisms are foreseen to be integrated in BANCommunication. Finally, it must be guaranteed that patient data are only derived from each patient´s dedicated BAN system and cannot be mixed up with data from other patients or BAN systems at the same location. BAN is not only appropriate for communication in hospital and at home but has further applications. Potential areas of use are sleep laboratories, monitoring of new-borns or wireless hearing aids.
At the moment a BAN strategic cooperation is organised encompassing the Fraunhofer IIS-A and various industrial partners. The first workshop was on February the 13th, 2002. Providers of medical technology, as well as potential users like hospitals and insurance companies are still invited to join this strategic co-operation intending to establish BAN as a base technology for medical communication.
promoted by the german ministry for education and research BMBF