Characterizing In-Body BLE Communication for High-Bandwidth Applications

The growing interest in in-body wireless devices for healthcare applications has intensified the exploration of suitable communication protocols. Notably, 2.4 GHz-based protocols, such as Bluetooth Low Energy, stand out due to their fair bandwidth, extended range, and low power consumption. This paper presents a comprehensive study characterizing the influence of the human body on BLE-based communications, specifically in high-bandwidth scenarios, like video transmission. Our work used test mediums with dielectric properties closely resembling those of the human body. Focused on understanding the impact of the body on BLE performance, our findings reveal that stable data rates of approximately 1.7 Mbps are achievable, notwithstanding the existence of “shadow zones” at specific distances. This study shows BLE's viability for in-body solutions that demand substantial bandwidth and low-power consumption, thus extending its applications to more complex communication requirements within healthcare contexts.