Analytical Propagation Modeling of BAN Channels Based on the Creeping-Wave Theory

The first analytical model of Body Area Network channels is presented. The formulation includes the body morphology and the characteristics of the human tissues. The studied transmission paths are along curved parts like the waist or the head. The model is derived from the diffraction theory describing the attenuation of creeping waves along a circular path on a lossy dielectric surface. The model is validated by measurements performed with Planar Inverted-F Antennas on human subjects.