Medical wireless body sensor networks at microwave versus mm-wave bands

A comparison of single on-body links at microwave and millimetre wave bands is presented for medical application scenarios. Example body sensor positions (chest and abdomen) were selected. Two movement scenarios are investigated: Laying down still and randomly moving from a laying down position to a semi-reclined position, sitting up, or turning side-to-side. The measured cumulative distribution function of the signal to interference ratio for two subjects situated 1.5 m apart is compared at 2.4 GHz and 60 GHz. Results show that the single on-body hop signal level at 2.4 GHz is much stronger than that at 60 GHz, but also suffers from unacceptably higher interference level.