| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M82288/01 |
| Title: |
TISSUE-COUPLED UHF ANTENNAS FOR MEDICAL IMPLANT COMMUNICATION |
| Principal Investigator: |
Scanlon, Professor WG |
| Other Investigators: |
|
| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
|
| Project Partners: |
|
| Department: |
School of Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Ulster |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
24 March 2000 |
Ends: |
23 March 2002 |
Value (£): |
49,679
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Bioelectronic Devices |
RF & Microwave Technology |
|
| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
|
| Related Grants: |
|
| Panel History: |
|
|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
|
Next generation active medical implants will require reliable short range communications for both telemetry and telecommand functions. This research programme will investigate the use of UHF-radio transmission for medical implant communications by considering tissue-coupled antenna systems at 403 MHz and 868 MHz. It is expected that these systems will be found in the 'first-metre' of a wide range of medical implant applications. Patients may carry or wear a device that communicates with their implant (or implants), performs some data processing and then relays information to and from the wider network. The work will involve both numerical simulations and near-field measurements of antenna characteristics and wave propagation. Numerical analysis will be used to determine the effectiveness of tissue-coupled antennas using both whole and partial-body tissue models. A range of techniques will be used to refine the electromagnetic models and the results will be validated using near-field measurements. The validation testing will be completed using semi-solid dielectric phantoms; these cylindrical models will be layered to represent a simplified human torso. The results from this research programme will directly support the development of new, innovative medical implant applications meeting the requirements of both physicians and their patients.
|
|
Key Findings |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Potential use in non-academic contexts |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Impacts |
|
| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
|
| Date Materialised |
|
|
|
|
Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
| Project URL: |
|
| Further Information: |
|
| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ulst.ac.uk |