Low‐power wireless smart data acquisition system for monitoring pressure in medical application

Abstract

Purpose

To develop a wireless sensor micro‐systems containing all the components of data acquisition system, such as sensors, signal‐conditioning circuits, analog‐digital converter, embedded microcontroller unit (MCU), and RF communication modules. This has now become the focus of attention in many biomedical applications.

Design/methodology/approach

The system prototype consists of miniature FSK transceiver integrated with MCU in one small package, chip antenna, and capacitive interface circuitry based on Delta‐sigma modulator. At the base station side, an FSK receiver/transmitter is connected to another MCU unit, which send the received data or received instructions from a PC through a graphical user interface GUI. Industrial, scientific and medical band RF (433 MHz) was used to achieve half duplex communication between the two sides. A digital filtering has been used in the capacitive interface to reduce noise effects forming capacitance to digital converter. All the modules of the mixed signal system are integrated in a printed circuit board of size 22.46 × 20.168 mm.

Findings

An innovation circuits and system techniques for building advanced smart medical devices have been discussed. Low‐power consumption and high reliability are among the main criteria that must be given priority when designing such wirelessly powered microsystems. Switched capacitors readout circuits have been found to be suitable for pressure sensing low‐power applications.

Research limitations/implications

The presented wireless prototype needs a second phase of development that will lead to a further reduction in both size and power consumption. Currently, the main limitation of the RF system is the number of working hours according to the selected battery.

Practical implications

The developed system was found to be useful in terms of measuring pressure and temperature in a system of either slow or fast physical change. It would be a good idea to explore the system performance in human or animal trials.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils useful information for capacitive interface circuitries and presents a new short‐range wireless system that has different design features.

Citation

Arshak, K., Arshak, A., Jafer, E., Waldern, D. and Harris, J. (2008), "Low‐power wireless smart data acquisition system for monitoring pressure in medical application", Microelectronics International, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/13565360810846581