Body Area Networks & Pervasive Health Monitoring

Recent advances in microelectronics and wireless 

networking are moving closer to turning devices once 

thought of as science fiction into clinical reality.

Overview

Body Area Network (BAN) is a technology that allows communication between 

ultra-small and ultra low-power intelligent sensors/devices that are located on 

the body surface or implanted inside the body. In addition, the wearable/implantable 

nodes can communicate to a controller device that is located in the vicinity of the body. These radio-enabled sensors can 

be used to continuously gather a variety of important health and/or physiological data (i.e. information critical to providing 

care) wirelessly. The networking ability between these body devices and possible integration with existing IT infrastructure 

could result in a pervasive environment that can convey health-related information between the user’s location and the 

healthcare service provider. Radio-enabled implantable medical devices offer a revolutionary set of applications among 

which we can point to smart pills for precision drug delivery, intelligent endoscope capsules, glucose monitors and eye 

pressure sensing systems. Similarly, wearable sensors allow for various medical/physiological monitoring (e.g. 

electrocardiogram, temperature, respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure), disability assistance, human performance 

management, etc. A simple example of BAN application would be a device equipped with a built in reservoir and pump. 

This device could administer just the right amount of insulin to a diabetic person based on wirelessly received glucose level 

measurements from another body sensor.

Industry Need Addressed

Although, the technology to create miniature-size devices for these novel applications is within reach, there are still 

several technical challenges, including interference issues, reliability, energy efficiency, and security issues, that need to 

be addressed.

NIST Approach

The Pervasive IT program at NIST’s Information Technology Laboratory is conducting several research projects 

related to these challenges. These include:

• Radio Frequency (RF) Propagation from Wearable and Implantable Medical Sensors – NIST is working to better 

understand RF propagation within and on the human body surface.

• Modeling and Characterization of Harvestable Kinetic Energy for Wearable Medical Sensors – NIST is studying the 

statistical characteristics of harvestable kinetic energy generated from human motion. The result of this study can facilitate 

the development of efficient energy-management protocols for low-power wearable medical sensors.

• Interference Analysis and Mitigation for Body Area Networks – NIST researchers are developing software tools that 

can help to study the interference on wearable and implantable wireless medical devices.

• Smart Autonomous Sensors and Environments – NIST is conducting research to examine the optimal deployment of 

sensor devices (with controlled mobility) and the relevant possible trade-offs between coverage 

(i.e. connectivity) and information sensing.

Version 1.0 - February 2011
Body Area Networks & Pervasive Health Monitoring 

Impact

BAN is regarded as a promising interdisciplinary technology that could have a great impact on advancing health IT and 

telemedicine with its widespread commercialization. The research projects will facilitate the development of this 

technology along with its novel applications. This in turn will enhance the patient healthcare experience, resulting in a 

higher quality of life. 

For additional information, please visit http://www.nist.gov/healthcare/emerging/ban.cfm ..Key 

Key Contact

Kamran Sayrafian

Program Manager

Information Technology Laboratory

ksayrafian@nist.gov 

(301) 975-5479

Version 1.0 - February 2011