title: Body Area Network BAN--a key infrastructure element for patient-centered medical applications.
abstract: The Body Area Network (BAN) concept enables wireless communication between several miniaturized, intelligent Body Sensor (or actor) Units (BSU) and a single Body Central Unit (BCU) worn at the human body. A separate wireless transmission link from the BCU to a network access point--using different technology--provides for online access to BAN data via usual network infrastructure. BAN is expected to become a basic infrastructure element for service-based electronic health assistance: By integrating patient-attached sensors and control of mobile dedicated actor units, the range of medical workflow can be extended by wireless patient monitoring and therapy support. Beyond clinical use, professional disease management environments, and private personal health assistance scenarios (without financial reimbursement by health agencies/insurance companies), BAN enables a wide range of health care applications and related services.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer Institut für Integrierte Schaltungen-Angewandte Elektronik, Am Weichselgarten 3 91058, Erlangen. sch@iis.fhg.de
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Norgall
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mörsdorf
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernhard
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: von der Grün
mesh_terms: D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003199:Computer Systems; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D008838:Microcomputers; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009862:Online Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011845:Radio / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation