19-07-2011, 12:57 PM
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1.1 Introduction
Advances in wireless sensor networks have opened up new opportunities in healthcare systems. The future will see the integration of the abundance of existing specialized medical technology with pervasive, wireless networks. They will co-exist with the installed infrastructure, augmenting data collection and real-time response. An example of an area in which future medical systems can benefit the most from wireless sensor networks is in-home assistance. In-home pervasive networks may assist residents by providing memory enhancement, control of home appliances, medical data lookup, and emergency communication. The main requirements for wireless homecare monitoring systems (WHMS) are:
• Interoperability
• Real-time data acquisition and analysis
• Reliability and robustness
• New node architectures
1.2 Principles for WHMS Design
We propose wireless sensor network (WSN) architecture for smart homecare that possesses the essential elements of each of the future medical applications, namely:
• Integration with existing medical practices and technology,
• Real-time, long-term, remote monitoring,
• Miniature, wearable sensors, and
• Assistance to the elderly and chronic patients.
It extends healthcare from the traditional clinic or hospital setting to the patient's home, enabling tele-care.
1.3 Description of WHMS Architecture
The proposed WHMS integrate a coherent set of interacting portable devices, while preserving mobility and independence and bringing optimum assistance to medical support. This integration includes the following features:
• Automatic monitoring of vital medical physiological parameters such as body temperature, pulse rate and heart rate.
• Communication of physiological parameters between the user and external intervening parties such as medical doctors, medico-social institutions or monitoring centers.
The resulting system is modular and comprises miniaturized body-worn modules that provide continuous medical and behavioral monitoring (pulse rate, body temperature and activity).The monitored parameters are wireless (IEEE 802.15.4 WPAN protocol) and transmitted to a base station that is connected to the GSM/GPRS or Land Line internet service. The base station processes and relays the received parameters and sends alarms to the external people such as socio-medical monitoring centers, neighbors and medical doctors, whoever is best suited to intervene depending on the type of alarm. When the page link is established, the user may speak with healthcare professionals.
1.4 Hardware and Software Requirements
Hardware tools: PIC 16F877A, 2x16-LCD, RS232, 802.15.4 module, GSM modem with PC interface, Body temperature sensor, Heart rate measurement sensor, pulse rate measurement sensor, User Mobile phone.
Software tools: Development tool – MPLAB v7.42, hardware Compiler - HI-Tech PIC, C Programmer - PIC Flash, Hardware Simulation tool - Proteus v6.9 Sp4.
