An ultra low power transcutaneous impulse radio link for cochlea implants

Abstract

The big potential of ultra wideband radio, in particular low power consumption, low power spectral density, high immunity against interference, affords many benefits, not only for consumer electronics, but also for medical devices. A cochlea implant is an electronic hearing apparatus, where a wireless link through human tissue is required. We propose a UWB link for a data rate of 1.2 Mbps and a propagation distance up to 500 mm. Transmitter, antennas and receivers are described and proposals for semiconductor integration are made.