A Low-Power, Battery-Free Tag for Body Sensor Networks

Abstract

A new tag for pervasive sensing applications consists of a custom integrated circuit, an antenna for radio frequency energy harvesting, and sensors for monitoring physiological parameters. This paper presents a wearable tag design that can monitor multiple signals. The tag generates an alarm when it suspects a patient emergency. To quickly cover a large portion of the population at risk, we kept the tag affordable (less than US$2 each when manufactured in volume), disposable, small, and easy to use. Such tags would be useful for hospitals, facilities for infants and the elderly, and ordinary homes to detect and alert caregivers to possible problems including SCA and SIDS.