Georgia Tech system links implants through the body’s electrical signals
Georgia Tech researchers have developed SWANS, a system that lets multiple implants communicate by sending electrical signals through body tissue. It could help devices such as sensors and nerve stimulators coordinate while avoiding some of the power, signal-range and size limits of radio-based approaches.
The system uses a wearable hub to process data and send voltage pulses through microneedles; small, syringe-injectable implants detect the pulses and respond according to their settings. Resistors and capacitors let implants recognise particular pulse strengths and durations, though thresholds must be adjusted for each person and implant placement. The researchers report that the passive implants use almost no power while listening, extending battery life more than 15 times compared with Bluetooth.
- SWANS sends signals between implants through body tissue.
- A wearable hub controls small, injectable devices.
- Passive listening uses far less power than Bluetooth.
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Originally published by Ars Technica as “A local network of implants uses your body as the wiring”.