Telemetry system for sensing applications in lossy media

Wireless communications in lossy media encounter growing interest, with applications as telemedicine, ground sensing, remote pipeline sensing, and food quality testing among others. As an application, an autonomous implantable Body Sensor Node for monitoring physiologic parameters or for controlling therapeutic devices is disclosed. The system is miniaturized and has been designed to be cylindrical so that it can be implanted into the patient in a minimally invasive way. The system may contain one or several self contained sensing devices or electronics necessary to control a therapeutic device. It consists of one or several analog and digital front ends to interface or control any kind of sensors or therapeutic devices, a programmable microcontroller or Digital Signal Processor, one or several secondary or primary batteries, a prospective battery recharge mechanism, a RF telemetry compliant with MedRadio band, a sealed biocompatible casing featuring an ergonomic shape and an anchoring mechanism to prevent the system to rotate or migrate, and an external control unit. The overall Body Sensor Node size may vary depending on the power consumption required by the application and on its recharging capabilities, but also depending on the sensor or therapeutic device interface size. As part of a network, several nodes may communicate and exchange information with the external control unit leading to complex biological application schemes.