The Internet of Bio-Nano Things in Blood Vessels: System Design and Prototypes

TL;DR

This paper explores the design and prototype implementation of the Internet of Bio-Nano Things within blood vessels, highlighting new challenges and solutions for molecular communication in eHealth applications.

Contribution

It introduces cylindrical duct channel models for blood vessels and demonstrates prototype feasibility of molecular communication for IoBNT.

Findings

Blood vessel channels pose unique challenges for molecular communication.

Proposed models align with experimental prototype results.

Molecular communication can enable advanced eHealth applications.

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT) which relates to networks formed by molecular communications. By providing a means of communication through the ubiquitously connected blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries), molecular communication-based IoBNT enables a host of new eHealth applications. For example, an organ monitoring sensor can transfer internal body signals through the IoBNT for health monitoring applications. We empirically show that blood vessel channels introduce a new set of challenges for the design of molecular communication systems in comparison to free-space channels. We then propose cylindrical duct channel models and discuss the corresponding system designs conforming to the channel characteristics. Furthermore, based on prototype implementations, we confirm that molecular communication techniques can be utilized for composing the IoBNT. We believe that the promising results presented in this work, together with the rich research challenges that lie ahead, are strong indicators that IoBNT with molecular communications can drive novel applications for emerging eHealth systems.