Researchers from the University of Illinois have used ultrasonic signals to transmit data through animal tissues at high-definition video rates, potentially paving the way for in-body ultrasonic communication with implanted medical devices.
A group led by Andrew Singer, PhD, from the institution's department of electrical and computer engineering reported that improvements in signal processing techniques can yield data transmission rates higher than 30 Mbps -- with low error rates -- through tissues at frequencies (< 10 MHz) that would allow propagation through the body.
The researchers tested their technique by successfully transmitting ultrasonic signals through store-bought pork loin and beef liver, and shared their findings in a paper published online on arXiv.org.
The group has received a provisional patent application for the high-definition ultrasonic technology and will present the research at the IEEE International Workshop on Signal Processing Advances in Wireless Communications in July in Edinburgh, U.K.
