Mitigation of radio frequency interference using visible light for biomedical data communication with distance augmentation

Abstract

Radiofrequency interference is a major concern at healthcare units in multispecialty hospitals in the presence of Wi-Fi or mobile phones with medical devices. Central monitoring units in hospitals collect the healthcare data from the ICUs (Intensive care Units), CT (Computer Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans and transfer the data to the diagnostic center where doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals elucidate the medical data to impart foremost therapy for the patients. Wi-Fi or the local area networks are currently adopted for wireless communication of health care data in hospitals. Medical devices such as ECG (Electrocardiography) monitors, EEG (Electroencephalography) monitors, Pulse oximeters, power supplies do not function effectively due to RF interference. Physiological signals are susceptible, at a greater extent, to RF interference than any other healthcare data. The RF interference produces artifacts in the physiological signals which make it ambiguous for the medical practitioner to perceive the information. The obscure results may be misinterpreted as indigenous results which lead to inappropriate treatment for the patients. Hence, RF interference elimination has become a pre-requisite in healthcare units within multispecialty hospitals. newline