Federal regulators have written final rules for the allocation of wireless spectrum for wearable sensors, creating a new position to help healthcare providers shield sensor networks from other wireless users.
The Federal Communications Commission's rules for the operation of Medical Body Area Networks (MBANs) gives healthcare providers a designated broadband frequency on which to use those sensors. This latest rule creates the position of an "MBAN coordinator," who will help separate wireless sensors from other systems, such as legacy wireless networks, in the healthcare setting.
The FCC voted in 2012 to allocate 40 megahertz of spectrum in the 2360-2400 range for MBANs, with the 2360-2390 range for indoor use and the 2390-2400 range for outdoor use. A final rule was released later that year, but the FCC has now taken the unusual step of filing a "reconsideration and second report and order" that takes into account the fast pace of mHealth innovation.
[See also: FCC says 'telemdicine, it's coming'.]
An MBAN is defined as a "low power network of sensors worn on the body controlled by a hub device that is located either on the body or in close proximity to it." Such devices operate on a secondary basis in that spectrum, and "must not cause harmful interference to and must accept interference from federal and non-federal stations operating in the band in accordance with the Table of Frequency Allocations." Currently, that range of spectrum is used by aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT).
According to the FCC, MBANs can share this spectrum with AMTs because they operate over short distances and in a low-power networked system.
The latest FCC ruling takes into account the potential growth of MBANs in the healthcare sector.
“MBAN technology provides a platform for the wireless networking of multiple body-worn sensors used for measuring and recording physiological parameters and other patient information or for performing diagnostic or therapeutic functions, primarily in healthcare facilities,” the FCC wrote in its 35-page rule, issued on August 21. “MBAN devices promise to enhance patient safety, care and comfort by reducing the need to physically connect sensors to essential monitoring equipment by cables and wires.”
“In addressing petitions for reconsideration of the First Report and Order in this proceeding, we provide MBAN users with additional flexibility to enable the implementation of technical standards being developed for MBAN devices, and clarify and modify portions of our rules to facilitate the coordination, deployment and use of MBAN systems,” the FCC continues. “In the Second Report and Order portion in this proceeding, we finalize the process for selecting a Medical Body Area Network Coordinator. This coordinator will facilitate use of the MBAN frequencies, which operate in shared-use bands.”
FCC officials said they issued a revised final rule after receiving a petition from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering of the American Hospital Association (ASHE) asking that all MBAN devices be registered. A second petition, filed by GE Healthcare, Philips Healthcare and the Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council, sought several modifications, including a narrowing of the definition of healthcare facilities that would use MBAN devices and the development of an MBAN coordinator with specific duties.
The FCC has tasked the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) with appointing an MBAN coordinator, who would serve a 10-year term.
"We find that selecting a single MBAN coordinator is appropriate given the characteristics of the MBAN service," the FCC wrote. "This approach is warranted, given that the healthcare community represents a small part of the radiofrequency user ecosystem and the number of MBAN registrants is likely to be proportionally small. Having only one coordinator will simplify MBAN registration for healthcare institutions because there will be a single point of contact and the registration process will be analogous to the WMTS (Wireless Medical Telemetry Service) registration process that is familiar to many entities in this specialized group."
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