434 MHz wireless sensor first for instant monitoring of brain oxygen

Science Daily reports on the first use of a wireless sensor for instant readings of brain oxygen.

The Science Daily report says:

Scientists in Italy and Ireland are reporting development of the first wireless sensor that gives second-by-second readings of oxygen levels in the brain. The new microsensor - smaller than a dime - could become the basis for tiny devices to help test drugs and other treatments for patients with traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and other conditions.

Read the full article at
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/
090420084748.htm

A report titled 'Real-Time Monitoring of Brain Tissue Oxygen Using a Miniaturized Biotelemetric Device Implanted in Freely Moving Rats' at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/
ac802390f says: The digital data is sent to a personal computer using a six-byte packet protocol by means of a miniaturized 434 MHz amplitude modulation (AM) transmitter. The receiver unit is connected to a personal computer (PC) via a universal serial bus. Custom developed software allows the PC to store and plot received data.

• 430-440 MHz is used by the Amateur Radio Services (420-450 MHz in North America) and 434 MHz is not an appropriate part of the spectrum for sensitive medical equipment. There is suitable UHF spectrum available at 402-405 MHz or 2483 MHz for medical applications.