Converged Broadband Optical and Wireless

Communication Infrastructure for Next-Generation Telehealth

Arshad Chowdhury, Hung-Chang Chien, Sourabh Khire, Shu-Hao Fan, Nikil Jayant and Gee-Kung

Chang

Georgia Tech Broadband Institute

Presentation by John Shu

AgendaTerminologyTrends MotivationKey IssuesSolutions ImplementationResultsConclusion

TerminologyTelehealth/Telemedicine Systems: Systems that facilitate the exchange of electronic

information e.g. medical images and real time video for remote monitoring, diagnosis, telesurgery etc. [Arshad Chowdury et al]

Radio Over Fiber: A transmission technology where by light is modulated by

a radio signal and transmitted via an optical fiber link to facilitate wireless access. (Wikipedia)

Terminology cont’dRAU Remote Antenna Unit used in conjunction with the Radio-

Over-Fiber backbone to transmit and receive from wireless devices.

IMGRIntelligent Modality Gateway Router provides signal processing for various protocol-independent wireless-band conversion (RF, Microwave, and millimeter wave), routing functionalities, necessary media conversions, local buffering and storage, and authentication and security functions. [Arshad Chowdury et al]

MotivationTelehealth and related fields are used world wide

to remedy the non-uniform distribution of healthcare professionals.

According to the authors, these systems facilitate the exchange of information e.g. CT Scans, Radiology images or Real time videos.

This permits remote diagnosis, monitoring, telesurgery etc

Motivation cont’dIncrease patient reach in rural areasFacilitate access to specialty health care in

urban areasObtain second opinion from remotely located

expertsSupport remote health monitoringFacilitate remote education of upcoming

professionals

Trends in the FieldIn the past, low bit rate voice or text based

phone consultation as well as monitoring patients.

Currently, more HD quality video-centric super high resolution image-intensive remote diagnosis applications.

Also, real time delivery of multimedia such as in Telesurgery which has numerable benefits e.g. education or obtaining second opinions

Key IssuesTransmission of high resolution images

A single Whole Slide Image (WSI) of 20mm X 15 mm sampled at 0.25 microns at about 24 bits/pixel can occupy up to 15GB

Furthermore, if Z-Stack images are being used i.e. using multiple focal lengths. The resulting file size will be in the order of hundreds of GB or even TB

Key IssuesIssues with real time or time sensitive

applications

Applications such as Frozen section diagnosis, dynamic pathology and real time tele-radiology.

Transmitting 500MB MRI coast-to-coast has RTT of about 10 hours over 1.5Mb/sec T1 lines and 50 sec with 1Gb/s line

Key IssuesCompression could be a potential solution, but

aggressive ‘lossy’ compression can introduce objectionable artifacts.

The problem of transmission technology which includes closed networks from service providers that limit broad band adoption in hospitals

There is also the issue of network penetration in the hospital buildings. Some of them can have very secluded areas with dense walls.

Proposed Solution Distributed Antenna based optical wireless

systems realized by radio over fiber technology can solve penetration issues.

An integrated network architecture and communication system using broadband optical wireless radio over fiber technology.

Proposed systems provides multi-service, multi-carrier broadband modalities of the telemedicine system

Implementation

FIg.1 Converged Broadband Optical and Wireless Communication Infrastructure for Next-Generation Telehealth

ImplementationRadio-over-fiber networks providing connectivity

through out large buildings.

In-building backbone to transmits the signal. Remote Antenna Unit (RAU) distributes wireless signal.

Devices such as text, multimedia, radiology, pathology or just monitoring devices can access the network.

ImplementationAt the core is the Intelligent Modality Gateway

Router (IMGR)The IMGR provides signal processing for various

protocol independent wireless band conversions (e.g. RF, Microwave, millimeter wave).

It also handles routing functionalities, media conversions, local buffering and storage, authentication and security

Network Interconnection in Health care facility.

Fig.2 Converged Broadband Optical and Wireless Communication Infrastructure for Next-Generation Telehealth

ImplementationCommunication between MRI, radiology,

remotely mounted camera in operation room and conference room

IMGR receives hi-res as well as uncompressed images and HD video signals and performs up conversions for wireless modalities.

Hi-res images can be examined by remote specialist or students a remotely view procedures in real time or stand-by specialist can offer their opinions

Proof of Concept Experimental Setup

Setup optical wireless network using 60 GHz mm wave radio-over-fiber technology.

Unidirectional real time uncompressed HD video link between labs on Georgia tech campus

Link comprised of optical fiber network for 25 km and a wireless transmission for distance of 5 meters.

Experimental Setup

Fig.3 Converged Broadband Optical and Wireless Communication Infrastructure for Next-Generation Telehealth

ResultsA 1.5Gb/s output stream was

up-converted to 60GHz mm wave and transmitted over radio-over-fiber link

Wireless signal was received by a 60 GHz radio receiver and displayed on an HD TV

Live feed was that of Glioblastoma. Pictures were clear with no perceptual loss of quality

ConclusionProposed next-generation broadband transport

and access architecture using integrated wireless radio over fiber technology

Demonstrated with proof of concept setup experimental setup using single mode optical fiber and RAU. Achieved virtually no perceptual loss of quality

Employed existing and emerging 3G,4G/LTE, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max all routed through their IMGR

ReferencesA. Chowdhury, H-C Chien, Y-T Hsueh, G-K Chang,

"Advanced System Technologies and Field Demonstration for In-Building Optical-Wireless Network with Integrated Broadband Services," J. of Lightwave technologies, vol. 27, no. 12, pp1920 - 1927, June 2009

I. Pratap et al, "Comparative technical evaluation of various communication media used for telemedical video-conference," HealthCom 2008, July 2008, pp 1-2

D.K. Kim et al, "A Mobile telemedicine system for remote consultation system in cases of acute stroke," Jour. Telemedicine and Telecare, Vol. 15, pp. 102-107,2009