A Model-Based Systems Engineering Approach to Trade Space Exploration of Implanted Wireless Biotelemetry Communication Systems

This paper summarizes the application of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) to the development of a system trade study and decision-making tool for implantable ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless biotelemetry communications systems. The systems modeling language (SysML) is used to develop graphical representations, called descriptive models, of the system architecture, parameters, and interdependencies along with leveraging various analytical tools to produce performance and safety assessments of various system configurations. Both descriptive and analytical models are linked together to enable system designers the ability to rapidly run a wide range of system configurations such that the results can be visualized, analyzed, and pruned to meet system safety and performance requirements. This integrated system approach is more effective than typical standalone or disparate analysis since it enables system designers the ability to consider multivariate scenarios in the system simulation as compared to only a few. The modeling framework is also consistent and easily verified and validated at the component, sub-system, and system levels. An ultra-wideband communication system with an implanted transmitter sub-system is the exemplary case considered in this paper.