Leveraging Reconfigurable Massive MIMO Antenna Arrays for Enhanced Wireless Connectivity in Biomedical IoT Applications

Enahoro, Sunday, Ekpo, Sunday ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9219-3759, Al-Yasir, Yasir and Uko, Mfonobong (2025) Leveraging Reconfigurable Massive MIMO Antenna Arrays for Enhanced Wireless Connectivity in Biomedical IoT Applications. Sensors, 25 (18). pp. 1-23. ISSN 1424-8220

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Abstract

The increasing demand for real-time, energy-efficient, and interference-resilient communication in smart healthcare environments has intensified interest in Biomedical Internet of Things (Bio-IoT) systems. However, ensuring reliable wireless connectivity for wearable and implantable biomedical sensors remains a challenge due to mobility, latency sensitivity, power constraints, and multi-user interference. This paper addresses these issues by proposing a reconfigurable massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna architecture, incorporating hybrid analogue–digital beamforming and adaptive signal processing. The methodology combines conventional algorithms—such as Least Mean Square (LMS), Zero-Forcing (ZF), and Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (MVDR)—with a novel mobility-aware beamforming scheme. System-level simulations under realistic channel models (Rayleigh, Rician, 3GPP UMa) evaluate signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), bit error rate (BER), energy efficiency, outage probability, and fairness index across varying user loads and mobility scenarios. Results show that the proposed hybrid beamforming system consistently outperforms benchmarks, achieving up to 35% higher throughput, 65% reduction in packet drop rate, and sub-10 ms latency even under high-mobility conditions. Beam pattern analysis confirms robust nulling of interference and dynamic lobe steering. This architecture is well-suited for next-generation Bio-IoT deployments in smart hospitals, enabling secure, adaptive, and power-aware connectivity for critical healthcare monitoring applications.