The design and evaluation of a novel programmable multi-channel digital underwater acoustic biotelemetry system using single-chip microcontrollers is described. It is intended for monitoring the respiration rate, heart rate (or the electrocardiogram, ECG) and depth of a free-swimming diver, and may be described as a through-water telemedicine system. Owing to its modular design, the system can be adapted for the transmission of digital data representing any physiological or physical parameter. The use of a microcontroller in the transmitter allows signals from each sensor to be transmitted in a priority-interrupt time-division multiplexed format with programmable frequency coding. An identical microcontroller in the receiver scans the frequency-coded signals, which are captured and interfaced to a computer for further processing.
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