Abstract: Recent advancement of wearable computing and wearable sensor devices has empowered the development of Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs). Wireless body area network is made up of remotely connected miniaturized sensors placed in, on or around the Human Body, which provides continuous monitoring of physiological signs to support medical, lifestyle and entertainment applications. First, we focus on some applications with special interest in patient monitoring. Then the open research issues and challenges are pointed out. Finally, an overview of MAC and network layer is given.

Keywords: WBAN, healthcare, routing, MAC, WSN.