The following report details the design, construction, and theory behind a Wireless electrocardiogram (ECG). This write-up is arranged in such a manner as to follow a patient’s cardiac signal from its initial detection by the ECG amplifier, its progression through the various subsystems of figure 1, and ultimately culminating in its final wireless transmission to a PC.
How is large is each part? Will it be wearable or sit on a table?
The prototype ECG that has been designed is 4.25in wide x 6in long x 2.25in high. A Production Version could be stripped down to have a smaller footprint so that the user could wear it on his or her belt.
The device is contained in a box that contains a circuit board and wireless transmitter. On the outside are connections that can be attached to the appropriate leads (left arm, right arm, left leg). The leads will be attached by the user and he or she will be taught the correct method by a hospital technician. For use during the day, the leads will be measured and fit to the user so as to not cause disturbance underneath the clothes. At night, the user can switch to longer leads and place the device on the nightstand. Ideally, the leads would be linked to the device wirelessly.
Does this send data continuously or just check every once in a while?
As cardiac data is transmitted to the computer at a rate of approximately 20ms/transmission, software residing on the PC would log this data. As this technology becomes more sophisticated, logic could be built into the system allowing it to notify a clinician if adverse events occur.
Does it have some sort of arrhythmia detection?
Presently, the device does not have any arrhythmia detecting functionality. As mentioned earlier, a production model of this device would be able to match the patient’s cardiac waveform with those of known arrhythmia, and then subsequently alert the proper people.
Would there be a local Alarm to call somebody, a doctor, a friend, a neighbor?
Currently, the prototype version does not have an Alarm System built-in. In a production version of this device, a clinician (e.g. a nurse), would be paged were a red flag to occur. The alarm system can be easily implemented to be as comprehensive or as scaled-back as needed—the system can theoretically notify anyone once the patient’s information is read into the PC and a live Internet connection is present.
Who and how will the Ecg Patches be changed?
The patient would be taught how to apply and change the ECG patches. If the patient is unable to, he or she can visit the hospital briefly to have the patches reapplied when needed.
