SmartPad: a wireless, adhesive-electrode-free, autonomous ECG acquisition system.
During medical procedures, such as surgery, a patient's vital signs are typically monitored using a web of wires connected to adhesive electrodes. The large number of wires inhibits the medical team's access to the patient while the adhesive electrodes can detach, fail, or be out-of-stock, causing delays in the procedure. In order to combat these problems, we have developed the SmartPad: a system that displays a patient's electrocardiogram (ECG) signal without adhesive pads, wires, or active intervention from a clinician. The system automatically selects three electrodes from an array of Cu/Ni-fabric based electrodes patterned on a thin pad on which the patient lies. The selected electrodes are used to provide a differential 3-lead measurement of the patient's ECG, which is then transmitted wirelessly and displayed on a laptop computer.
Chen
Fred
F
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. fredchen@mit.edu
Wu
Henry
H
Hsu
Pei-Lan
PL
Stronger
Brad
B
Sheridan
Robert
R
Ma
Hongshen
H
D000465:Algorithms; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D016684:Prone Position; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016683:Supine Position; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods