title: Wearable real-time ecg monitoring with emergency alert system for scuba diving.
abstract: Medical diagnosis is the first level for recognition and treatment of diseases. To realize fast diagnosis, we propose a concept of a basic framework for the underwater monitoring of a diver's ECG signal, including an alert system that warns the diver of predefined medical emergency situations. The framework contains QRS detection, heart rate calculation and an alert system. After performing a predefined study protocol, the algorithm's accuracy was evaluated with 10 subjects in a dry environment and with 5 subjects in an underwater environment. The results showed that, in 3 out of 5 dives as well as in dry environment, data transmission remained stable. In these cases, the subjects were able to trigger the alert system. The evaluated data showed a clear ECG signal with a QRS detection accuracy of 90 %. Thus, the proposed framework has the potential to detect and to warn of health risks. Further developments of this sample concept can imply an extension for monitoring different biomedical parameters.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cibis
authors.forename: Benjamin H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Groh
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gatermann
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leutheuser
authors.forename: Bjoern M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Eskofier
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D004242:Diving / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult