Graphite Based Electrode for ECG Monitoring: Evaluation under Freshwater and Saltwater Conditions.
We proposed new electrodes that are applicable for electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring under freshwater- and saltwater-immersion conditions. Our proposed electrodes are made of graphite pencil lead (GPL), a general-purpose writing pencil. We have fabricated two types of electrode: a pencil lead solid type (PLS) electrode and a pencil lead powder type (PLP) electrode. In order to assess the qualities of the PLS and PLP electrodes, we compared their performance with that of a commercial Ag/AgCl electrode, under a total of seven different conditions: dry, freshwater immersion with/without movement, post-freshwater wet condition, saltwater immersion with/without movement, and post-saltwater wet condition. In both dry and post-freshwater wet conditions, all ECG-recorded PQRST waves were clearly discernible, with all types of electrodes, Ag/AgCl, PLS, and PLP. On the other hand, under the freshwater- and saltwater-immersion conditions with/without movement, as well as post-saltwater wet conditions, we found that the proposed PLS and PLP electrodes provided better ECG waveform quality, with significant statistical differences compared with the quality provided by Ag/AgCl electrodes.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, 460 Iksandeaero, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea. bami1314@wku.ac.kr.
Tharoeun
T
Thap
Department of Radiology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, 460 Iksandeaero, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea. khy1646@wku.ac.kr.
Kwon-Ha
KH
Yoon
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, 460 Iksandeaero, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea. gonasago@wku.ac.kr.
Jinseok
J
Lee
D000328:Adult; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004566:Electrodes; D005618:Fresh Water; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D054712:Salinity; D014867:Water
D014867:Water; D002244:Carbon; D006108:Graphite
ECG electrode; ECG monitoring; carbon; dry electrode; freshwater; graphite; pencil lead; saltwater; underwater