Miniaturized wireless ECG-monitor for real-time detection of epileptic seizures

Recent advances in miniaturization of ultra-low power components allow for more intelligent wearable health monitors. Such systems may be used in a wide range of application areas. Here, the development and evaluation of a wireless wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor to detect epileptic seizures from changes in the cardiac rhythm is described. The ECG is measured using an ultra-low-power circuit for bio-potential acquisition. The ECG data is continuously analyzed by embedded algorithms: a robust beat-detection algorithm combined with a real-time heart beat-based epileptic seizure detector. Each detected seizure candidate triggers its transmission to a receiving radio-station. At the same time, the detected events and the raw ECG data are stored on an embedded memory card from which they can be wirelessly downloaded for off-line analysis. The performance of the system in terms of power-consumption, robustness of the radio-link and comfort of use is reported. In its current implementation, the proposed ECG-monitor prototype has a size of 52x36x15mm3, and an autonomy of one day. Wireless, miniaturized and comfortable, this prototype opens new perspectives for continuous and ambulatory health monitoring.