Session SB2.6

Development of Wearable Wireless Prototypes for Long-Term Vital Signs Monitoring in the Sick, Elderly and People with Disabilities

L Galeotti*, M Paoletti, C Marchesi

Università di Firenze
Florence, Italy

The specific goal of this study is the development of a system for assisting people affected by age inconveniences, disabilities or chronic diseases trough observation of vital signs and making easy patient communications with physician office, hospital facilities, caregivers and device itself. The system can be used both for home health care (home care - telemonitoring) than for research purposes. Hardware platform is based on a custom wireless biomedical data acquisition unit, designed on ergonomy and comfort basis to provide continuous monitoring. Main hardware features are Bluetooth wireless link, ac-coupled balanced impedance ECG front-end, step-up power system and integration of various signal sources. Unit is highly customizable to accept different signal sources to match different user needs. In case of disabilities the device can also be used as a bridge to connect sensors for user communications. The central microcontroller can embed lightweight biomedical signals features extraction algorithms. The acquisition unit is contained in a small plastic enclosure which can be comfortably dressed for many hours. To ensure more comfort we developed a sensor-belt with dry rubber electrodes for ECG pick-up and respiration motion detection. The belt can help user to easily place electrodes in right position. The system has been presented to a small sample of hypothetical users to obtain ratings and suggestions for future improvements.

(Abstract Control Number: 332)