Electrocardiogram (ECG), Oxygen Saturation (SpO2), Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
It is in a medical measurement device, composed of Electrocardiogram (ECG), blood oxygen saturation level, heart rate and blood pressure.
Currently the demand for an immediate medical diagnosis is increasingly high. This causes medical personnel, facilities and diagnostic devices to collapse and deplete available resources. This affects the care provided in some areas, especially rural areas, and affects the application of a reliable and timely diagnosis.
For the measurement of heart rate, the method used has been by photoplethysmography.
Photoplethysmography involves applying a light source to one side of the finger (nail) and a receptor to the other side of the finger. The heart rate is determined by counting the voltage peaks that occur in 60 seconds and are analyzed by the device, these voltage peaks are equivalent to heartbeats.
Using the electrocardiogram, we evaluate the electrical and muscular functions of the heart to evaluate pathologies such as myocardial ischemia, syncope, palpitations and even heart attack.
This device in a completely autonomous way or with the help of a professional can determine:
- The orientation of the heart (as it is located) in the thoracic cavity.
- Evidence of increased thickness (hypertrophy).
- Evidence of damage to the various parts of the heart muscle.
- Evidence of acutely disturbed blood flow.
- Abnormal electrical activity patterns that may predispose the patient to abnormal heart rhythm disorders.
We could also perform the ECG using textrodes by means of an electronic device incorporated in a garment, especially indicated for neonates, which can be used in incubators and consists of textile electrodes in different leads with the aim that in any position in which the child has contact with the textrodes necessary to acquire the ECG signal.
For the measurement of blood pressure, we have used the principle of oscillometry.
We use an automatic wrist handle that exists on the market and that we have modified by installing a physical interface with a terminal block that connects through the I2C communication protocol with our device.
The handle is controlled by the system, thereby fully automating the blood pressure data acquisition and presentation process.
As a second option, we obtain the PPG by optically measuring the changes in the volume of blood on the skin tissue, while the electrocardiogram sensor can detect the electrical activity of the heart. The most interesting feature of is that we can simultaneously display PPG and ECG, resulting in synchronized ECG and PPG values. This allows us to calculate the pulse transit time (PTT) as an indirect measure of blood pressure.
The SpO2 measurement is carried out optically by means of a light beam that is sent from an infrared light source and is collected by a photosensitive sensor.
Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive procedure of continuously measuring arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) at the site where the sensor is placed, usually on the finger, earlobe, or toe.
The development and implementation of these technological projects, supported by medical knowledge, can contribute to solving the problems of the health sector.