Wearable ECG Patch Onboard Analytics Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable ECG sensors face challenges such as limited battery life, bulkiness, need for external intervention for data transmission, lack of onboard analytics, and reliance on off-board processing, which restricts their usability for continuous and accurate monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained wearable Smart ECG Patch with embedded gold electrodes and onboard electronics for acquiring, processing, and transmitting ECG signals, capable of detecting noise and motion artifacts, and generating alerts, operating in power-saving modes to extend battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If ECG sensors transmit data continuously to a host, then data availability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by conducting ECG signal acquisition, artifact detection, and cardiac parameter analysis locally on the wearable device before transmission. The system pre-processes signals to extract only essential information (heart rate, arrhythmia detection) and transmits selectively rather than continuously, reducing transmission frequency and power consumption while maintaining data availability for critical health monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the most critical ECG features and cardiac parameters (heart rate, arrhythmia events) from the continuous signal stream for transmission to the host. By taking out only the essential information rather than transmitting the entire continuous signal, the system maintains data availability for medical monitoring while dramatically reducing the data transmission volume and associated power consumption
2Volume of moving object
If ECG sensors are made smaller and more wearable, then comfort and discreetness are improved, but onboard processing capability and analytics are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical signal processing systems with streamlined electronic and software-based processing. By using digital signal processing algorithms and microcontroller-based analysis instead of complex analog circuitry or mechanical components, the system achieves adequate onboard processing capability for artifact detection and cardiac parameter extraction while maintaining a small, wearable form factor
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by integrating multiple capabilities into a single compact device: ECG signal acquisition, artifact detection, heart rate calculation, arrhythmia analysis, and selective data transmission. This universal approach allows the small wearable device to perform comprehensive cardiac monitoring functions that would traditionally require separate specialized components, thereby maintaining onboard processing capability while minimizing device size
3Device complexity
If ECG sensors rely on off-board processing, then device simplicity is improved, but continuous monitoring capability and real-time analytics are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing actions locally on the wearable device including continuous ECG signal acquisition, real-time artifact detection, and immediate cardiac parameter analysis. By conducting these essential monitoring functions on-board before any potential transmission interruption, the system ensures continuous monitoring capability and reliable real-time health assessment even when disconnected from external hosts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the wearable ECG device to autonomously perform signal processing, artifact rejection, and cardiac event detection without requiring constant external intervention. The device independently analyzes its own ECG signals in real-time, making local decisions about data transmission based on detected arrhythmias or significant cardiac events, thereby ensuring continuous reliable monitoring capability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable self-contained Smart ECG Sensor Patch (SEP) is provided for acquiring, analyzing and transmitting ECG data, heart rate and heart rate variability (heart rate variability) parameters to a host device via a secure Bluetooth low energy link. SEP incorporates all circuitry for acquisition, analysis and communication, and a battery on a small flexible substrate with two gold electrodes on the reverse side. Prior to on-board analysis, noise and motion artifacts are detected and ignored. SEP has been validated with archived ECG signals and testing on human subjects. The continuous acquisition and unique on-board analytics permit SEP to be used for prolonged monitoring scenarios with automatic alarm generations. SEP's aggressive power management techniques enable it to operate on a single coin battery for up to 250 hours. SEP suppresses transmissions of artifact data, which reduces power consumption.