[Technical Research of Non-contact Electrocardiogram Based on Capacitive Coupling]

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Devices
• Physiological Monitoring

Background:

• Traditional electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring requires skin contact, which can be uncomfortable and unsuitable for certain patient groups.
• Existing methods often involve adhesive electrodes that may cause skin irritation or be difficult to apply on patients with burns or sensitive skin.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a non-contact ECG monitoring system based on capacitance coupling.
• To assess the feasibility of obtaining high-quality ECG signals from habilimented individuals using conductive fabric electrodes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the principle of capacitance coupling for signal acquisition.
• Employed conductive fabric as electrodes integrated into a bedsheet.
• A cotton cushion served as the dielectric material, with the body acting as one plate of the capacitor.

Main Results:

• Successfully detected 93.5% of R waves in 9 healthy volunteers.
• Acquired good quality ECG signals from 2 burn patients, demonstrating suitability for compromised skin.
• The non-contact method proved harmless to the skin and convenient for continuous monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Capacitive non-contact ECG monitoring is a viable and comfortable alternative to traditional methods.
• This technology offers significant advantages for patients who cannot tolerate adhesive electrodes, such as burn victims.
• The system's ease of use and effectiveness support its application in permanent and remote patient monitoring.