Textile Based Sensing Blanket for ECG Monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit

Multiple designs of textile-based sensors were developed and integrated into blankets for the measurement of Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. Once the patient makes direct skin contact with the electrodes, the ECG signals are acquired and transmitted wirelessly by a wireless data acquisition unit to an associated computer for analysis, assessment and storage. A variety of designs and manufacturing methods were tested. An adult human subjects' study was conducted to test the feasibility of these measurements as well as to test the different design types and manufacturing methods. The heart rate and Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) are comparable to the gold standard adhesive lead measurements.