Wireless Electrodes for Electrocardiography

Abstract

The cables that carry electrocardiographic (ECG) signal from the surface electrodes to the electrocardiograph play an important role in the production of undesirable artifacts (noise), especially when the patient moves, or for example in an ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter) or in a stress electrocardiogram. Even though it is highly desirable to keep the ECG signal as faithfully as possible since it is captured by the electrodes, techniques used to eliminate these artifacts degrade the ECG signal and many important components are altered. An electronic device, based on XBee technology in combination with the ZigBee protocol that takes heart signals from three different points of the Einthoven's triangle was built. In situ, each device processes each signal and transmits it wirelessly to an electrocardiograph, where the ECG can be stored or monitored.