Oscillation-based approach applied to a low-power analog front-end for an implantable cardiac device

Abstract

This paper describes the evaluation of an oscillation-based approach specially thought for testing a low-power analog system that monitors an implantable biomedical device (intelligent stent). Fault simulation analysis has been performed on the basic blocks of the CUT, and oscillation parameters (frequency and amplitude) have been measured at the output of the last system block, an oscillator. Taking advantage of fault reflection from the rest of the blocks, the proposed testing method will avoid the need of adding extra circuitry to convert the different partitions of the CUT into oscillators, reducing circuit complexity and possible performance degradation. The results obtained show that a good fault coverage figure for catastrophic faults can be achieved.