An ECG patch combining a customized ultra-low-power ECG SoC with Bluetooth low energy for long term ambulatory monitoring

This paper presents the development of an ECG patch aiming at long term patient monitoring. The use of the recently standardized Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, together with a customized ultra-low-power ECG System on Chip (ECG SoC). including Digital Signal Processing (DSP) capabilities, enables the design of ultra low power systems able to continuously monitor patients, performing on board signal processing such as filtering, data compression, beat detection and motion artifact removal along with all the advantages provided by a standard radio technology such as Bluetooth. Early tests show how combining the ECG SoC and BLE leads to a total current consumption of only 500μA at 3.7V, while computing beat detection and transmitting heart rate remotely via BLE. This allows up to one month lifetime with a 400mAh Li-Po battery.