Single arm ECG monitor
A system for measuring the ECG of a user by having at least two sensors, all of which are attached to only one peripheral of the user. The system may also comprise a controller for determining ECG signals from the data received from the sensors. The system may be in the form of a wearable band on which the sensors and the controller are disposed. The sensors may be capacitive sensors, electrically coupled capacitive sensors, or electrodes. The sensors may be attached to one arm of a user. The sensors may be disposed on the inside and outside of the arm away from each other at the same axial position on the arm. The sensors may be disposed at axially different positions on the arm, for example, one at the wrist and the other at the shoulder of the user.
1 . An electrocardiogram (ECG) system for detecting ECG signals from a user, comprising:
at least two contacts for disposition on only one peripheral of the user which is a left arm;
at least two sensors for detecting electrical signals from the at least two contacts when disposed on the only one peripheral of the user;
at least two shielded electrodes;
a wearable band on which at least two of the at least two sensors and at least two of the at least two shielded electrodes are disposed, the wearable band being wearable on the one peripheral of the user, wherein the contacts are configured to be positioned on a same axial length along the one peripheral of the user, are distally offset from one another, and have different radial positions on the same axial length, wherein the same axial length is from mid biceps to an armpit of the left arm of the user, and wherein the at least two shielded electrodes are distally offset from each of the contacts and each other of the shielded electrodes;
a board disposed on the wearable band for receiving the electrical signals;
a hardware filter including a low pass hardware filter and shielding disposed on the wearable band for reducing noise from the electrical signals detected by the at least two sensors; and
at least one controller for determining a differential signal between a first electrical signal detected by a first sensor of the at least two sensors and a second signal detected by a second sensor of the at least two sensors, the first sensor being different than the second sensor, and for constructing an ECG signal from the differential signal,
wherein no sensors are collecting the electrical signals from any other parts of the user for the constructing of the ECG signal.
2 . The ECG system of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two sensors comprises a dry capacitive electrode sensor.
3 . The ECG system of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two sensors comprises an electrically coupled capacitive sensor.
4 . The ECG system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller includes a differential amplifier for the determining of the differential signal.
5 . The ECG system of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication module for transmitting information including the electrical signals.
6 . The ECG system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to wirelessly receive the information and perform the constructing of the ECG signal from the information.
7 . The ECG system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one controller comprises a software application for the constructing of the ECG signal from the information.
8 . The ECG system of claim 1 , further comprising an amplifier that is disposed in the wearable band.
9 . The ECG system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors that are disposed in the wearable band for determining pulse oximetry.
10 . The ECG system of claim 1 , wherein the radial positions are radially opposite to each other with respect to the peripheral of the user.
11 . The ECG system of claim 1 , wherein the radial positions are about 90° to each other on the different radial positions of the peripheral of the user.
12 . The ECG system of claim 1 , further comprising a re-programmable gain control system interposed between the at least two sensors and the at least one controller.
13 . The ECG system of claim 1 , wherein the at least two sensors are in an open circuit configuration with respect to remaining parts of the user other than the only one peripheral.
14 . The ECG system of claim 1 , wherein the board comprises a plurality of separate ground planes including a signal ground, a digital ground, and an analog ground, and wherein no overlap is allowed between the different ground planes.
15 . A method for electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring of a user, comprising:
providing, on only one peripheral of the user which is a left arm, at least two contacts, at least two sensors for detecting electrical signals from the only one peripheral of the user, and at least two shielded electrodes;
positioning, on the one peripheral of the user, a wearable band on which at least two of the at least two sensors and at least two of the at least two shielded electrodes are disposed, the wearable band being wearable on the one peripheral of the user, wherein the contacts are configured to be positioned on a same axial length along the one peripheral of the user, are distally offset from one another, and have different radial positions on the same axial length, wherein the same axial length is from mid biceps to an armpit of the left arm of the user, and wherein the at least two shielded electrodes are distally offset from each of the contacts and each other of the shielded electrodes;
receiving, with a board disposed on the wearable band, the electrical signals;
detecting, with the at least two sensors, the electrical signals;
applying a hardware filter including a low pass hardware filter and shielding for reducing noise from the electrical signals detected by the at least two sensors;
determining a differential signal between a first electrical signal detected by a first sensor of the at least two sensors and a second signal detected by a second sensor of the at least two sensors, the first sensor being different than the second sensor; and
constructing, using at least one controller, an ECG signal from the differential signal,
wherein no sensors are detecting the electrical signals from any other parts of the user for the constructing of the ECG signal.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least two sensors are in an open circuit configuration with respect to parts of the user other than the only one peripheral.