Development of wearable multi-lead ECG measurement device using cubic flocked electrode

Abstract

This paper describes the fabrication and fundamental evaluation of the cubic flocked electrode (CFE), which is a dry electrode that is fabricated using electrostatic flocking technology. The development of a wearable multi-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement device using the CFE is also reported. To enable the measurement of ECG signals with sufficient quality for medical applications, the occurrence of motion artifacts (MAs) is the most important problem to be overcome. Therefore, it is necessary to stabilize the contact between the patient’s skin and the dry electrode. Because the CFE developed in this work offers both contact stability and flexibility, it is expected to enable ECG measurements with low MA levels. In this study, it is demonstrated that the number of MAs caused by respiration can be reduced when the CFE contact is made at a contact pressure of approximately 500 Pa using MA evaluation equipment that was developed in-house. Additionally, a wearable multi-lead ECG is designed and fabricated based on this contact pressure (500 Pa). The results of the demonstration experiment show that the ECG measurements are successful to the same extent as a conventional medical device.