Wireless transmission of bio-medical signals: Wireless doc

Abstract

Patient waiting times are continuously increasing due to a shortage of trained physicians in most hospitals and clinics. Wireless Doc is a device that integrates an Electrocardiogram (ECG), Electroencephalography (EEG) and Blood Pressure (BP) together for further medical examination. Wireless Doc aims at a faster and an efficient way for providing this information to assist a physician in acquiring an accurate diagnosis sooner thereby reducing patient wait times in emergency. The Electrocardiogram (ECG) aims to measure the cardiac rhythm and rate of a patient. It ensures that the QRS complex is intact for the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. The ECG system is used to detect Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA). EEG is used in the evaluation of brain disorders. Most commonly it is used to show the type and location of the activity in the brain during a seizure. It also is used to evaluate people who are having problems associated with brain function. Design considerations that need to be taken into account when designing an ECG, EEG and BP are discussed. By using the electrodes attached to the patient from which the electrical activity of the heart and brain are acquired, amplified, filtered and sent wirelessly through Zigbee networks to a base station for post processing.