Abstract Objective The aim of the study was to analyze the self-monitoring ankle impedance measuring instrument for patients with heart failure and to evaluate the degree of ankle impedance variation in normal young people for three days. Methods We developed a portable impedance measuring instrument based on AD5940 chip of ADI. The circuit composed of programmable alternating current (AC) voltage generator, digital signal processor, microcontroller, and related peripheral circuits. The four-line body impedance analysis measurement method was used, which was powered by two 1.5-V batteries, and a frequency of 50 kHz was selected to improve the measurement accuracy. The bioimpedance of the human body can be measured in the range of 0 to 2,000 Ω, and the phase range is –180 to + 180 degrees, both of which are accurate to two decimal places. Ten normal young volunteers were included, with an average age of 24.5 ± 1.3 years. The electrical impedance of the right ankle was measured in the sitting position, the supine position, and the standing position. Each posture was measured three times, and the variation of the ankle impedance was observed for three days at the same time point. Results There was no significant difference in ankle impedance between the three positions of 10 volunteers in this group during the three days. The mean difference between the mean groups ranged from 6.14 to 9.53%, and the maximum difference was 9.53%. There was no significant correlation between ankle impedance and BMI in the three positions. Conclusion Although there are some changes in the ankle impedance measured by the self-developed impedance tester within three days, it can still monitor the ankle impedance of normal young people relatively stably. This impedance meter may be used for home monitoring of ankle impedance in patients with heart failure.
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