Research Indicates Ideal Location and Optimal Pressure for a Wristband to Monitor Heart Rate Accurately
Kudos to the innovative minds at North Carolina State University for taking a significant leap in the development of a wearable armband technology! Keep reading to learn more about this revolutionary device.
Researchers at NC State have made a marked advancement in the production of an armband that won't just keep you stylish but also monitor your heart’s electrical activity without disturbing your day-to-day life.
The game-changing innovation, spearheaded by graduate student Braden M. Li, comes as part of a multi-institutional collaboration to develop an armband that can capture electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements easily and comfortably throughout the day. Picture a wearable arm sleeve, powered by the energy captured from your body heat or movement – that's the vision.
"Our research is the first step towards realizing this technology," explains Li. "We've identified the appropriate electrode placement for capturing heart signals and found the optimal pressure required for the armband to function efficiently."
To achieve this, Li and his team looked at various electrode placements along the upper left arm of volunteers for the best three-electrode configuration. They also tested different sizes and pressures of the band to determine how snugly it should be worn for optimal performance.
But how does this armband stack up against conventional ECG devices? One major plus is the use of dry electrodes; gone are the days of messy, sticky electrode gel. Instead, the researchers used screen-printed dry electrodes, a traditional yet adaptable manufacturing process commonly used in textile manufacturing.
"We're using readily-available, easy-to-use manufacturing techniques to design our armband," notes Li. "That'll make it easier to mass-produce this technology and get it out to people."
The research, published in IEEE Sensors Journal on February 18, 2021, provides valuable insights into the future of wearable health monitoring technology, taking it from the lab to your arm. Here's a quick rundown of the study's key findings:
- Ideal Electrode Positioning: The researchers determined the ideal positions for three dry electrodes embedded in the armband to capture high-quality heart signals. They tested over 50 electrode configurations and found the most optimal placement that maximized signal quality while ensuring practical assembly of the armband.
- Appropriate Pressure: Optimal pressure is critical for maintaining consistent contact between the armband and skin, resulting in more reliable and usable signals. The research uncovered that armbands need to maintain pressure between 500 Pa to 1,500 Pa to ensure optimal performance.
The NC State research forms part of the National Science Foundation-funded engineering research center - the Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST). This collaborative effort focuses on designing wearable, self-powered electronics that will transform our lives in the near future.
As the team continues to refine the design to capture accurate heart signals while using minimal energy, we're edging closer to having a comfortable, long-lasting wearable device that'll keep a constant tab on your heart health 24/7.
Note to Editors:The abstract of the paper follows:
Published Online in IEEE Sensors Journal on February 18, 2021
Authors: Li, Jur, Mills, Flewwellin, Herzberg, Saberi Bosari, Lim, Jia
Abstract:In the current landscape of wearable technology, an array of biomonitoring devices record ECG, a key indicator of cardiovascular health. While many of these devices employ armband form factors for their all-in-one potential, the literature largely overlooks critical parameters for achieving reliable ECG sensing performance. This study, therefore, elucidates the role of electrode location and contact pressure in the ECG sensing performance of an electronic textile (E-textile) armband. The research validates the appropriate armband electrode placement for efficient signal acquisition and models the contact pressure to understand its influence on signal quality. The reported findings serve as a benchmark for future E-textile and wearable form factors, paving the way for advanced and efficient monitoring systems.
This post was originally published in NC State News.
Keep an eye on the developments in wearable technology as we continue to move towards a healthier and more convenient future!
- The innovative wearable armband technology developed by researchers at North Carolina State University will not only keep users stylish but also monitor heart health efficiently.
- Graduate student Braden M. Li led the research project, a part of a multi-institutional collaboration aimed at creating an armband that can capture electrocardiogram (ECG) readings comfortably throughout the day.
- The armband is designed to be powered by energy captured from body heat or movement, using dry electrodes and a traditional manufacturing process common in textile manufacturing.
- The research has identified the ideal electrode placement for capturing heart signals and the optimal pressure required for the armband to function efficiently.
- The study findings, published in the IEEE Sensors Journal, provide valuable insights into the future of wearable health monitoring technology.
- The NC State research is part of the Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST), a National Science Foundation-funded engineering research center focusing on wearable, self-powered electronics.
- As the team continues to refine the design, we're moving closer to having a comfortable, long-lasting wearable device that will constantly monitor heart health, contributing significantly to health-and-wellness and medical-condition management.
