The Correlation of ECG Parameters to the Sub-THz Reflection Coefficient of Human Skin

• Published in: IEEE transactions on terahertz science and technology Vol. 4; no. 5; pp. 624 - 630
• Main Authors: Safrai, Eli, Ben Ishai, Paul, Polsman, Alexander, Einav, Sharon, Feldman, Yuri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Piscataway IEEE 01.09.2014; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Continuous wavelet transforms; Correlation; Electrocardiography; Frequency measurement; Heart; Heart attacks; millimeter-wave measurements; remote sensing; Skin; ST elevation; Stress; sub-THz
• ISSN: 2156-342X; 2156-3446
• DOI: 10.1109/TTHZ.2014.2342499

It has recently been established that the coiled nature of the human sweat duct can lead to electromagnetic behavior reminiscent of a helical antenna. Previously, it was reported that both physical and mental stress could be traced through the reflection coefficient of the hand, influenced by the activity of the sweat ducts, in the W (75 GHz-110 GHz) and D (110 GHz-170 GHz) frequency bands. The reflected signal was monitored from a distance of 72 cm using a Vector Network Analyzer, while the subjects Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were concurrently registered. In the current work we report on a correlation between the reflection coefficient in the same frequency bands and some of the parameters of the ECG, principally to the ST elevation. This connection bears clinical importance because of the importance of the ST segment for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. This correlation is explored in the article.