Long-Term Polygraphic Monitoring through MEMS and Charge Transfer for Low-Power Wearable Applications

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 22; no. 7; p. 2566
• Main Authors: Manoni, Alessandro, Gumiero, Alessandro, Zampogna, Alessandro, Ciarlo, Chiara, Panetta, Lorenzo, Suppa, Antonio, Della Torre, Luigi, Irrera, Fernanda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27.03.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Algorithms; Artificial intelligence; Brain research; Charge transfer; Data recording; Electric Power Supplies; Electrocardiography; Electrodes; Electroencephalography; electrostatic sensors; Fainting; Hospitals; long time domestic monitoring; low power consumption; MEMS technology; Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems; Microelectromechanical systems; Monitoring; multiple biopotentials acquisition; Power management; Sensors; Wearable Electronic Devices; wearable sensors; Wearable technology; Wireless Technology; electrostatic sensors; long time domestic monitoring; wearable sensors; MEMS technology; low power consumption; multiple biopotentials acquisition
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s22072566

In this work, we propose a wireless wearable system for the acquisition of multiple biopotentials through charge transfer electrostatic sensors realized in MEMS technology. The system is designed for low power consumption and low invasiveness, and thus candidates for long-time monitoring in free-living conditions, with data recording on an SD or wireless transmission to an external elaborator. Thanks to the wide horizon of applications, research is very active in this field, and in the last few years, some devices have been introduced on the market. The main problem with those devices is that their operation is time-limited, so they do not match the growing demand for long monitoring, which is a must-have feature in diagnosing specific diseases. Furthermore, their versatility is hampered by the fact that they have been designed to record just one type of signal. Using ST-Qvar sensors, we acquired an electrocardiogram trace and single-channel scalp electroencephalogram from the frontal lobes, together with an electrooculogram. Excellent results from all three types of acquisition tests were obtained. The power consumption is very low, demonstrating that, thanks to the MEMS technology, a continuous acquisition is feasible for several days.