A smart wireless ear-worn device for cardiovascular and sweat parameter monitoring during physical exercise: design and performance results
Author(s)
Gil, Bruno
Anastasova, Salzitsa
Yang, Guang Z
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Wearable biomedical technology has gained much support lately as devices have become more affordable to the general public and they can easily interact with mobile phones and other platforms. The feasibility and accuracy of the data generated by these devices so as to replace the standard medical methods in use today is still under scrutiny. In this paper, we present an ear-worn device to measure cardiovascular and sweat parameters during physical exercise. ECG bipolar recordings capture the electric potential around both ears, whereas sweat rate is estimated by the impedance method over one segment of tissue closer to the left ear, complemented by the measurement of the lactate and pH levels using amperiometric and potentiometric sensors, respectively. Together with head acceleration, the acquired data is sent to a mobile phone via BLE, enabling extended periods of signal recording. Results obtained by the device have shown a SNR level of 18 dB for the ECG signal recorded around the ears, a THD value of −20.46 dB for the excitation signal involved in impedance measurements, sweat conductivity of 0.08 S/m at 1 kHz and sensitivities of 50 mV/pH and 0.8 μA/mM for the pH and lactate acquisition channels, respectively. Testing of the device was performed in human subjects during indoors cycling with characteristic level changes.
Date Issued
2019-04-01
Date Acceptance
2019-03-30
Citation
Sensors, 2019, 19 (7), pp.1-17
ISSN
1424-8220
Publisher
MDPI AG
Start Page
1
End Page
17
Journal / Book Title
Sensors
Volume
19
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access
article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000465570700135&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EP/J021199/1
EP/L014149/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Analytical
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Instruments & Instrumentation
Chemistry
Engineering
wearables
ear
electrocardiogram
sweat
lactate
pH
Bluetooth Low Energy
FINITE INTEGRATION TECHNIQUE
VITAL SIGNS
TOMOGRAPHY
COLLECTION
SYSTEM
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 1616
Date Publish Online
2019-04-04