Wireless and Non-contact ECG Measurement System – the “Aachen SmartChair”

Abstract

This publication describes a measurement system that obtains an electrocardiogram (ECG) by capacitively coupled electrodes. For
demonstration purposes, this measurement system was integrated into an off-the-shelf office chair (so-called “Aachen SmartChair”).
Whereas in usual clinical applications adhesive, conductively-coupled electrodes have to be attached to the skin, the described system is able to measure an ECG without direct skin contact through the cloth. A wireless communication module was integrated for transmitting the
ECG data to a PC or to an ICU patient monitor. For system validation, a classical ECG with conductive electrodes and an oxygen
saturation signal (SpO₂) were obtained simultaneously. Finally, system-specific problems of the presented device are discussed.