ECG-based wireless home infant apnoea monitor

Abstract

A safe and wireless system for infant apnoea monitoring and treatment is proposed. It consists of two separate modules that detect apnoea based on a microcontroller processing and transmitting signals to the remote unit using wireless communication arrangement. Depending on the ECG signal, this system records the infant’s heart and respiratory rates. Recognition of the consecutive QRS complexes within the ECG signal helps in calculating these vitals. Abnormal breathing rate or heart rate (apnoea) triggers both an alarm system on the remote unit to inform parents of this abnormality and a treatment device that stimulates the infant to breathe using vibration transducer. Different ECG signals from the MIT-Physionet database were used to test the prototype. The system successfully extracted, analysed and transmitted required vitals and decisions to the receiving unit. Finally, the system was bench tested on 25 adult volunteers and 12 young children; voluntarily cessations of breathing were detected successfully for all subjects