Battery-free multichannel digital ECG biotelemetry using UHF RFID techniques

Abstract

We propose to leverage UHF RFID techniques to yield a continuously wearable, battery-free wireless multichannel ECG telemetry device that is potentially disposable, low-cost and suitable for integration with multiple electrodes in a flexible circuit assembly. Such a device could have broad applicability, ranging from initial patient assessment by first responders, to continuous monitoring in various clinical settings. We employ a recently described single-chip data acquisition system including RF power harvesting to eliminate the need for a battery. The single-chip system includes 14 channels of integrated biopotential amplification, an 11-bit ADC, and a 5 Mbps digital backscatter telemetry link. We present an initial characterization of the telemetry chip in this application including battery-free, wireless 3 and 5 channel ECG recordings made from an ambulatory human subject at a range of ≈ 1 meter.