Medical Sensor Technology

Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits

VitaSens Handheld

Sensor Components for the ZigBee Sensor Network

Three-Channel ECG

EKG-Animation

Four electrodes on the patient’s upper body register his myocardial activity. The electrode signals are fed to a small box, which, besides miniaturized ECG electronics, also contains a ZigBee radio module and a battery. From this, a four-channel ECG is derived. In combination with a pulse oximeter, this has also been realized as sensor combination VitaSENS®.



Pulse Wave and Oxygen Saturation

Puls-Animation

Measurement of the pulse curve and functional oxygen saturation in the arterial blood happens over a finger clip on the patient’s hand. Related electronics and the ZigBee radio module are located in a small bag, which may be worn as a wrist band.
Alternatively, pulse wave and oxygen saturation can be meassured on the patient’s earlobe – similar to sensor combination VitaSENS. The electronics are then worn on the upper arm instead of the wrist.

Breathing

Atemkurve-Animation

The patient’s breathing is monitored with nose glasses and a pressure sensor. Especially in sleep diagnostics this sensor component is an important contribution to nocturnal apnea detection.









Movement and Position

Lage-Animation

A movement sensor, which is worn similar to a larger band-aid, is located on the patient’s chest. This sensor component records the patient’s current position: lying, standing, or bent over.
The interpretation of the measured data, which happens directly in the sensor module, also makes fall detection possible: unusually strong concussions trigger an alarm signal that is sent to a control center.




Temperature

Temperatur-Animation

A temperature sensor can be used for measuring the temperature of surface and surroundings. The band-aid version makes it possible to apply this data sensor to any part of the body.






Emergency Push-Button

Alarm-Animation

Additionally to the monitoring through vital parameter sensors, the patient should be given the option to trigger an alarm signal manually. If the patient feels ill, he only has to push a button to send an emergency signal to the control center.