Design and evaluation of a novel approach to invisible electrocardiography (ECG) in sanitary facilities using polymeric electrodes

AbstractMultiple wearable devices for cardiovascular self-monitoring have been proposed over the years, with growing evidence showing their effectiveness in the detection of pathologies that would otherwise be unnoticed through standard routine exams. In particular, Electrocardiography (ECG) has been an important tool for such purpose. However, wearables have known limitations, chief among which are the need for a voluntary action so that the ECG trace can be taken, battery lifetime, and abandonment. To effectively address these, novel solutions are needed, which has recently paved the way for “invisible” (aka “off-the-person”) sensing approaches. In this article we describe the design and experimental evaluation of a system for invisible ECG monitoring at home. For this purpose, a new sensor design was proposed, novel materials have been explored, and a proof-of-concept data collection system was created in the form of a toilet seat, enabling ECG measurements as an extension of the regular use of sanitary facilities, without requiring body-worn devices. In order to evaluate the proposed approach, measurements were performed using our system and a gold standard equipment, involving 10 healthy subjects. For the acquisition of the ECG signals on the toilet seat, polymeric electrodes with different textures were produced and tested. According to the results obtained, some of the textures did not allow the acquisition of signals in all users. However, a pyramidal texture showed the best results in relation to heart rate and ECG waveform morphology. For a texture that has shown 0% signal loss, the mean heart rate difference between the reference and experimental device was − 1.778 ± 4.654 Beats per minute (BPM); in terms of ECG waveform, the best cases present a Pearson correlation coefficient above 0.99.

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Assessing the Quality of Heart Rate Variability Estimated from Wrist and Finger PPG: A Novel Approach Based on Cross-Mapping Method

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s20113156 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (11) ◽

pp. 3156

Author(s):

Mimma Nardelli ◽

Nicola Vanello ◽

Guenda Galperti ◽

Alberto Greco ◽

Enzo Pasquale Scilingo

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Mapping Method ◽

Signal Quality ◽

Pulse Rate Variability ◽

Ecg Signals ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Field Sensor

The non-invasiveness of photoplethysmographic (PPG) acquisition systems, together with their cost-effectiveness and easiness of connection with IoT technologies, is opening up to the possibility of their widespread use. For this reason, the study of the reliability of PPG and pulse rate variability (PRV) signal quality has become of great scientific, technological, and commercial interest. In this field, sensor location has been demonstrated to play a crucial role. The goal of this study was to investigate PPG and PRV signal quality acquired from two body locations: finger and wrist. We simultaneously acquired the PPG and electrocardiographic (ECG) signals from sixteen healthy subjects (aged 28.5 ± 3.5, seven females) who followed an experimental protocol of affective stimulation through visual stimuli. Statistical tests demonstrated that PPG signals acquired from the wrist and the finger presented different signal quality indexes (kurtosis and Shannon entropy), with higher values for the wrist-PPG. Then we propose to apply the cross-mapping (CM) approach as a new method to quantify the PRV signal quality. We found that the performance achieved using the two sites was significantly different in all the experimental sessions (p < 0.01), and the PRV dynamics acquired from the finger were the most similar to heart rate variability (HRV) dynamics.

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Relationship between Invasive and Non-Invasive Hemodynamic Measures in Experimental Pulmonary Hypertension

Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews ◽

10.2174/1573398x16666200516180118 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 47-53

Author(s):

Vicente Benavides-Córdoba ◽

Mauricio Palacios Gómez

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Pulmonary Hypertension ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Right Ventricle ◽

Correlation Coefficient ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Systolic Pressure ◽

Control Group ◽

Pearson Correlation Coefficient ◽

Non Invasive

Introduction: Animal models have been used to understand the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension, to describe the mechanisms of action and to evaluate promising active ingredients. The monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension model is the most used animal model. In this model, invasive and non-invasive hemodynamic variables that resemble human measurements have been used. Aim: To define if non-invasive variables can predict hemodynamic measures in the monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension model. Materials and Methods: Twenty 6-week old male Wistar rats weighing between 250-300g from the bioterium of the Universidad del Valle (Cali - Colombia) were used in order to establish that the relationships between invasive and non-invasive variables are sustained in different conditions (healthy, hypertrophy and treated). The animals were organized into three groups, a control group who was given 0.9% saline solution subcutaneously (sc), a group with pulmonary hypertension induced with a single subcutaneous dose of Monocrotaline 30 mg/kg, and a group with pulmonary hypertension with 30 mg/kg of monocrotaline treated with Sildenafil. Right ventricle ejection fraction, heart rate, right ventricle systolic pressure and the extent of hypertrophy were measured. The functional relation between any two variables was evaluated by the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: It was found that all correlations were statistically significant (p <0.01). The strongest correlation was the inverse one between the RVEF and the Fulton index (r = -0.82). The Fulton index also had a strong correlation with the RVSP (r = 0.79). The Pearson correlation coefficient between the RVEF and the RVSP was -0.81, meaning that the higher the systolic pressure in the right ventricle, the lower the ejection fraction value. Heart rate was significantly correlated to the other three variables studied, although with relatively low correlation. Conclusion: The correlations obtained in this study indicate that the parameters evaluated in the research related to experimental pulmonary hypertension correlate adequately and that the measurements that are currently made are adequate and consistent with each other, that is, they have good predictive capacity.

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Differential effects of the blood pressure state on pulse rate variability and heart rate variability in critically ill patients

npj Digital Medicine ◽

10.1038/s41746-021-00447-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elisa Mejía-Mejía ◽

James M. May ◽

Mohamed Elgendi ◽

Panayiotis A. Kyriacou

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Pulse Rate ◽

Pulse Transit Time ◽

Pulse Rate Variability ◽

Physiological Factors ◽

Ecg Signals ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Electrocardiogram Ecg

AbstractHeart rate variability (HRV) utilizes the electrocardiogram (ECG) and has been widely studied as a non-invasive indicator of cardiac autonomic activity. Pulse rate variability (PRV) utilizes photoplethysmography (PPG) and recently has been used as a surrogate for HRV. Several studies have found that PRV is not entirely valid as an estimation of HRV and that several physiological factors, including the pulse transit time (PTT) and blood pressure (BP) changes, may affect PRV differently than HRV. This study aimed to assess the relationship between PRV and HRV under different BP states: hypotension, normotension, and hypertension. Using the MIMIC III database, 5 min segments of PPG and ECG signals were used to extract PRV and HRV, respectively. Several time-domain, frequency-domain, and nonlinear indices were obtained from these signals. Bland–Altman analysis, correlation analysis, and Friedman rank sum tests were used to compare HRV and PRV in each state, and PRV and HRV indices were compared among BP states using Kruskal–Wallis tests. The findings indicated that there were differences between PRV and HRV, especially in short-term and nonlinear indices, and although PRV and HRV were altered in a similar manner when there was a change in BP, PRV seemed to be more sensitive to these changes.

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Influence of occupational heat stress on labour productivity – a case study from Chennai, India

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management ◽

10.1108/ijppm-08-2014-0121 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

pp. 245-255 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jeremiah Chinnadurai ◽

Vidhya Venugopal ◽

Kumaravel P ◽

Paramesh R

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heat Stress ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Labour Productivity ◽

Productivity Loss ◽

Threshold Limit Value ◽

Control Measures ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Content Type

Purpose – Raise in temperatures due to climate change is likely to increase the heat stress in occupations that are physically exerting and performed outdoors which might potentially have adverse health and productivity consequences. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the productivities in construction work under the influence of heat stress using the predicted mean vote (PMV) index. Design/methodology/approach – Field studies were conducted during May 2014 which is summer time in Chennai. Continuous heart rate of workers and wet bulb globe temperature measurements are conducted for workers engaged in different jobs in construction. Metabolic rates and the workload of the workers from heart rate were calculated using the ISO method 8996 and the PMV values are calculated using the tool developed by Malchaire based on the method ISO 7730. Direct observations and personal interviews were conducted to substantiate the productivity estimations. Findings – The results showed that workers working outdoors with moderate and heavy workload exceeded the threshold limit value of 28°C and had adverse productivity impacts (18-35 per cent productivity loss), whereas the workers engaged in light indoor work was not affected by heat stress and consequent productivity losses. The productivity estimations using the PMV index is found to be statistically significant for three types of construction works (Pearson correlation coefficient value of −0.78) and also correlated well with the observations and self-reported productivities of the workers. Originality/value – The method used in this paper provides a scientific and reliable estimation of the productivities which may benefit the industry to set realistic project completion goals in hot weather and also implement interventions and policies to protect workers’ health. Developing adaptive strategies and implementing control measures are the need of the hour to protect worker’s health and economic losses in the face of climate change.

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Individual Use of Smartwatches with Self-Monitoring EKG Functionality for Diagnosing Arrhythmias: A Scoping Review (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.35453 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammed Ali

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Cardiac Arrhythmias ◽

Healthcare Systems ◽

Wearable Devices ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Self Monitoring ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Wearable Systems ◽

The World ◽

Individual Use

BACKGROUND cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have become prevalent in the world. They cause millions of deaths globally with the World Health Organization putting the figure at 17.9 million people every year. These statistics indicate the need for healthcare systems to leverage contemporary advanced technology to detect and diagnose CVDs and provide appropriate and timely care to reduce mortality rates. OBJECTIVE To conduct a scoping review exploring individual use of smartwatches with self-monitoring ECG functionality for diagnosing arrhythmias. METHODS Source were selected from six credible bibliographic databases: PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Intervention-related terms were used to identify relevant sources. Additionally, a forward search strategy was used to search the databases and identify appropriate peer-reviewed journals. RESULTS The research returned 230 sources, out of which 40 met the inclusion criterion. The studies revealed that increased research, development, and adoption of smartwatches and other wearable devices have intensified in the past two decades. The studies showed that using smartwatches can detect cardiac arrhythmias although this depends on the algorithms and biometric sensors utilized in the smartwatches. Watches with advanced algorithms, PPG, and EKG functionalities exhibit high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, detecting AFib and other arrhythmias with high efficacy. Therefore, the best way for technology companies to improve their watches’ accuracy is to design and use advanced algorithms and combine PPG, EKG, activity, and biochemical sensors. Conclusion: The contemporary healthcare space is replete with wearable and non-wearable ¬systems and devices central to detecting health conditions and informing the relevant stakeholders to take corrective actions. Smartwatches are wearable devices used chiefly by patients, health, and fitness enthusiasts to detect and monitor a series of conditions, such as heart rate. Their use has fostered timely detection of cardiac arrhythmias, and therefore, caregivers and policy-makers should emphasize their use. CONCLUSIONS Technological systems have proliferated many human spaces in the last three decades, including education, healthcare, and entertainment. Their use has improved operational efficiency, reduced costs, saved lives, and increased organizations’ bottom lines. Healthcare systems use technological devices and appliances to diagnose patients, perform surgeries, improve pharmacy operations, and reduce medical errors. That way, most healthcare facilities provide quality care, attaining positive clinical outcomes. The contemporary healthcare space is replete with wearable and non-wearable ¬systems and devices central to detecting health conditions and informing the relevant stakeholders – caregivers, patients, and family members – to take corrective actions. Smartwatches are wearable devices used chiefly by patients, health, and fitness enthusiasts to detect and monitor a series of conditions, such as heart rate. They are highly effective in detecting cardiac arrhythmias, and therefore, caregivers and policy-makers should emphasize their use.

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Quantifying Internal Load in Pre-Professional Contemporary Dancers: The Association Between Objective Heart-Rate Derived Outcome Measures and Subjective Dancers’ and Teachers’ Perceptions

Journal of Dance Medicine & Science ◽

10.12678/1089-313x.031522h ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Janine H. Stubbe ◽

Benjamin Soerel ◽

Raôul Oudejans ◽

Jolan Kegelaers ◽

Rogier M. van Rijn

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

First Year ◽

Contemporary Dance ◽

Teachers Perceptions ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Subjective Perceptions ◽

Training Impulse

Background: Monitoring heart rate is one of the most common methods used to quantify internal training load (ITL) in athletes. The aim of this study was to determine whether subjective measurements can be used as a simple, non-invasive, and inexpensive method for assessing ITL in pre-professional contemporary dancers.Method: A total of 16 first-year contemporary dance students participated in this study. Students wore heart rate monitors during 56 training sessions. After each session, students completed the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale and teachers completed the rate of observed exertion (ROE) scale. For each session, we calculated the session-RPEs (sRPE), session-ROEs (sROE), and heart-rate-derived ITLs [i.e., Banister TRaining IMPulse method (TRIMP) and Edwards TRIMP]. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the association between sRPE, sROE, Banister TRIMP, and Edwards TRIMP.Results: Between-individual correlation between Banister TRIMP and subjective dancers’ (sRPE) and teachers’ perceptions (sROE) were moderate (r = .49, p < 0.01) to large (r = .57, p < 0.01). Between-individual correlations between Edwards TRIMP and the subjective perceptions (sRPE and sROE) were very large (r = .74, p < 0.01; and r = .79, p < 0.01). There was a statistically significant large (r = 0.52, p < 0.01) to almost perfect (r = 0.93, p < 0.01) within-individual correlation between the sRPE and the two measured TRIMP methods. There was a statistically significant small (r = .29, p < 0.01) to almost perfect (r = .92, p < 0.01) within-individual correlation between the sROE and the two measured TRIMP methods. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the sRPE is a simple, non-invasive, inexpensive, and valid method for quantifying ITL in pre-professional dancers.

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Daily Stress Monitoring Using Heart Rate Variability of Bathtub ECG Signals

2018 40th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC) ◽

10.1109/embc.2018.8512767 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tianhui Li ◽

Ying Chen ◽

Wenxi Chen

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Stress Monitoring ◽

Daily Stress ◽

Ecg Signals

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A Novel Approach to Safe Special Fitness Testing in Judo Players

10.21203/rs.3.rs-726294/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wiesław Błach ◽

Tadeusz Ambroży ◽

Zbigniew Obmiński ◽

Nikos Malliaronopoulos ◽

Juliusz Migasiewicz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Laboratory Tests ◽

Physiological Responses ◽

Injury Rate ◽

Fitness Testing ◽

Specific Exercise ◽

Post Exercise ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Lactate Levels ◽

Blood Lactate Levels

Abstract Background: Measurements of physical fitness indices obtained in laboratory tests using an ergometer or a treadmill are very accurate, but they involve selected groups of muscles and do not reproduce the structure of the sport-specific exercise in judo. For this reason, researchers seek for the tests that use movements similar to the characteristic offensive techniques used during competitions (i.e. throwing). The most commonly recommended is the seoi-nage throwing test, known as SJFT (special judo fitness test).The aim of the study was to develop a new test in which uke is replaced by a dummy, in order to reduce the injury rate and ensure the safety of the participants.Methods: During the 3-week period, competitors from different weight classes performed at the beginning and then after the 2-week period one 1-minute series of continual dummy throws using the o-goshi technique and the seoi-nage technique. Post-exercise physiological responses (heart rate [HR] and blood lactate levels [La]) were evaluated.Results: Significant improvements were reported in o-goshi performance level after the training period. Physiological responses to exercise did not change significantly after training sessions. On both measurement days, post-exercise La levels were similar for o-goshi and seoi-nage throws, whereas post-exercise HR was significantly greater after seoi-nage throws.Conclusions: The dummy throwing test can be a recommended alternative to uke throwing due to the elimination of the risk of injuries to practising athletes.

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