Wireless E-Jacket for Multiparameter Biophysical Monitoring and Telemedicine Applications

A widespread requirement exists for a low cost and reliable health monitor in the clinical as well as home environment. The e-jacket presented here is an example of a smart clothing system with multiple bioparameter acquisition of electrocardiogram (ECG), pulse oximetry, body motion/tilt and skin temperature. The battery operated circuit has an integrated graphic liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and a 2.4 GHz wireless link. An RS232 interface provides a plug-in port for easy accessibility to remote telemedicine applications. The system incorporates an efficient ARM7 microcontroller to coordinate a list of software tasks with associated time stamp. Comfort analysis and reliability aspects have been carefully studied along with intelligent power conservation schemes. A low cost and reliable tele-medical network is proposed using an innovative e-textile solution.