Influence of Armband Form Factors on Wearable ECG Monitoring Performance

In the current state of innovation in wearable technology, there is a vast array of biomonitoring devices available to record electrocardiogram (ECG) in users, a key indicator of cardiovascular health. Of these devices, armband form factors serve as a convenient all-in-one platform for integration of electronic systems; yet, much of the current literature does not address the appropriate electrode location nor contact pressures necessary to achieve reliable system level ECG sensing. Therefore, this paper will elucidate the role of electrode location and contact pressure on the ECG sensing performance of an electronic textile (E-textile) armband worn on the upper left arm. We first carry out an ECG signal characterization to validate the ideal armband electrode placement necessary to measure high quality signals without sacrificing practical assembly of the armband. We then model and experimentally quantify the contact pressure between the armband onto the upper arm as a function of armband size, a critical parameter dictating skin-electrode impedance and ECG signal quality. Finally, we evaluate how the size of the armband form factor affects its ECG sensing performance. Our experimental results confirm that armbands exhibiting modeled contact pressures between 500 Pa to 1500 Pa can acquire ECG signals. However, armband sizes exhibiting experimental contact pressures of 1297 ± 102 Pa demonstrate the best performance with similar signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) compared to wet electrode benchmarks. The fundamental design parameters discussed in this work serve as a benchmark for the design of future E-textile and wearable form factors with efficient sensing performance.