A WBAN-ECG approach for real-time long-term monitoring

Healthcare solutions with remote healthcare surveillance anytime and anywhere has become a major challenge. Despite the interest in this area, between existing sensor network and the requirements of medical monitoring, remains a gap. Patients who are in critical condition and with urgent medical treatment need all-day-long hospitalization. In most cases, healthcare is focused on curing diseases in institutional units, which is diagnosis-based treatment only. But most of the patients with chronic diseases who need only therapeutic supervision are not advised to occupy a hospital bed. Using Wearable Wireless Body/Personal Area Network (WWBAN), intelligent monitoring of heart can supply information about medical conditions. Electrocardiogram (ECG) is the core reference in the diagnosis and medication process. An approach on healthcare solution WBAN based, for real-time ECG signal monitoring and long-term recording will be presented. Low-power wireless sensor nodes with local processing capabilities in order to achieve maximum mobility and flexibility are the main goal. ZigBee wireless technology will be used for transmission. Sensor device will be programmed to process ECG signal and to raise an alert. Low-power and miniaturization are essential physical requirements.