Monitoring a skipped heartbeat: a real-time premature ventricular contraction (PVC) monitor

A Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC) is an irregular heartbeat caused by the spontaneous firing of the Purkinje fibers when the Sinoatrial node fails to establish the normal pacing of the heart. PVCs can impair cardiac function and lead to greater risk of cardiovascular disease. PVCs are usually monitored with a Holter monitor or event monitor, which are bulky and can be uncomfortable for the user. This paper outlines the design, development, and testing of a wearable chest band that captures the wearer's ECG signal and wirelessly transmits the information via Bluetooth Low Energy to an Android device. The Android app then differentiates normal rhythm from PVC and alerts the user once a PVC event has been detected. The device is capable of being worn under clothes for inconspicuous, continuous monitoring of PVCs or being used to monitor PVC events whenever symptoms may arise.