It consumes low-power and enables synchronised measurement of electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate, SpO2 and respiration rate
Medical device designers aim to facilitate less expensive healthcare-related expenditures by replacing large monitoring systems with smaller, lower power, wireless devices that can be worn discreetly and continuously in the home or office. Now, this can be achieved using the new MAX86178 analogue front-end (AFE) from Analog Devices, Inc, which is suitable for designing wearable remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices. By integrating three measurement systems (optical, ECG and bio-impedance), the single-chip obtains four common vital signs: electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), heart rate (ECG or optical PPG), blood-oxygen saturation (SpO2) and respiration rate (using BioZ). The MAX86178 enables synchronised optical PPG and ECG timing for derived health metrics.
Since next-generation wearable RPMs require low power to suit smaller batteries or extend battery life for various charging requirements, the MAX86178 provides ultra-low power to each subsystem with configurable options to optimise battery life for specific use cases.
“By integrating three healthcare subsystems on one piece of silicon, Analog Devices builds on its DNA and delivers this sensor-fusion product,” said Andrew Burt, Executive Business Manager of the Industrial and Healthcare Business Unit at Maxim Integrated, now part of Analog Devices. “This AFE is resonating with the medical community because it presents new possibilities for chronic disease management, contagious disease diagnosis and remote monitoring. The MAX86178 enables small body-worn devices that can improve healthcare delivery and lower costs by keeping people out of the hospital.”
Additionally, Analog Devices offers the MAX20343 buck-boost regulator and the MAX20360 power management IC as power solutions optimised for the 2.6mm x 2.8mm package MAX86178 and MAX86178EVKIT#.
