• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.87-94
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• 2014

Recent technological advances have increased interest in personal health monitoring. Electrocardiogram(ECG) monitoring is a basic healthcare activity and can provide decisive information regarding cardiovascular system status. In this study, we developed a capacitive ECG measurement system that can be included within a cloth mattress pad. The device permits ECG data to be obtained during sleep by using capacitive electrodes. However, it is difficult to detect R-wave peaks automatically because signals obtained from the system can include a high level of noise from various sources. Because R-peak detection is important in ECG applications, we developed an algorithm that can reduce noise and improve detection accuracy under noisy conditions. Algorithm reliability was evaluated by determining its sensitivity(Se), positive predictivity(+P), and error rate(Er) by using data from the MIT-BIH Polysomnographic Database and from our capacitive ECG system. The results showed that Se = 99.75%, +P = 99.77%, and Er = 0.47% for MIT-BIH Polysomnographic Database while Se = 96.47%, +P = 99.32%, and Er = 4.34% for our capacitive ECG system. Based on those results, we conclude that our R-peak detection method is capable of providing useful ECG information, even under noisy signal conditions.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.161-167
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• 2016

Recent technological advances in sensor fabrication and bio-signal processing enabled non-constraint and non-intrusive measurement of human bio-signals. Especially, non-constraint measurement of ECG makes it available to estimate various human health parameters such as heart rate. Additionally, non-constraint ECG measurement of wheelchair user provides real-time health parameter information for emergency response. For accurate emergency response with low false alarm rate, it is necessary to discriminate quality levels of ECG measured using non-constraint approach. Health parameters acquired from low quality ECG results in inaccurate information. Thus, in this study, a machine learning based approach for three-class classification of ECG quality level is suggested. Three sensors are embedded in the back seat, chest belt, and handle of automatic wheelchair. For the two sensors embedded in back seat and chest belt, capacitively coupled electrodes were used. The accuracy of quality level classification was estimated using Monte Carlo cross validation. The proposed approach demonstrated accuracy of 94.01%, 95.57%, and 96.94% for each channel of three sensors. Furthermore, the implemented algorithm enables classification of user posture by detection of contacted electrodes. The accuracy for posture estimation was 94.57%. The proposed algorithm will contribute to non-constraint and robust estimation of health parameter of wheelchair users.