A non-contact wearable wireless body sensor network for multiple vital signal detection

In this paper, we describe the development of a wearable wireless body sensor network (WBSN) to contactless detect multiple vital signals. The ECG, EEG, respiration rate, eye blinking activities as well as the motion can be detected by different sensor nodes. Instead of traditional galvanic contact, the ECG signals can be detected through cloth and even with an explicit air gap up to 30mm from the chest nodes. From these, the respiration rate, heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV) can be obtained. The EEG signals can be collected without any preparation from the brain nodes, and the eye blinking activities, such as the blinking frequency, opening time and closure time can be acquired from a simple eye node with a distance up to 15mm. Moreover, the sensor nodes can detect the motion simultaneously with the vital signals by 3D accelerometers. All these nodes collect the data in real time and communicate with a gateway node using a wireless sensor network platform that include iMote2 module following IEEE 802.15.4. The gateway collects data and transfers to computer. The power supply can be provided from both batteries and energy scavenger of a thermal electric module to extend the lifetime of the WBSN.