Plessey Semiconductors is sampling its Electric Potential Integrated Circuit (EPIC) sensors targetting ECG applictaions.
“The first EPIC products are designed for ECG applications for health and patient monitoring as well as fitness and wellness applications,” said Derek Rye, Plessey’s marketing manager.
The EPIC sensor measures changes in an electric field in a similar way to a magnetometer detecting changes in a magnetic field. The technology works at normal room temperatures and functions as an ultra-high, input impedance sensor that acts as a highly stable, extremely sensitive, contactless digital voltmeter to measure tiny changes in the electric field down to milliVolts.
“The next release products available later in this quarter will be optimised for movement sensing where applications range from security, to automotive, to safety through to gesture recognition applications," said Rye.
"We are working on end applications where the potential volumes are in millions per month. This is all very exciting for the company,” said Rye.
A feature of the EPIC sensors are that they are dry contact so that no gels or similar fluids are required to make contact. The sensors can be cleaned between uses - unlike conventional ECG sensors that have to be disposed of after every use at a cost of $2 a set.
The supplier also claims that fewer sensors are required to monitor the body whilst the patient lies down.
" Most places on Earth have a vertical electric field of about 100 Volts per metre. The human body is mostly water and this interacts with the electric field. EPIC technology is so sensitive that it can detect these changes at a distance and even through a solid wall," said the supplier.
The EPIC sensor is being offered in two package formats. The PS25101 is supplied in the same custom engineered, metal or plastic disc style, probe assembly that was used for the first prototype sensors and demonstration systems. This comes complete with a connecting lead and DIN plug termination.
www.plesseysemi.com
