Eco & Bio Friendly ECG Sensors
Cardio Link™ – Wearable Biomorphic™ ECG Sensor
What’s wrong with commercially available ECG sensors?
Current commercially available, reusable ECG sensors are not designed to be worn for extended periods of time. They are inflexible, harsh on the skin and uncomfortable. Most are inefficient, difficult to sterilize, and prone to slip induced galvanic noise which results from instabilities due to the sensor’s small scale relative motion with the skin. Some sensors can even fail to make obvious galvanic contact, even though they may pass a cursory visible inspection.
Some commercially available ECG sensors even use conductive fabric substrates that can generate significant levels of triboelectric noise which can swamp the ECG signal, tend to oxidize, and quickly lose their efficacy. Other sensors use metallic suction cups with rubber bellows; spring-loaded clamps; adhesive gels or tapes; and even elaborate harnesses. Each with their own unique set of drawbacks.
Environmentally Friendly
Substituting disposable electrodes, like the 3M™ Red Dot™, in dynamic, highly portable ECG monitoring applications is also fraught with technical and operational difficulties. And while disposable sensors are affordable in the medium term, they can become a relatively expensive option for daily patient monitoring within just a few years of use.
Furthermore, disposable electrodes generate large quantities of low-grade medical waste, particularly in situations where a large number of patients are examined each day. For example, in large public and private hospitals or other high traffic clinical settings.
Because medical-grade waste cannot be recycled it can sometimes be difficult to manage and expensive to dispose of properly due to budgetary constraints and stringent state & federal regulatory standards. Regrettably, used ECG electrodes can even end up in landfill, incinerators or, worse yet, in our oceans & waterways.
What is a Biomorphic™ Sensor?
The Cardio Link™ Wearable Biomorphic™ ECG Sensor has a unique set of properties which represent the leading edge in reusable bio-sensing technology. It is an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to the 3M™ Red Dot™ and generic clones, especially in applications where a high lead-count isn’t required.
The Cardio Link™ Wearable Biomorphic™ ECG Sensor was developed and rigorously tested over a four year long R&D effort. The aim was to optimize the sensor’s bulk material and physical properties in order to allow a patient or end user to experience a comfortable, sound, uninterrupted night’s sleep while wearing the device.
Accurate and Safe
Substantial resources were allocated toward improving its galvanic characteristics and general ECG signal fidelity. This was achieved by maximising SNR, and by minimising or completely eliminating ECG signal dropouts, EMG and other motion artifacts.
Further important features and quality improvements include durability (all the original prototypes are still fully functional after years of testing and use), hypo-allergenic properties, affordability and ease of use, and include an extremely simple and low-cost maintenance regime.
Overall test results show that the unique, intrinsic characteristic nature of the Cardio Link™ Wearable Biomorphic™ ECG Sensor make it the most comfortable and accurate reusable ECG sensor, placing it in a class of its own.
What are the Applications and Advantages?
Unlike most commercial reusable devices, the unique Cardio Link™ ECG Sensor was engineered from the start with a shear-modulus and compliance approaching that of human dermal tissue. It is soft & comfortable and has a remarkably low physical profile. Its excellent wear-ability, high flexibility, intrinsic mechanical and galvanic stability means that it is well suited for use in dynamic environments such as aged care facilities.
In fact Cardio Link™ sensors were designed for our Smart Sentry™ Holter style monitor and are perfect for general use in medical research; neonatal care units; in sports physiology and exercise monitoring; in sleep studies and clinical trials; in mobile medical diagnostics; in telemedicine; pilot flight training; Holter monitoring; in electro-therapy applications; bio-telemetry & telehealth applications; outdoor & field emergency medicine and more.
Stability & Performance
Due to its high-performance nature and excellent physical characteristics it is projected that a proportion of Cardio Link™ ’s humanitarian potential will come from outdoor ambulatory & rescue situations. Because of its stability and economic advantages it is expected to perform particularly well outdoors under adverse or extreme weather conditions and in developing countries.
Finance & Regulatory
The hard work, money and commitment that have so far been invested in
developing this new technology has proved its feasibility. But more needs to be done. 10% of the funds raised through investments and other contributions will be allocated to completing clinical trials and meeting local and overseas regulatory standards such as C.E. mark, TGA & FDA approval etc. The remaining 90% will go towards manufacturing, production and distribution.
Our efforts together with your commitment and contribution will bring the Cardio Link™ Sensor technology quickly and successfully to Australian and global communities.
Project Phase Statement (State of progress toward a minimally viable product)
Phase 3 – 2nd generation prototype system, 80% completed
Phase 4 – Integrated capability demonstration, estimated 10% remaining
Phase 5 – Regulatory approval, estimated 10% remaining