System for unconstrained ECG measurement on a toilet seat using capacitive coupled electrodes : the efficacy and practicality.

Home healthcare is a common matter of concern to modern people. For the successful home healthcare, unconstrained bio-signal monitoring is important. Previously, unconstrained lavatory typed ECG measurement system was developed. It is enough to measure subject's ECG signal non-intrusively, but not practical because of moist environment of toilet. In this study, capacitive coupled electrode was employed for overcome above disadvantages. ECG was obtained by capacitive coupled electrode and compared with ECGs obtained from conventional Ag/AgCl electrode. Possible motion artifacts were investigated. Experimental results showed that toilet based capacitive coupled ECG signal was measured successfully.