Single-chip AFE integrates optical, ECG, and bio-impedance measurement systems

Simplify the design of wearable remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices by measuring four vital signs with one MAX86178 triple-system vital signs analog front end (AFE) from Analog Devices, Inc. This single-chip AFE integrates three measurement systems (optical, ECG, and bio-impedance) to obtain four common vital signs: electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), heart rate (ECG or optical PPG), blood-oxygen saturation (SpO2), and respiration rate (using BioZ). The MAX86178 enables synchronized optical PPG and ECG timing for derived health metrics.

Medical device designers are eager to reduce annual healthcare-related expenditures by replacing office-based health monitoring systems with smaller, lower power, wireless devices that are worn discreetly and continuously in the home or office. With three clinical-grade subsystems integrated into one IC, the MAX86178 triple system AFE replaces discrete implementations by integrating an optical PPG sub-system to measure heart rate and SpO2, a single-lead ECG sub-system, as well as a biopotential and bioimpedance (BioZ) sub-system to measure respiration rate. It permits small vital signs devices by fitting those multiple functions into a 2.6mm x 2.8mm package.

In addition, next-generation wearable RPMs need to operate at low power to permit smaller batteries or extend battery life to allow more convenient charging requirements. To enable ultra-low-power features, the MAX86178 provides each subsystem with configurable options to optimize battery life for specific use cases.

In addition, Analog Devices offers the MAX20343 buck-boost regulator and the MAX20360 power management IC as power solutions optimized for the MAX86178.

MAX86178 Triple-System Vital Signs AFE Features and Benefits include:

Small Size: Replaces medical facility grade monitoring systems with body-worn devices

Simplified Design: By integrating and synchronizing three different measurement systems to measure four vital signs, it simplifies design and enables even more complicated derivative vital signs monitoring

MAX86178EVKIT# and MAX86178 are available now in a 2.6mm x 2.8mm WLP package.