Low-power AFE shrinks size for BioZ monitoring

Reduce the size and extend the life of bioimpedance (BioZ) remote-patient monitoring devices with the MAX30009 low-power, high-performance BioZ AFE from Analog Devices, Inc. For developers of small, battery-powered, continuously wearable devices, this AFE on a chip provides clinical-grade vital sign measurements of bioimpedance analysis for patient health assessment for wellness wearables and medical-grade patches.

Many vital signs monitors, stress monitors, chest patches, BioZ and wearable healthcare devices must function on a small battery as part of small, compact designs that highlight convenience and comfort. The device is a low-power design with various options to allow use-case power optimisation that lowers the draw on tiny batteries, therefore lengthening the operational life of BioZ wearables. It lessens power consumption by 62% compared to the nearest competitive product, increasing measurement periods for body-worn patches and vital signs monitoring devices. The highly integrated AFE is also 30% smaller than the nearest competitor, enabling designers to decrease the size of vital signs measurement devices, making them more convenient and comfortable for consumers and patients.

Bioimpedance analysis devices are popular and convenient ways healthcare professionals measure body fat percentage and body composition, such as respiration and impedance cardiography. The device monitors a comprehensive range of BioZ modalities through simultaneous I and Q measurements, two-electrode (bipolar) and four-electrode (tetrapolar) configurations. This allows flexible inputs for BioZ modality measurements and a wide range of sample rates to support various medical BioZ measurements. A wider range enables more profound insights into patient health by measuring respiration rate, galvanic skin response and electrodermal activity, bioimpedance spectroscopy, body composition and fluid analysis, impedance cardiography and plethysmography.

“Healthcare wearables are saving lives by measuring the health of millions of patients with a broad range of conditions. Through bioimpedance (BioZ), medical professionals and scientists have been able to gain access to a new plethora of clinically meaningful physiological parameters that now can directly benefit consumers, including stress, hydration levels, and early detection of cancer,” said Dr Benjamin Sanchez, assistant professor of ECE at University of Utah and bioimpedance expert. “I use devices like the MAX30009 AFE in my research, and they play a valuable role in making BioZ monitoring more ubiquitous for healthcare device designers and fitness consumers.”