TI unveils fully integrated analog front end for ECG and EEG applications

DALLAS, USA: Texas Instruments Inc. has introduced the first in a family of fully integrated analog front ends (AFEs) for portable and high-end electrocardiogram (ECG) and electroencephalogram (EEG) equipment, as well as patient monitoring and consumer medical applications.

The eight-channel, 24-bit ADS1298 reduces component count and power consumption by up to 95 percent as compared to discrete implementations, with a power efficiency of 1 mW/channel, while allowing customers to achieve the highest levels of diagnostic accuracy.

"Until now, high power consumption and bulky designs limited the portability of ECG and EEG equipment," said Art George, senior vice president of TI's High-Performance Analog business unit. "With the ADS1298's low power consumption and high integration, manufacturers can develop equipment that is portable, compact and affordable. This will make it easier for doctors to monitor vital parameters over the long term for more accurate clinical data, while increasing patient comfort with devices that can easily be carried, concealed or worn."

Key features and benefits of ADS1298
* Simplifies design and saves board space, using up to 95 percent fewer components, by integrating all common features required for ECG and EEG front ends, including the following:
- eight low-noise programmable gain amplifiers (PGAs).
- eight high-resolution, simultaneous sampling analog-to-digital converters (ADCs).
- integrated amplifier for right-leg drive.
- integrated amplifiers for Wilson Center Terminal (WCT) and Goldberger Terminals (GCT).
- digital pace detection capability.
- continuous lead-off detection.
- onboard oscillator and reference for smaller footprint and low-power applications.

* Power consumption of 1 mW/channel results in up to 95 percent less power use than discrete implementations, increasing equipment portability and improving patient mobility.

* The ADS1298's 4-uVpp (typical) input-referred noise is far superior to the limits set in IEC60601-2-27/51, for more accurate measurements in portable equipment and high channel-density, high-end ECG and EEG equipment.

* Complementing the analog front end's leading power consumption is the low-power TMS320C5505 DSP family. At less than 0.15-mW/MHz power consumption, the TMS320C5505 maximizes battery life for portable patient monitoring applications. Together with TI's full portfolio of analog signal chain and power management solutions, these devices offer customers a complete signal chain for ECG and EEG applications to speed their time to market.

Succeeding four- and six-channel versions offer designers a migration path to varying resolutions and channel combinations for low-noise medical applications. Examples include patient monitoring; rest and stress ECG; fetal monitoring; hospital and public access automated external defibrillators (AEDs); and consumer medical applications, such as sports and fitness monitors.

The ADS1298 is sampling today in a BGA package and is priced at $23.95 in 1,000-unit quantities. The ADS1298 EVM is also available. In addition, customers can leverage TI's ECG Medical Development Kit based on the C5505 DSP with a complete signal chain and software offering to speed time to market for low-power patient monitoring applications.