A textile-based wearable system for vital sign monitoring: Applicability in cardiac patients

We presents a new textile-based wearable system, named MagIC (Maglietta Interattiva Computerizzata), for the unobtrusive recording of cardiorespiratory and motion signals during spontaneous behavior in daily life and in a clinical environment. MagIC is composed of a vest, including textile sensors for ECG and breathing frequency detection, and a portable electronic board for motion assessment, signal preprocessing and wireless data transmission to a remote computer. MagIC has been tested in freely moving subjects at work, at home, while driving and cycling. Applicability of the system in a clinical setting is now under evaluation. Recordings performed on cardiac inpatients in bed and during physical exercise showed 1) good signals quality; 2) a correct identification of arrhythmic events; and 3) a correct estimation of the tacogram. These results encourage the further tuning of the MagIC system for a routine use in the clinical practice.