This work presents a portable Linux-based electrocardiogram
(ECG) signals measurement and monitoring
system. The proposed system consists of an ECG front end
and an embedded Linux platform (ELP). The ECG front end
digitizes 12-lead ECG signals acquired from electrodes and
then delivers them to the ELP via a universal serial bus (USB)
interface for storage, signal processing, and graphic display.
The proposed system can be installed anywhere (e.g., offices,
homes, healthcare centers and ambulances) to allow people to
self-monitor their health conditions at any time. The proposed
system also enables remote diagnosis via Internet. Additionally,
the system has a 7-in. interactive TFT-LCD touch screen that
enables users to execute various functions, such as scaling a
single-lead or multiple-lead ECG waveforms. The effectiveness
of the proposed system was verified by using a commercial
12-lead ECG signal simulator and in vivo experiments. In
addition to its portability, the proposed system is license-free as
Linux, an open-source code, is utilized during software
development. The cost-effectiveness of the system significantly
enhances its practical application for personal healthcare.
