Health Innovations Stem from Great Partnerships.

Bold ideas stem from collaborative relationships - and that certainly is the case at the Medical Device Realization Center (MEDRC), which bridges innovators such as Analog Devices with the academic strength of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Our shared mission: to drive game-changing advancements in the performance, impact and affordability of medical electronics devices; to help shift health care delivery to point-of-care from more expensive, less flexible settings such as hospitals and doctors’ offices; and in so doing, to improve the lives of countless patients in ways that are ahead of what's possible.

From wearable medical devices to ingestible sensors to dramatic advances in ultrasound imaging - the MEDRC brings top minds, advanced technology and a passion for discovery together to yield product innovations across a wide range of categories and technologies.

Next-Gen Body Fluid Monitoring Sensor.

One such example is ongoing research into the development of innovative means to conduct impedance measurements of the human body in areas such as hydration, galvanic skin response and body composition.

The MEDRC is developing hardware and conducting pre-clinical trials with the objective of developing a wearable wireless monitoring device which will produce clinically relevant information on fluid buildup in congestive heart failure patients. The project will also encompass a study of body contacting technology - including conductive fabrics, non-contact electrodes, EKG electrodes, and micro-needles - with the objective of selecting the optimum choice for the application.

Research is also being conducted to develop monitoring solutions for use by the general public - such as wrist-worn devices, cell phone sensors, or other suitable formats. It is hoped that these integrated solutions will open possibilities for sensor fusion, which may reveal other diagnostic information.

A proud partner in building tomorrow.

In addition to contributing funding toward the Center's numerous research programs, Analog Devices provides technical experts who work with PhD students to offer guidance on design architectures and circuits, as well as provide input on how to evaluate and iterate their ideas.

Analog Devices' commitment to mentoring has long been part of our 50-year history, and our relationship with the MEDRC expands this dynamic even further. It is a rare and rewarding opportunity to help leading innovators, engineers and technologists create a new paradigm for medical care - from concept through delivery - and for ADI to continue to strengthen our technological connection with the young minds that will build tomorrow.

A Portable Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Measurement System for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Management

M.K. Delano and Tom O’Dwyer

An estimated five million people are currently diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) in the United States, with over 400,000 new diagnoses annually. Almost one in two patients will be readmitted to the hospital within four to six months of discharge. Up to 50% of these early re-admissions may be prevented if symptoms are recognized early enough. Bioimpedance measurements have been shown to be predictive of heart failure decompensation up to 14 days before an event occurs. We have developed a portable bioimpedance system that can measure body impedance from 1 kHz to 1 MHz. The system uses the Magnitude-Ratio and Phase Difference Detection method to calculate the magnitude and phase of the measured impedance (see Figure 1). The system is enclosed in aluminum box (see Figure 2) and can be used with four co-axial cables to reduce the impact of stray capacitances. The device has been characterized with RC networks and is being tested with healthy volunteers.

Figure 1: A schematic overview of the Magnitude-Ratio and Phase Difference Detection method. A fixed sinusoidal current is driven through the body and a sense resistance. The voltage is amplified and measured by a Gain-Phase Detector chip (AD8302).

Figure 2: The portable bioimpedance spectroscopy measurement system inside the enclosure.