First device in AFE family reduces component count and power consumption by up to 95 percent for improved system portability and patient mobility
Texas Instruments Incorporated 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. For information or samples visit www.ti.com/ads1298-pr.
Functional Diagram
Key features and benefits of the 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 Central 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.
Complete family with high levels of integration
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.
Tools, availability and packaging
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.
