Optimized Electrode Locations for Wearable Single-Lead ECG Monitoring Devices: A Case Study Using WFEES Modules Based on the LANS Method

Body surface potential mapping (BSPM) is a valuable tool for research regarding electrocardiograms (ECG). However, the BSPM system is limited by its large number of electrodes and wires, long installation time, and high computational complexity. In this paper, we designed a wearable four-electrode electrocardiogram-sensor (WFEES) module that measures six-channel ECGs simultaneously for ECG investigation. To reduce the testing lead number and the measurement complexity, we further proposed a method, the layered (A, N) square-based (LANS) method, to optimize the ECG acquisition and analysis process using WFEES modules for different applications. Moreover, we presented a case study of electrode location optimization for wearable single-lead ECG monitoring devices using WFEES modules with the LANS method. In this study, 102 sets of single-lead ECG data from 19 healthy subjects were analyzed. The signal-to-noise ratio of ECG, as well as the mean and coefficient of variation of QRS amplitude, was derived among different channels to determine the optimal electrode locations. The results showed that a single-lead electrode pair should be placed on the left chest above the electrode location of standard precordial leads V1 to V4. Additionally, the best orientation was the principal diagonal as the direction of the heart’s electrical axis.