Hardware-software implementation of a local Wi-Fi network for the transmission of biomedical signals

The object of this study is a wireless local Wi-Fi network for broadcasting biomedical signals, its structure, and principles of construction. The task of minimizing the power consumption of a Wi-Fi transmitter has been addressed, which provides the possibility of building a wireless system for long-term monitoring of biomedical signals. As a result, a functional diagram of a wireless Holter monitoring system based on an ESP32 microcontroller was constructed, which includes a subsystem for setting up and diagnosing system units using MATLAB software packages, an ECG signal generator, and a multifunctional PCIe board from National Instruments. Evaluation criteria and methods for minimizing power consumption by an autonomous Wi-Fi transmitter have been proposed. Methods for synchronizing the working cycles of the transmitter and receiver of the Holter monitoring system were determined. A procedure for determining the optimal biosignal measurement frequency is presented, at which the distortion of ECG signals would be minimal, which means that the signal could be transmitted without losses. The concept of constructing an algorithm for implementing a program for a Wi-Fi transmitter has been developed, ensuring parallel execution of ECG signal measurement operations and their transmission over a local network. The data from semi-naturalistic tests with an experimental Holter monitoring system with a pre-setup subsystem and using external measuring devices, a computer, and the MATLAB software environment are presented. A comparative analysis of the experimental data with primary ECG signals and ECG signals at the receiver output showed a fairly stable correspondence between the input and output ECG signals. The proposed algorithms make it possible to reduce the average current consumption of the ESP32 microcontroller to 50.5 mA. The results of the study demonstrate the possibility of constructing an energy-efficient wireless system for long-term monitoring of biomedical signals based on the Wi-Fi interface