Toward a Generalized Analog Front End for Multiple Biomedical Signals Acquisition: A Review

The continuous long-term monitoring of human vital signs is crucial for modern healthcare systems, enabling early diagnosis, personalized treatment, and real-time health tracking. However, the integration of multiple physiological signal acquisition circuits into a single wearable device presents significant challenges, particularly in terms of power consumption, device miniaturization, and cost efficiency. This article discusses the challenges and advancements in integrating multiple physiological signal acquisition circuits into a single wearable device. It examines state-of-the-art techniques for low-power measurement of electrocardiography (ECG), bio-impedance analysis (BIA), and non-invasive glucose monitoring (NICGM). Various circuit architectures and methodologies are analyzed, along with potential strategies for sharing a common readout channel among multiple signals. The discussion aims to provide insights into optimizing power efficiency, reducing system area, and minimizing costs, ultimately contributing to the development of more efficient and compact wearable health monitoring devices.