24.3 An implantable 64nW ECG-monitoring mixed-signal SoC for arrhythmia diagnosis

Electrocardiography (ECG) is a critical source of information for a number of heart disorders. In arrhythmia studies and treatment, long-term observation is critical to determine the nature of the abnormality and its severity. However, even small body-wearable systems can impact a patient's everyday life and signals captured using such systems are prone to noise from sources such as 60Hz power and body movement. In contrast, implanted devices are less susceptible to these noise sources and, while having closer-spaced electrodes, can obtain similar quality ECG signals due to their proximity to the heart [1]. In addition, implanted devices enable continuous monitoring without affecting patient quality of life. As in other implantable systems, low power consumption is a critical factor; in this case to provide a sufficiently long operating time between wireless recharge events.