PCard/Savvy

PCard is an innovation in mobile monitoring of vital physiological health-state parameters and the context of the user’s environment. The system is based on a small body sensor (BS), which enables the measurement of ECG, EMG, EEG, temperature, heart and respiratory rates, motion and acceleration. The BS is wirelessly connected to a personal mobile unit (smartphone) that communicates with it and processes, analyzes and displays measurements. The mobile unit is connected, via Internet, to a secure server where the measurements are stored and, if necessary, further processed. The BS is a small, user-friendly and unobtrusive device, suitable also for older people, patients, children, athletes and people with special needs.

PCARD system scheme.
PCARD system scheme.

A commercial version of the medically certified ECG sensor – trademarked SAVVY ECG www.savvy.si – is available on the market since 2016. The transformation of knowladge from JSI to the private sector (Saving, d.o.o. and L-TEK, d.o.o.) was awarded with the Puh Certificate of Recognition for significant achievements in the field of medical equipment in 2017. The device has been sold internationally and has since been used by the general public, by individual medical professionals, and by medical institutions.

ECG analysis software that can deal with intermittent signals.
ECG analysis software that can deal with intermittent signals.

The device in its current design is a result of almost a decade of research, development, testing and upgrades. It started before smartphones as we know them today were available and before the Bluetooth Low Power standard made its way into consumer electronics. Currently, body sensor can be connected to modern Android smartphones and tablets, to PCs running Linux, to single-board computers, such as the Raspberry Pi, and even to embedded devices with Bluetooth 4 or later. To use it to its full potential, however, Internet connection on the connected device is a necessity. Large measurements that span multiple days can be most efficiently stored and processed in the Cloud.

Evolution of the wearable sensor.
Evolution of the wearable sensor.

Related projects

EkoSmart
PCard system
Core research programme P2-0095

P-Lab team


Related publications

A. Rashkovska, M. Depolli, I. Tomašić, V. Avbelj, R. Trobec; Medical-grade ECG sensor for long-term monitoring, Sensors, vol. 20, 2020 [DOI: 10.3390/s20061695][COBISS: 33290791] ::
R. Trobec, M. Jan, M. Linden, I. Tomašić; Detection and treatment of atrial irregular rhythm with body gadgets and 35-channel ECG, MIPRO 2019 : 42nd International Convention, May 20 -24, 2019, Opatija, Croatia, MIPRO ..., 2019 [COBISS: 32375591]
M. Brložnik, Š. Likar, A. Krvavica, V. Avbelj, A. Domanjko-Petrič; Wireless body sensor for electrocardiographic monitoring in dogs and cats, Journal of Small Animal Practice, vol. 60, 2019 [DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12963][COBISS: 4728954]
I. Tomašić, N. Petrović, M. Linden, A. Rashkovska; Comparison of publicly available beat detection algorithms performances on the ECGs obtained by a patch ECG device, MIPRO 2019 : 42nd International Convention, May 20 -24, 2019, Opatija, Croatia, MIPRO ..., 2019 [DOI: 10.23919/MIPRO.2019.8756769][COBISS: 32388903]
I. Tomašić, A. Rashkovska, R. Trobec, M. Linden; The implications of the lead theory on the patch ECG devices positioning and measurement, World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering 2018, June 3-8, 2018, Prague, Czech Republic ; (Vol. 1), IFMBE proceedings, 2019 [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-9035-6_128][COBISS: 31842087]
M. Brložnik, A. Domanjko-Petrič, V. Kadunc Kos, A. Rashkovska, V. Avbelj; Wireless body sensor for electrocardiographic monitoring in equine medicine, MIPRO 2019 : 42nd International Convention, May 20 -24, 2019, Opatija, Croatia, MIPRO ..., 2019 [DOI: 10.23919/MIPRO.2019.8756965][COBISS: 32389159]
B. Širaiy, R. Trobec, V. Ilić; Quality of one-channel telemetric ECG sensor Signal in maximum exercise stress tests, Measurement science review, vol. 19, 2019 [DOI: 10.1515/msr-2019-0013][COBISS: 32412199]
D. Čarman, T. Cvetkovič, V. Avbelj, J. Kališnik, J. Žibert; Študija o pooperativni atrijski fibrilaciji, Delavnica za elektronsko in mobilno zdravje ter pametna mesta : zbornik 21. mednarodne multikonference Informacijska družba - IS 2018, 8.-12. oktober 2018, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2018 [COBISS: 5527403]
A. Rashkovska, V. Avbelj; Three-year experience with a wireless ECG sensor, MIPRO 2018 : 41st International Convention, May 21 -25, 2018, Opatija, Croatia, 2018 [COBISS: 32042535]
D. Enova, R. Trobec, K. Mesarič, K. Slevec, B. Ambrožič, T. Enova; New HRV biofeedback technique and monitoring its effects in a psychotherapeutic group of coronary patients with SAVVY mini ECG devices installed, Delavnica za elektronsko in mobilno zdravje ter pametna mesta : zbornik 21. mednarodne multikonference Informacijska družba - IS 2018, 8.-12. oktober 2018, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2018 [COBISS: 31846183]
R. Trobec, I. Tomašić, A. Rashkovska, M. Depolli, V. Avbelj; Body sensors and electrocardiography, 2018 [COBISS: 30759719] ::
S. Vodička, V. Avbelj; Elektrokardiografski senzor : uporaba med družinskimi zdravniki, Delavnica za elektronsko in mobilno zdravje ter pametna mesta : zbornik 21. mednarodne multikonference Informacijska družba - IS 2018, 8.-12. oktober 2018, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2018 [COBISS: 31846951]
S. Šprager, R. Trobec, M. Jurič; Feasibility of biometric authentication using wearable ECG body sensor based on higher-order statistics, MIPRO 2017 : 40th Jubilee International Convention, May 22-26, 2017, Opatija, Croatia, MIPRO ..., 2017 [COBISS: 1537433283]
A. Rashkovska, V. Avbelj; Abdominal fetal ECG measured with differential ECG Sensor, MIPRO 2017 : 40th Jubilee International Convention, May 22-26, 2017, Opatija, Croatia, 2017 [COBISS: 30758951]
M. Depolli, J. Kališnik, T. Korošec, T. Poplas-Susič, U. Stanič, A. Semeja; PCARD platform for mHealth monitoring, Informatica : an international journal of computing and informatics, vol. 40, 2016 [COBISS: 29438247]
V. Avbelj; Extranodal pacemaker activity during sleep : a case study of wireless ECG sensor data, MIPRO 2015 : proceedings, MIPRO ..., 2015 [COBISS: 28744487]
R. Trobec, V. Avbelj, A. Rashkovska; Multi-functionality of wireless body sensors, The IPSI BgD transactions on internet research, vol. 10, 2014 [COBISS: 27718951]
R. Trobec, A. Rashkovska, V. Avbelj; Multi-functional wireless body sensor, GLOBAL HEALTH 2012, 2012 [COBISS: 26202663] ::
R. Trobec, A. Rashkovska, V. Avbelj; Two proximal skin electrodes - a respiration rate body sensor, Sensors, vol.12, 2012 [DOI: 10.3390/s121013813][COBISS: 26182951] ::