Developed at the University of Sussex, the Electric Potential Sensors (EPS) are the first electrical sensors that can detect precisely the electrical activity of the heart without direct resistive contact with the body. The new sensors can detect a heartbeat up to a meter away, and make monitoring a patient's heartbeat easier and less invasive than before.
The researchers believe the EPS will offer medical and home health professionals the opportunity to develop patient-friendly, self-administered systems to monitor their vital signs with the minimum impact on their mobility. In addition, the sensitivity of these sensors means they also can be used to detect muscle signals and eye movements and, in future, will be developed to detect brain and nerve fiber signals.
