Measuring Impedance in Congestive Heart Failure.

The hospitalization of patients with Heart Failure represents an increasing burden for the healthcare system with more than 23 million worldwide suffering from this disease. In this paper we explore methods to detect fluid retention in the lungs by measuring the thoracic impedance, so that is possible to monitor Heart Failure patients, and physicians can early detect acute episodes. A small and portable device was developed to measure the thoracic impedance of the patient. From the measured thoracic impedance it can estimate the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This device is a low cost, friendly to use equipment that can be operated by a big range of users: Moreover, it was designed for low power consumption with a rechargeable battery for portable use. The device empowers the patient to monitor his own body fluid at home, and a physician can follow him remotely. This procedure would help to drastically reduce the number of hospitalizations and, consequently, improve the quality of life of people diagnosed with Heart Failure.