Final Report

A Mobile Wireless Electrocardiogram System for Health Care

Facilities
ECE4007 Senior Design Project
Section L01, J and the Three Js
Joe Richard, Tea! Leader
John Farner
Jason Fritts
J"lian Jaeger
S"#!itted
Dece!#er $, %007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Execti!e Smmary&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&'
1& "#trodctio#&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&4
1&1 (#jecti)e&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&4
1&% *oti)ation&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&$
1&' +ac,gro"nd&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&$
%& $ro%ect &escri'tio# a#d (oals&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&-
'& Tech#ical S'ecificatio#&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&7
)* &esig# A''roach a#d &etails
4&1 Design .pproach&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&/
4&% Codes and Standards&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&11
4&' Constraints, .lternati)es, and Tradeo00s&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&1%
$& Schedle+ Tas,s+ a#d Milesto#es&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&14
-& $ro%ect &emo#stratio#&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&1$
7& Mar,eti#g a#d Cost A#alysis&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&1-
7&1 *ar,eting .nal1sis&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&1-
7&% Cost .nal1sis&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&1-
/& Smmary&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&17
2& -efere#ces&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&12
A''e#dix A&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&%1
A''e#dix B&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&%%
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 %
E.EC/T"0E S/MMA-1
The *o#ile 5ireless Electrocardiogra! 3E674 is a !edical tele!etr1 instr"!ent "sed
#1 !edical personnel to !onitor a patients E67 signal 8hile allo8ing the patient to re!ain
0"ll1 !o#ile and co!0orta#le& This E67 !eas"res s!all electrical signals 0ro! the patients
chest ca"sed #1 the heart #eating& 9sing these signals, doctors and other !edical sta00 can
!onitor the patients 8ell #eing and predict 0"t"re pro#le!s& 5hile E67s are co!!onl1 "sed in
hospitals, !an1 patients 8o"ld #ene0it 0ro! the a#ilit1 to per0or! "s"al tas,s 8hile re!aining
!onitored on an E67& :n en)iron!ents s"ch as n"rsing ho!es and assisted li)ing centers this
technolog1 8o"ld allo8 the elderl1 to retain their 0reedo! o0 !o)e!ent and still allo8 n"rsing
sta00 to !onitor i!portant cases and patients& The 8ireless data rela1 a#ilit1 8o"ld allo8 !an1
patients to #e !onitored 0ro! a single #ase station 8ith li!ited sta00& This 0eat"re 8o"ld #e
)al"a#le to hospital ad!inistrators and !anage!ent& 5ith a s!all 0leet o0 these de)ices an entire
n"rsing ho!e or hospital 0loor co"ld #e 8ell loo,ed a0ter #1 a s!all n"rsing sta00&
This design tea! has co!pleted a protot1pe 0or the !o#ile 8ireless E67 "nit as 8ell as
de)eloped so0t8are 0or the 8ireless trans!ission and #ase station& The !o#ile "nit can #e 8orn
#1 the patient, and can !eas"re heart rh1th! data, digiti;e it, and trans0er it 8irelessl1 #ac, to
the #ase station& .t the #ase station the so0t8are can store the data and allo8 !edical sta00 to
)ie8 the E67 reading and heart#eats per !in"te !eas"re!ent& :n 0"rther design e00orts #atter1
li0e co"ld #e e<tended #e1ond the achie)ed '&$ ho"rs, alar!s co"ld #e added to alert !edical
sta00 o0 pro#le!s, the pac,aging co"ld #e opti!i;ed, and a n"!#er o0 other 0eat"res co"ld #e
i!ple!ented to increase the "nits ease o0 "se and appeal to c"sto!ers&
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 '
Mobile Wireless Electrocardiogram
2* "NT-O&/CT"ON
Electrocardiogra!s 3E674 ha)e long #een "sed in the hospital en)iron!ent to diagnose
cardiac arrh1th!ias and screen 0or heart disease& =o8e)er, "ntil recentl1 patients had to #e
tethered to the E67 !achine #1 a 0e8 0eet o0 8ire >1?& The !o#ile 8ireless E67 s1ste! is an
electrocardiogra! 8ith 8ireless data trans!ission capa#ilities, and a !onitoring #ase station
"sed to recei)e and !onitor the patients condition& 5ith the in)ention o0 the !o#ile E67,
patients can no8 !o)e 0reel1 aro"nd their en)iron!ent, allo8ing their caregi)ers to easil1
!onitor the patients stat"s at an1 location&
2*2 Ob%ecti!e
The o#jecti)e o0 this project 8as to pro)ide hospitals 8ith a 8ireless electrocardiogra!
8ith the a#ilit1 to operate a8a1 0ro! its !onitoring station& =ospitals aro"nd the co"ntr1 "se
electrocardiogra!s e)er1 da1 to !onitor patients heart conditions "sing stationar1 #edside E67
"nits& ("r o#jecti)e 8as to allo8 caregi)ers the a#ilit1 to !o)e their patients aro"nd their
en)iron!ents 8itho"t e)er ha)ing to disconnect and reconnect E67 8ires& 9sing the sa!e E67
design "sed in hospitals toda1, 8e added 8ireless capa#ilities to the "nit #1 adding an :EEE
/0%&11g 5i@Fi adapter 0or data trans!ission& 5ith the addition o0 a !o#ile #atter1 pac,, the
E67 #ase "nit is a#le to tra)el 8ith the patient 8here)er the1 go& 5e also designed so0t8are 0or
a #ase station that can recei)e the E67 "nits 5i@Fi signal "sing another :EEE /0%&11g 5i@Fi
adapter&
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 4
2*3 Moti!atio#
9sing c"rrent electrocardiogra!s in hospitals can #e a ti!e@cons"!ing and "nsanitar1
tas, >%?& Connecting and disconnecting E67 leads 0ro! hospital roo! to hospital roo! ta,es "p
)al"a#le ti!e that n"rses co"ld #e "sing to 0oc"s on the patients ail!ent& Changing 8ires also
introd"ces #acteria to the patient, 0"rther increasing the ris, o0 in0ection&
+1 "sing a !o#ile E67, the hospital sta00 onl1 has to connect 8ires to the patient once&
This 0eat"re 8ill sa)e the caregi)ers ti!e and decrease the ris, o0 #acteria #eing introd"ced to
the patient& The patient 8ill also #e A!ore co!0orta#le in their #eds and getting "p and aro"ndB
since the1 are 0ree 0ro! "nnecessar1 8ires >%?& This project 8as !oti)ated #1 the reali;ation that
8ires are "nnecessar1 gi)en the c"rrent state o0 8ireless co!!"nication technologies&
2*4 Bac,gro#d
C"rrentl1 there are a 0e8 8ireless electrocardiogra!s #eing tested on the !ar,et&
Li0eS1nc has a !o#ile E67 s1ste! #eing tested in thirteen hospitals across the co"ntr1&
Li0eS1ncs s1ste! "ses +l"etooth 0or its 8ireless capa#ilities, gi)ing it a range o0 thirt1 to 0ort1
0eet >1?& The !ain goal o0 this de)ice is to Apro)ide a !o#ile inter0ace to e<isting E67 !onitors
in the hospitalB >'?&
Phillips pro)ides a 8ireless A:ntelliC"e Tele!etr1 S1ste!B that can #e "sed to !onitor a
patients E67 !eas"re!ent& This s1ste! relies on a %&4 7=; cell"lar net8or, "sing 0i<ed
antennas installed thro"gho"t the hospital >4?&
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 $
3* $-O5ECT &ESC-"$T"ON AN& (OALS
The co!pleted project protot1pe is a !o#ile electrocardiogra!& . patient 8ill 8ear the
!o#ile E67 that gathers heart rh1th! data, stores the data, and trans!its it 8irelessl1 to a
re!ote #ase station 0or anal1sis #1 a health care pro0essional& This E67 !onitoring s1ste! can
#e !ar,eted to hospitals, n"rsing ho!es, and other health care 0acilities #ased on these goals&
@ Sa0e 0or "ser
@ Relia#le E67 data "nder a )ariet1 o0 circ"!stances
@ +ase station inter0ace
@ Eas1 to "se !o#ile s1ste!
@ Light8eight and s!all si;e
@ 5ireless data trans0er
@ S"00icient 8ireless range
(ne o0 the pri!ar1 goals o0 the !o#ile E67 8as relia#le heart rh1th! representation&
The E67 reado"ts sho"ld #e co!para#le to standard E67 "nits that are c"rrentl1 #eing "sed&
The designs signal digiti;ation 8as !odi0ied to ens"re this le)el o0 D"alit1, and has e<ceeded
original design goals& Si!ilarl1, the !o#ile E67 !"st satis01 the sa!e sa0et1 standards as
present s1ste!s&
Since the "nit 8ill #e 8orn #1 a patient 0or the !ajorit1 o0 its 0"nctional operation, the
E67 inter0ace !"st #e eas1 to "nderstand& The "nit has #een pro)en d"ring testing to #e s!all
and light eno"gh to allo8 the patient to !o)e "nrestricted&
Finall1, the ad)antage o0 this s1ste! is its !o#ilit1& The 8ireless capa#ilities are the
"lti!ate deter!ining 0actor 0or the range o0 applications 0or the s1ste!& . !oderate 8ireless
range and #atter1 li0e allo8 the patient a le)el o0 0reedo! that is i!possi#le 8ith con)entional
E67 s1ste!s&
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 -
4* TECHN"CAL S$EC"F"CAT"ONS
The goals stated in the project description lead to the D"anti0ia#le speci0ications o0 the
!o#ile E67& Each o0 these speci0ications deter!ines the scope o0 "se0"lness o0 the design& The
technical speci0ications are gi)en #elo8 in Ta#le 1&
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 7
Ta#le 1& *o#ile E67 Technical Speci0ications&
Proposed
Speci0ications
Final
Speci0ications
Description
+atter1 Li0e
E 1&%$ ho"rs E '&$ ho"rs The e+o< %'00 "ses 1$5 o0
po8er& 9sing a 2&-C #atter1
pac, 8ith appro<i!atel1
%%00!.h gi)es this li0eti!e&
5ireless range
E '/ ! E 4$ ! This is a t1pical range 0or
/0%&11g 8ireless net8or,s&
Electrode po8er
0&1 5Fc! 0&1 5Fc! This is the !a<i!"! allo8a#le
po8er to the E67 electrodes&
5eight o0 "nit
G 1&' ,g 1&$ ,g This incl"des the 8eightFsi;e o0
the e+o<, #atter1 pac,, E67
circ"it, and pac,aging&
Si;e o0 "nit
1$0!! < 11$!!
< /0!!
%41!! <
1-1!! <
7-!!
Resol"tion
-$ =; %%0$0 =; . s"00icient resol"tion 8ill
ens"re acc"rate anal1sis&
E67 gain
1000 /'1 5ith heart#eats pro)iding a
signal on the order o0 a
!illi)olt, the a!pli0ication
circ"it !"st ha)e a gain o0
1000&
Sa0et1 is o0 pri!ar1 i!portance 0or the !o#ile E67& .deD"ate isolation 0ro! the !o#ile
pac,s electronics and a !ini!"! a!o"nt o0 po8er applied to the E67 electrodes help ens"re
the patients sa0et1&
The #atter1 li0e and range are large eno"gh to ens"re that the s1ste! can #e "sed in a
)ariet1 o0 locations 0or a reasona#le a!o"nt o0 ti!e& The "nits relati)el1 s!all 8eight and si;e
ca"se onl1 s!all hindrances 8hile !o)ing& Finall1, the !o#ile E67 has pro)en to #e a#le to
ta,e readings 8hile the patient is !o)ing& 5ith all o0 these speci0ications !et, the !o#ile E67
"nit can tr"l1 #e considered !o#ile&
The acc"rac1 o0 the !o#ile E67 !"st #e co!para#le to that o0 e<isting tele!etric
!onitoring eD"ip!ent& The "se o0 an on#oard so"nd card rather than the Phidgets inter0ace #oard
i!pro)ed the speci0ications o0 the !o#ile E67 in t8o 8a1s& First, the gain o0 the a!pli0ication
circ"it 8as originall1 reD"ired to #e high eno"gh to o#tain a clear heart rh1th! readingH ' to $
)olts 0or an analog inp"t o0 the Phidgets inter0ace #oard& The so"nd card reD"ires a lo8er, !ore
o#taina#le signal o0 1 )olt pea,@to@pea, 0or its !icrophone inp"t& The second i!pro)e!ent in
speci0ications is that the resol"tion o0 the heart rh1th! signal 8as )astl1 increased& The Phidgets
#oard sa!pled the heart rh1th! at appro<i!atel1 -$ =;, 8hile the so"nd card can sa!ple the
signal at 0reD"encies "p to 44100 =;&
)* &ES"(N A$$-OACH AN& &ETA"LS
)*2 &esig# A''roach
The !o#ile E67 design consists o0 t8o !ajor sections as sho8n in Fig"re 1& First, the
analog signal inp"t ta,es the signal reading 0ro! the "ser, a!pli0ies the signal, 0ilters o"t an1
noise, and con)erts the signal 0ro! analog to digital 0or! >1-?& The second part 8irelessl1
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 /
trans!its the data #ac, to a co!p"ter #ase station, stores the data, and allo8s 0or anal1sis #1
ph1sicians or !edical personnel&
The analog signal inp"t can 0"rther #e di)ided into
parts consisting o0 signal !eas"re!ent, a!pli0ication,
signal 0iltering, sa0et1 isolation, and the .FD con)ersion&
The signal is !eas"red "sing t8o electrode leads attached
to the #od1 8ith a !edical adhesi)e& Pre@prepared electrode
leads 8ere p"rchased and "sed 0or this 0"nction& Fig"re %
displa1s the lead place!ent on the #od1& The leads are
na!ed a0ter the appendage to 8hich the1 are closest 3i&e& R. 0or Right .r!4&
The electrodes are attached thro"gh shielded 8ire to the inp"t a!pli0ier& For this
a!pli0ier an .D-%4.D high@precision instr"!entation a!pli0ier has #een chosen& The a)erage
)oltage !eas"red 0ro! the h"!an #od1 is the in the range o0 0&1 !C to 1&0 !C >1-?& This
a!pli0ier is a#le to a!pli01 the signal "p to 1000 ti!es& .n a!pli0ication o0 /'1 ti!es 8as "sed
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 2
Fig"re %& E67 lead
&&&&&place!ent&
Fig"re 1& Design 0lo8 chart&
Fig"re 4& Passi)e +andpass Filter&
0or this design& 5ith the signal strength increased, 0iltering and the .FD con)ersion #eca!e
easier& Fig"re ' displa1s the circ"it diagra! o0 the a!pli0ier& >17?
*eas"ring the signal 0ro! the #od1 and trans0erring the signal thro"gh 8ires #et8een the
#od1 and the a!pli0ier creates noise in the signal
that needed to #e 0iltered o"t& . linear notch 0ilter
8as i!ple!ented to re!o)e this noise& The a)erage
E67 signal is "s"all1 #et8een ' and %0 =; >1-?&
.#o)e these 0reD"encies e<cess noise is ta,en in #1
the 8ires 0ro! the s"rro"nding en)iron!ent& +elo8
' =; the leads 8ill pic, "p signals 0ro! other
#odil1 0"nctions s"ch as #reathing and !"scle !o)e!ent >1-?& . passi)e #andpass 0ilter #et8een
1 and %0 =; 8as designed and i!ple!ented& Fig"re 4 displa1s the #andpass 0ilter& . passi)e
0ilter 8as designed #eca"se o0 #atter1 li0e
constraints& .s a res"lt the signal is
atten"ated #1 a#o"t hal0, #"t #eca"se o0
the a!pli0ication this is not a pro#le!&
.ppendi< . contains the #ode plot o0 the
0ilter&
(ne ite! not 1et addressed is the sa0et1 preca"tion 8ithin the circ"it to pre)ent short
circ"its 0ro! redirecting c"rrent #ac, thro"gh the "sers chest& Since this de)ice is po8ered #1 a
s!all #atter1, there is not as !"ch danger as an E67 po8ered #1 a 1%0@)olt 8all receptacle&
=o8e)er, it is an i!portant iss"e that !"st #e addressed& There 8ere t8o !ain options to deal
8ith this pro#le!& The 0irst 8as to "se an optical isolation a!pli0ier #et8een the a!pli0ication
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 10
Fig"re '& .!pli0ier circ"it&
and 0iltering phase& The second 8as to "se diodes at the inp"t o0 the signal to disallo8 an1
o"t#o"nd signals& D"e to cost and a)aila#ilit1 o0 parts the diode option 8as chosen&
.0ter a!pli0ication and 0iltering the signal is passed into an analog to digital con)erter
"sing a standard !icrophone ca#le& The e+o<@%'00s so"nd card 8as chosen as the .FD
con)erter 0or its e<cellent sa!pling rate o0 44&1 ,=;& This sa!pling rate pro)ided "s 8ith the
resol"tion needed to sa!ple a heart signal& The 0act that the so"nd card 8as alread1 incl"ded in
the e+o<, its ease o0 "se, and its e<cellent sa!pling rate contri#"ted to it #eing o"r choice 0or an
.FD con)erter&
Fro! here the heart signal 8ill enter the second stage o0 the design& (nce 5indo8 CE is
loaded on the e+o<, a si!ple #atch progra! 8ill per0or! 0o"r !ain tas,s& First it 8ill r"n
8a)rec&e<e, a CII progra! 8hich records a $ second 8a)e 0ile containing the patients heart
signal& Je<t the #atch 0ile 8ill r"n *o#ileE67&e<e, a CK progra! 8hich con)erts the 8a)e 0ile
to a te<t 0ile containing onl1 < and 1 data pairs& The #atch progra! 8ill then cop1 this te<t 0ile to
the #ase station "sing 5indo8s CE 0ile sharing and an /0%&11g 5i@Fi net8or,& Finall1 the #atch
progra! deletes an1 0iles created in order to sa)e space on the e+o< and restarts itsel0 0or another
heart signal sa!ple& .t the #ase station the data is displa1ed "sing a CK graphical "ser inter0ace&
This inter0ace reads the te<t 0iles created #1 *o#ileE67&e<e, graphicall1 displa1s the heart
signal, and calc"lates its #eats per !in"te& .ll o0 the code is a)aila#le in the project
doc"!entation&
)*3 Codes a#d Sta#dards
(ne o0 the !ost 0"nda!ental electrical standards 0or !edical eD"ip!ent is the
:nternational Electrotechnical Co!!issions standard :EC -0-01@1& The 0irst section o0 this
standard is re0erred to as the #ase standard, and pro)ides reD"ire!ents 0or the pre)ention o0
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 11
electrical shoc,, !echanical, ignition, 0la!!a#le anesthetics, e<cessi)e o"tp"t and 0la!e ha;ards
>$?&
The ha;ard !ost rele)ant to the !o#ile E67, the electrical shoc, ha;ard, is o"tlined in
section three o0 :EC -0-01@1 >-?& Li!iting e<pos"re to %$ C.C, -0 CDC, circ"it separation, and
proper gro"nding are all stated #1 this standard >$?& Prod"ct sa0et1 g"ided design decisions
regarding #atter1 si;e and a!pli0ier design& The #atter1 )oltages and s"#seD"ent a!pli0ier rail
)oltages, ha)e #een !ade as lo8 as possi#le& .n isolating diode circ"it 8as integrated into the
E67 a!pli0ier design 0or 0"rther patient sa0et1&
The second t1pe o0 :EC -0-01 sections are re0erred to as speci0ic standards& The standard
:EC -0-01@%@%7 speci0ies sa0et1 reD"ire!ents and essential per0or!ance 0or electrocardiographic
!onitoring eD"ip!ent speci0icall1 >$?& This standard is applica#le to E67 eD"ip!ent "sed
o"tside o0 the hospital en)iron!ent, #"t does not appl1 to ho!e or test "sage&
Finall1, a standard 0or 8ireless L.J connections is the :EEE /0%&11g& This standard
pro)ides a !andator1 !a<i!"! data trans0er rate o0 $4 *#ps >2?& The decision to "se a
standardi;ed 8ireless co!!"nication technolog1 ens"res the !ost relia#le inter0ace #et8een
di00erent s1ste!s 8ithin the project&
3*4 Co#strai#ts+ Alter#ati!es+ a#d Tradeoffs
The analog to digital con)ersion o0 the E67 signal is 8hat "lti!atel1 deter!ines the
resol"tion o0 the heart rh1th! signal& The initial design o0 the !o#ile E67 "sed a Phidgets
inter0ace #oard as the .DC& The signal digiti;ation, ho8e)er, pro)ed to #e 0ar too slo8 to gi)e
an acc"rate representation o0 the heart#eat& The !ost ro#"st alternati)e to the Phidgets inter0ace
#oard 8as "sing a so"nd card as an .DC& Jot onl1 did the "se o0 a so"nd card increase the
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 1%
resol"tion the E67 signal, #"t also pro)ided 0or a !ore strea!lined design and a lo8er
prod"ction cost&
Reading the E67 signal 0ro! a !icrophone jac, and so"nd card pro)ed to #e a
challenging tas, 0ro! the perspecti)e o0 so0t8are design, and introd"ced another set o0 design
tradeo00s& Designing so0t8are in the CK lang"age 0or the e!#edded 5indo8s CE -&0 li!ited o"r
options 0or inter0acing 8ith the e!#edded PCs so"nd card& So!e o0 the approaches that 8ere
e<plored #"t e)ent"all1 discarded incl"ded "sing DirectL and DirectSo"nd li#raries, calling
8a)e:n .P:s, and the "se o0 the d1na!ic lin, li#rar1, coredll& The si!plest sol"tion in)ol)ed
creating a #atch 0ile to e<ec"te a pre@!ade CII so"nd recording progra!& =a)ing access to the
so"rce 0iles o0 this progra! allo8ed 0or 0"ll c"sto!i;ation&
Sa0et1 is a pri!ar1 !edical standard, 8hich narro8ed the options o0 the a!pli0ication
circ"it design& To pre)ent the E67 patient 0ro! potentiall1 lethal shoc,s 0ro! the a!pli0ication
circ"it, an isolation circ"it 8as needed& ("r t8o choices 8ere a diode #ased isolator or an optical
isolator& :solating diode circ"its pro)ide e<cellent sa0et1, are 8idel1 a)aila#le, and cost !"ch
less than optical isolators >10?& The isolating diode circ"it 8as chosen 0or its sa0et1 #ene0its and
a)aila#ilit1&
(ne o0 the 8ireless E67s goals is to allo8 the patient to !o)e aro"nd their en)iron!ent
0reel1& For the patient to 0reel1 !o)e aro"nd their en)iron!ent, the E67s 8ireless s1ste! !"st
ha)e a large 8ireless range& 5e considered three 8ireless s1ste!s 0or o"r projectH :EEE /0%&11g
5i@Fi, +l"etooth, and a cell"lar co!!"nication s1ste!& The :EEE /0%&11g 5i@Fi s1ste! ga)e
"s the greatest #ene0it #ased on range and ease o0 set"p& D"ring testing, the :EEE /0%&11g 5i@Fi
pro)ided a range o0 4$ !eters, and can #e easil1 installed in a hospital "sing 5i@Fi ro"ters
a)aila#le at an1 co!p"ter retailer >2?& +l"etooth c"rrentl1 has a range o0 2 to 1% !eters 8hich is
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 1'
not s"00icient to co)er an entire hospital& . cell"lar #ased s1ste! 8o"ld reD"ire installing
cell"lar antennas thro"gho"t the hospital and 8o"ld li,el1 cons"!e the entire #"dget >4?& For its
8ireless range, price, and ease o0 installation the :EEE /0%&11g 8as chosen as the !o#ile E67s
8ireless s1ste!&
6* SCHE&/LE+ TAS7S+ AN& M"LESTONES
.s sho8n in the 7antt charts located in .ppendi< +, there 8ere nine !ajor !ilestones
that needed to #e reached #e0ore the "nit co"ld #egin the 0inal test phase& .t least t8o engineers
8ere assigned to !ost o0 these tas,s& This !ethod did not onl1 #ring !ore ,no8ledge to each
tas,, #"t it also ens"red that separate engineers held each other acco"nta#le& .ll nine tas,s 8ere
co!pleted, altho"gh so!e steps too, longer than originall1 planned& *ost o0 the dela1s 8ere
ca"sed #1 the late change in hard8are&
The degree o0 di00ic"lt1 o0 each tas, can #e seen in Ta#le %& The1 are ran,ed #ased on the
ti!e it too, 0or co!pletion, the e00ort it reD"ired, and the dela1 it ca"sed&
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 14
Ta#le %& Degrees o0 Di00ic"lt1&
Tas, Name &egree of &ifficlty
1 +"ild .!pli0ier Circ"it *edi"!
% +"ild Filter Circ"it *edi"!
' Co!plete A=ello 5orldB e+o< progra! Lo8
4 Test .!pli0ier and Filter Circ"its *edi"!
$ 5rite progra! to read 0ro! e+o< so"nd card =igh
- Co!#ine Circ"it 8ith other =ard8are =igh
7 Progra! 5i@Fi to trans!it data *edi"!
/ Design Pac,aging 0or =ard8are Lo8
2 Progra! Co!p"ter :nter0ace =igh
8* $-O5ECT &EMONST-AT"ON
*ost o0 o"r speci0ications stated in the proposal 8ere achie)ed or e<ceeded& The onl1
speci0ications that 8ere not !et 8ere 8eight and si;e& .0ter co!pleting the pac,aging o0 the
!o#ile "nit, the pac,age 8as 8eighed and !eas"red& Ta#le ' sho8s the 8eight and si;e, as 8ell
as the other speci0ications&
To test the 5i@Fi range o0 the E67 "nit, a test patient 8al,ed thro"gh the 0loors o0 the
Can Leer #"ilding in order to see ho8 0ar the "nit co"ld reach, and 1et contin"e its 8ireless
trans!ission to a 8ireless ro"ter placed so!e distance a8a1& .0ter n"!ero"s tests the a)erage
range 8as aro"nd 4$ !eters, 8hich 0ar e<ceeds o"r original proposed range&
To test #atter1 li0e, the E67 "nit 8as t"rned on and allo8ed to r"n "ntil the "nit stopped
sending E67 data #ac, to the #ase station& .0ter three and a hal0 ho"rs the "nit sh"t do8n& .
three and a hal0 ho"r #atter1 li0e 8as al!ost three ti!es longer than e<pected&
Finall1, #eca"se o0 the s8itch 0ro! the Phidgets #oard to the e+o< so"nd card .DC, o"r
resol"tion j"!ped 0ro! onl1 -$ =; to %% ,=;& This !assi)e increase allo8s 0or )er1 intricate
data point gathering and recording&
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 1$
Ta#le '& Speci0ications&
$ro'osed Actal
-a#ge
'/ *eters 4$ *eters
Battery life
1&%$ =o"rs '&$
=o"rs
Weight
1&' ,g 1&$ ,g
Si9e
1$0<11$</0 !! %41<1-1<7- !!
-esoltio#
-$ =; %%0$0 =;
:* MA-7ET"N( AN& COST ANAL1S"S
:*2 Mar,eti#g A#alysis
Electrocardiogra!s ha)e #een a)aila#le on the !ar,et 0or !an1 1ears, #"t onl1 a 0e8
8ireless electrocardiogra!s ha)e e)er #een prod"ced& C"rrentl1 there are three 8ireless E67
s1ste!s a)aila#leH the Li0eS1nc 5ireless EC7 S1ste!, Phillips :ntelliC"e Tele!etr1 s1ste!,
and Transo!a *edicals Sle"th 5ireless Electrocardiogra! *onitoring S1ste!& The Li0eS1nc
and Phillips s1ste!s pro)ide a 8ireless inter0ace 0or an alread1 e<isting electrocardiogra!
s1ste!, 8hereas the Transo!a s1ste! is a standalone E67 s1ste! 8ith 8ireless co!!"nication
capa#ilities& The Li0eS1nc s1ste! "ses +l"etooth 0or its 8ireless trans!ission gi)ing it a range
o0 onl1 10 !eters >1/?& The Phillips and Transo!a s1ste!s "se a cell"lar net8or, that reD"ires
cell"lar antennas to #e installed thro"gho"t a hospital& The Transo!a s1ste! also reD"ires an
E67 chip 8ith an antenna to #e i!planted in the patients #od1 >12?&
The !o#ile E67 s1ste! is a stand@alone prod"ct, 8hich does not reD"ire an e<isting
E67 s1ste!& The !o#ile E67 s1ste! also does not reD"ire an intr"si)e i!planta#le chip 0or the
patientM instead it "ses traditional E67 electrodes attached to the chest o0 the patient& The
s1ste! !a1 also #e sold in pac,ages o0 $ to $0 "nits& .n e<isting E67 !achine can cost as
!"ch as N4,$00, 8hereas o"r prod"cts price is N-'7 >%0?& The !o#ile E67 also "ses :EEE
/0%&11g 0or its 8ireless capa#ilities gi)ing it a range o0 "p to 4$ !eters >2?&
:*3 Cost A#alysis
+"ilding the protot1pe cost a#o"t N1%0 in parts and N12,%00 in la#or as sho8n in the cost
calc"lation in .ppendi< +& This cost ass"!es 0o"r engineers 8or,ed 0or 1-0 ho"rs each at a pa1
rate o0 N'0 per ho"r& :ncl"ding 0ringe #ene0its and o)erhead, the de)elop!ental cost o0 the
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 1-
protot1pe 8as a#o"t N'7,'/-& The cost o0 parts 8as relati)el1 lo8 0or the protot1pe #eca"se
!an1 o0 the needed parts are alread1 in stoc,& The !ain reD"ired parts that 8ere not a)aila#le
8ere the .D-%4.D Precision :nstr"!entation .!pli0ier 8hich cost N12&'% >11?, and a $C
S8itching Coltage Reg"lator, 8hich cost N%2&2$ >1'?& Shipping costs, a co"ple o0 other s!aller
ite!s and pac,aging !ade "p the rest o0 the reD"ired N1%0 0or #"ilding the protot1pe&
5hen !ass prod"cing the !o#ile E67 "nit, part costs 8ill #e higher d"e to the 0act that
other parts need to #e ordered 0or e)er1 single "nit& E)er1 "nit reD"ires an e+o<@%'00 8hich
costs a#o"t N1'' >14?& This 8ill raise the cost o0 parts to aro"nd N%$'& 5ith asse!#l1 and la#or
costs #eing 0airl1 lo8, each "nit 8ill cost N-'7 to prod"ce& This is ass"!ing %,000 "nits can #e
sold e)er1 1ear 0or 0i)e 1ears& .t a selling price o0 N7%$, aro"nd N// or 1%&%O pro0it 8o"ld #e
!ade on e)er1 single "nit& Selling 10,000 "nits o)er 0i)e 1ears 8o"ld lead to a total pro0it o0
N//',-14&
;* S/MMA-1 AN& CONCL/S"ON
C"rrentl1 the E67 "nit is in a co!plete protot1pe 0or!& :t can !eas"re E67 data 0ro! a
patient and trans0er the data 8irelessl1 thro"gh a 8ireless ro"ter to so0t8are de)eloped 0or
anal1;ing and storing the data& The so0t8are can store the data o0 an1 n"!#er o0 !o#ile "nits
and ,eep trac, o0 )ario"s records o0 patients s"ch as date o0 #irth, height and 8eight, and
!edical histor1&
*an1 things co"ld still #e opti!i;ed or i!ple!ented in 0"t"re 8or, on the de)ice& .s
8ith an1 !o#ile "nit the #atter1 li0e sho"ld #e e<tended, and the si;e o0 the pac,aging shr"n, to
red"ce si;e and 8eight& . set o0 alar!s co"ld #e i!ple!ented either to the so0t8are or the "nit
itsel0 to 8arn o0 an1 !edical pro#le!s detected #1 the E67& The signal co"ld 0"rther #e 0iltered
to i!pro)e clarit1 o0 the signal& :t has #een s"ggested that PD. s"pport co"ld #e i!ple!ented so
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 17
that !edical sta00 co"ld !onitor patients a8a1 0ro! the #ase station& Finall1, 7PS s"pport or
location trac,ing co"ld allo8 !edical sta00 to trac, the location o0 patients in case o0 an
e!ergenc1&
+e0ore real prod"ction on this project co"ld #e i!ple!ented, the pac,aging 8o"ld need
to #e opti!i;ed and the #atter1 li0e e<tended& .nother ro"nd o0 testing and design 8o"ld #e
needed #e0ore an1 prod"ction co"ld #egin&
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 1/
<* -EFE-ENCES
>1? Li0e S1nc Corp&, A5h1 the Li0eS1nc S1ste! P,B >Sales Literat"re?, >citied %007 Sep 4?
.)aila#le =TTPH httpHFF888&li0es1nccorp&co!Fhealthcarepro)idersF8h1@li0es1nc&ht!l
>%? D& 5ood, RJ 3%004, ."g"st4& A5ireless EC7s *a,e 0or Fle<i#ilit1, Freedo!&B Nurse
Spectrum& >Trade !aga;ine?& 3pp& %@'4& >cited %007 Sep 4?, .)aila#leH
httpHFF888&li0es1nccorp&co!FassetsFpd0sFpressFJ"rseSpectr"!1&pd0
>'? :& Joor;aie, CSE $74 AS"r)e1 PaperH *edical .pplications o0 5ireless Jet8or,s,B
>S"r)e1 Paper?, 5ashington 9ni)ersit1 in St& Lo"is, St& Lo"is, *(, Dece!#er %00-&
.)aila#le =TTPH httpHFF888&cse&8"stl&ed"FQjainFcse$74@0-F!edicalR8ireless&ht!
>4? Philips Electronics, A:ntelliC"e Tele!etr1 S1ste!,B >Sales Literat"re?, >cited %007 Sep
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httpHFF888&!edical&philips&co!F!ainFprod"ctsFpatientR!onitoringFprod"ctsFtele!etr1F
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Sep, >cited %007 Sep 1'?, .)aila#le =TTPH
httpHFF888&de)icelin,&co!F!ddiFarchi)eF0'F02F01$&ht!l
>-? :nternational Electrotechnical Co!!ission, :nternational Standard :EC -0-01@1@1, %
nd

Edition, 7ene)aH :nternational Electrotechnical Co!!ission, %000
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>cited %007 Sep 1'? , .)aila#le =TTPH
httpHFF888&ra!a1es&co!FE*CRTestRSpeci0icationsFESDRTestingRperR:ECR-1000@4@
%&ht!
>/? DLS, A:EC -1000@4@' Testing,B >(nline doc"!ent? %007, >cited %007 Sep 1'?, .)aila#le
=TTPH httpHFF888&dlse!c&co!Finde<&ht!P
e!cFtestingFecFen-1000R4R0'F0'&ht!Q!ainFra!e
>2? +roadco!, AThe Je8 *ainstrea! 5ireless L.J Standard,B 5hite Paper, >(nline
serial? %007 J"l ', .)aila#le =TTPH
httpHFF888&dell&co!Fdo8nloadsFglo#alFsharedF#roadco!R/0%R11Rg&pd0
>10? Ja1car Electronics, A(ptoco"plersH 5hen S =o8 To 9se The!B, >Co!pan1 5e#site?,
>cited %007 Sep 14?, .)aila#le =TTPH
httpHFF8881&ja1car&co!&a"Fi!agesR"ploadedFoptoco"p&pd0
>11? Digi@6e1, A.D-%4.DT@JD (rder For!B, >Co!pan1 5e#site?, >cited %007 Sep 17?,
.)aila#le =TTPH httpHFF888&digi,e1&co!FscriptsFD,SearchFd,s"s&dllPDetailP
na!eU.D-%4.DT@JD
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 12
>1%? Phidgets :nc&, A.nalog SensorsB, >Co!pan1 5e#site?, >cited %007 Sep 17?, .)aila#le
=TTPH httpHFF888&phidgets&co!Fprod"cts&phpPcategor1U%
>1'? Ro#oticsConnection&co!, A$C S8itching Coltage Reg"latorB, >Co!pan1 5e#site?,
>cited %007 Sep 17?, .)aila#le =TTPH httpHFF888&ro#oticsconnection&co!Fp@'/@$)@
s8itching@)oltage@reg"lator&asp<
>14? 5DL S1ste!s, A(nline +"1ers 7"ideH e+(L@%'00 %00*=; CES. PC 3*ini PC:,
%<RS@%'%4B, >Co!pan1 5e#site?, >cited %007 Sep 17?, .)aila#le =TTPH
httpHFF888&8dls1ste!s&co!F!odperlF)ie8Rser)ices&cgiP
rUlistRaisle&plateSaisleRidU1007
>1$? Phidgets :nc&, APhidget:nter0ace6it /F/F/B, >Co!pan1 5e#site?, >cited %007 Sep 17?,
.)aila#le =TTPH httpHFF888&phidgets&co!Fprod"cts&phpPprod"ctRidU101/
>1-? E& Co!pan1@+osch and E& =art!ann, AEC7 Front@End Design is Si!pli0ied 8ith
*icroCon)erterV,B Analog Dialogue, >(nline Serial? )ol& '7, Jo)&, %00', .)aila#le
=TTPH httpHFF888&analog&co!Fli#rar1FanalogDialog"eFarchi)esF'7@11Fecg&ht!l
>17? S& Carlson, A.!ate"r ScientistH =o!e is 5here the EC7 :s,B Scientific American,
>(nline Serial? J"ne, %000, .)aila#le =TTPH httpHFF888&scia!&co!Farticle&c0!P
article:DU000C74E4@$17%@1C74@2+/1/02EC$//EF%1
>1/? Co!!il, A+l"etooth )s& 5i@Fi,B >Co!pan1 5e#site?, >cited %007 Sep 4?, .)aila#le
=TTPH httpHFF888&co!!il&co!F#l"etoothR)s&ht!
>12? E67 *achines, A:nterpreti)e E67FEC7 *achines,B >Co!pan1 5e#site?, >cited %007
Sep 1'?, .)aila#le =TTPH httpHFF888&e,g@!achines&co!Fe,g@!achines&ht!l
>12? Transo!a *edical, ASle"th :!planta#le EC7 *onitoring S1ste!B >Co!pan1 5e#site?,
>cited %007 Dec $?, .)aila#le =TTPH httpHFF888&transo!a!edical&co!Fprod"cts&asp
>%0? E67 *achines, A:nterpreti)e E67FEC7 *achines,B >Co!pan1 5e#site?, >cited %007
Sep 1'?, .)aila#le =TTPH httpHFF888&e,g@!achines&co!Fe,g@!achines&ht!l
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 %0
A$$EN&". A* Filter Bode $lot
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 %1
A$$EN&". B* (a#tt Charts =Old a#d Ne>?
(ld 7antt Chart Je8 7antt Chart
J and the Three Js 3ECE4007L014 %%