Display, record and replay EKG signals. 4 slots are available to record EKG measures, up to a bit more than 4 minutes each.

The recorded measures can be transferred to a computer, where they can be visualized and printed out. The format of the resulting page(s) is very minimalistic, but similar enough to the usual professional EKG strips so they can be understood by a specialist.

Project Comprehensive Overview

The EKG Monitor is a sophisticated wearable health tool designed for monitoring heart electrical activity. Unlike a simple heart rate monitor, this device captures and relays the complete electrocardiogram signal, showing the P, Q, R, S, and T waves. This allows the user to see the actual electrical pulses that trigger the heart to beat. The project features local recording and storage, a built-in display, and a PC interface for more detailed analysis.

Hardware Stack and Integration

• Arduino UNO: Functions as the primary hub, orchestrating data collection from the sensor and managing the display and memory.
• AD8232 Integrated Signal Condition Block: Acts as the primary analog front-end for the heart pulse signals. It handles the high-performance filtering and amplification required to capture the millivolt-scale signals produced by the human heart while filtering out electrical noise from the body and the environment.
• Waveshare 2-inch LCD (240x320): Provides a high-resolution, local graphical display of the live EKG waveform.
• AT24C256 EEPROM (x2): These external memory chips provide high-capacity storage for recording up to 16 minutes of heart activity across four dedicated slots.
• DS3231 RTC: Ensures that every heart pulse record is accurately timestamped with the time and date.

Technological Logic and Signal Path

1. Acquisition: Conductive electrodes on the body detect the surface potential generated by heart activity.
2. Filtering: The AD8232 processes these faint signals using a high-pass and low-pass filter arrangement to remove body movement noise and muscle interference.
3. Conversion & Analysis: The Arduino reads the smoothed analog signal. For live display, it maps these values into pixels on the LCD. For recording, it compresses the data and stores it in the EEPROM chips.
4. Data Visualization (PC): A dedicated Processing 4 application on the computer allows the user to download recorded measurements via Serial communication, providing a larger, scrollable view similar to professional EKG strips.

Safety Note

This project is for educational and experimental purposes only. It is not intended for medical diagnosis or clinical use. Always use isolated power sources (like a battery) when connecting electronics to the human body to ensure safety.