ECG signal acquisition system

A. Batista A. Cardenas J. Vargas

Engineering School Engineering School Engineering School
Universidad Tecnologica de Bolivar Universidad Tecnologica de Bolivar Universidad Tecnologica de Bolivar
Cartagena, Colombia Cartagena, Colombia Cartagena,Colombia
allandavid-0@hotmail.com acoandreco@gmail.com josevaar@hotmail.com

Abstract—In order to acquire signals from the heart, the

following article will discuss the development and design of an
electronic circuit with which it is able to obtain these signals, this
in order to adianzar the knowledge learned during the course
of electronics analogy and be able to apply them correctly. The
circuit is conformed by operational amplifiers which fulfill the
function of the filtering stages of the signal, and then it is sent
to the ARDUINO UNO microcontroller which will be connected
to a PC where we can visualize the ECG signal.
Index Terms—ECG, Filter, Amplifier. Fig. 1. Signal acquisition and processing system electrocardiography
Source: Project guide
I. I NTRODUCTION

The reason for this project is to implement the concepts A. QRS signal
learned during the theory of analog electronics. One of the A period of the ECG belonging to a healthy individual,
applications of this is the acquisition of signals by means of the consists of a P wave, QRS complex, the T wave and U wave,
use of instrumentation amplifiers.An ECG signal can provide as shown in the following figure.
a lot of information regarding the health status of a person and
the functioning of the heart, but as with all electrophysiological
signals, it is very difficult to capture them correctly since,
being such small signals, a minimum of interference can be
to modify the visualization of this to such point of being
unrecognizable so for this the use of filters was implemented,
which are in charge of eliminating the interference or noises
that ruin the desired signal. In order to collect these signals,
the use of electrodes is made, which through a correct location
will be able to capture the small signals produced by the
heart which, by its contraction, produces an excitation in the
myocardial muscle fibers, generating a current that will travel
throughout the body including its surface making it possible
to read the potentials of the skin through the electrodes.

II. S TRUCTURE OF THE CARDIAC SIGNAL ACQUISITION

Fig. 2. QRS signal
SYSTEM
Source: http://pfcjccaimarimateu.blogspot.com
The internal structure of the proposed cardiac signal acqui-
The portions of the electrocardiogram between the deflec-
sition system that will generate an electrocardiogram can be
tions are called segments, and the distances between waves are
seen in Fig. 1. This system of acquisition consists of mod-
called intervals. The ECG can be divided into the following
ules that interconnect the user with the electronic equipment
intervals and segments:
(computer): The first stage of amplification of the signal, by
means of the AD620AN instrumentation amplifier, the second 1) P wave
stage is a series of filters (High-pass and Low-pass), the third Under normal conditions is the first recognizable brand
stage is a second signal amplifier and, finally, in the fourth in the ECG. Corresponds to the arrival of the activation
stage, and transmit the data to an electronic equipment for signal to the atria. Its duration is less than 100ms and
processing. its voltage does not exceed 2.5mV
 2) PR interval
It shows the period of electrical inactivity corresponding
to the physiological delay suffered by stimulation in the
atrioventricular node. Its duration must be between 120
and200ms.
3) QRS complex
It is the most characteristic of the electrocardiographic
signal. Represents the arrival of the activation signal to
both ventricles. Its duration is 80 to 100ms.
4) The ST segment
Includes since the end of the QRS complex to the start
Fig. 3. Connection Diagram
of the T wave.
5) T wave Source: Data sheet AD620 Analog Devices
Corresponds to ventricular repolarization, appears at the
end of the ST segment. of filtering of the signal which will eliminate the undesirable
6) QT interval noises.
From the beginning of the QRS complex to the end
of the T wave and represents the depolarization and
ventricular repolarization. Its duration will be between
320 and 400 ms. Below is a table with the relationship
between heart rate and duration of this interval.

III. S TRUCTURE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE

ELECTRICAL SIGNAL OF THE ECG

The system to acquire the cardiac signals presented in

this report is comprised of a series of stages which are:
protection stage, stage of amplification of the signal obtained
from the patient and stage of filtering and digitization of the
obtained signal. Once the signal is get, it is increased through
a AD620 instrumentation amplifier that complies with the
required specifications for the system to be developed. Finally,
in the filtering stage the noise associated with the ambient
electrical signals is reduced. Finally, in the digitization stage
is used a Arduino UNO, which allows to digitize and transmit
the data to a computer for analysis and interpretation.
A. AD620 Instrumentation Amplifier
According to Analog Devices the AD620 is a low cost,
high accuracy instrumentation amplifier that requires only one
external resistor to set gains of 1 to 10,000. Furthermore,
the AD620 features 8-lead SOIC and DIP packaging that is
smaller than discrete designs and offers lower power (only
1.3mA max supply current), making it a good fit for battery-
powered, portable (or remote) applications.
This amplifier family is used to increase the potential
difference that was obtained by the bipolar derivations, due to
the signal obtained from the order of mV and it is necessary
to amplify it to be able to visualize it.
Fig. 4. Connection Diagram
Source: Data sheet TL084CN Analog Devices
C. The signal filtration
The ECG signal always comes with a extra noise which
makes viewing, it uses the signal filtering stage in which will
be deleted the frequencies that can interfere in it, it makes use
of a band-pass filter capable of removing much of the noise
and to comply with the initial specifications of this project
which was to remove frequencies that are not between 0.5 Hz
and 100 Hz.
D. Digitization
La seal ECG es analogica por lo que para poder hacer una
correcta lectura de ella es necesario digitalizarla , para ello se
hace uso de la placa microcontroladora ARDUINO UNO en
la que a travs de sus puertos es posible transformar la seal de
analogica a digital y as poder representarla graficamente en el
PC.

B. Amplifier TL084CN IV. C ONCLUSIONS

It is a JFET input operational amplifier in 14-pin DIP.
This device incorporates JFET transistors and high voltage
in a monolithic integrated circuit. This device offers high
speeds, low currents response input bias and standard deviation
and low temperature coefficient of tension of deviation. The
function of this amplifier in the circuit is part of the stage
So we have been able to observe ECG signals are extremely
susceptible to any type of interference, among them you
can find the noise caused by the connection to the network,
inappropriate movements on the part of the patient and other
external factors. During testing of the circuit we were able to
find a great amount of noise which does not allow us to clearly
observe the ECG signal which after some adjustments could
not be seen with greater clarity. The realization of this project
allowed us to deepen much more the knowledge learned during
the course of the circuit , whose design was based in large part
on the instrumental amplifiers which in some ways is the point
at which concludes each of the electronic devices that we could
know. To conclude, we were able to learn the great amount of
applications that has in the world the use of electrical devices
and its great scope for development of new technological tools
able not only to improve the quality of human life but scientific
advancement that are able to provide.
V. B IBLIOGRAPHY
1) J. Caimari (2012, Oct 17) Sistema de
monitorizacin cardiovascular [Online]. Available:
http://pfcjccaimarimateu.blogspot.com/2012/10/analisis-
del-electrocardiograma-ecg.html
2) W. Patricio (2015, Aug 6) ECG con Arduino y filtro
digital Butterworth en Matlab [Online]. Available:
https://ecgarduinomatlab.blogspot.com/?fbclid=IwAR2
U7R9TfczKx5duG7tk0Y1ei6lYjvnE81VlttRqG4hviAM
rKgi5QoKyrxo
3) Catalog No. C0077507/11(H), Low Cost Low Power In-
strumentation Amplifier AD620, Analog Devices, MA.
4) A. Ochoa, M. Maciel, F. Estrada, C. Daz, R. Flix,
J. lvarez, ”Sistema de Adquisicin y Procesamiento
de Seales Electrocardiograficas”. Final Project. Facul-
tad de Ingeniera Mecanica y Electrica Carr. Colima-
Coquimatlan Km. 9, Colima, Mexico
5) M. Oliveri, ”Elementos de diseo de circuitos de Amplifi-
cacin del ECG” in Equipamiento para electrofisiologa o
como la radio frecuencia puede sustituir intervenciones
a corazn abierto, XII seminario de ingenieria biomed-
ica, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay,
2004.