23/7/2018 Frank's ECG Simulator

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ECG
Patient Simulator
A low-cost solution
created by Frank Weithöner
One of the most important test equipment in the biomedical workshop is the ECG Tester or
Patient Simulator. The Patient Simulator is connected to the ECG monitor and delivers the
typical ECG signal. Only with such a tester an ECG monitor can be repaired, the functions and
alarm settings checked and loose connections of the patient cables be located. A Patient
Simulators usually costs several hundred dollars and is unaffordable for small hospital
workshop specially in developing countries.
But the realization of an electronic circuit which creates an ECG signal must not be too difficult
and expensive. Here I want to introduce you my solution. Only a handful cheap electronic
devices are used. No special or exotic IC is needed. All parts should be available in the nearest
electronic shop or can be found on old electronic boards from your workshop store.
This circuit consist of a handful electronic devices which delivers a quartz crystal stable ECG
signal for 60 and 120 heart beats. Only common electronic parts are needed and the building
costs are below 20 $.

Function:

The above shown ECG signal is complex and will be created by different single signals. The
P,Q,R,S,T signals are formed in different steps and then are put together in the right sequence.
A shift register does the sequence job, RC combinations the frequency and amplitude of the
single waves.
IC1 contains an oscillator and a shift register. At the output of pin10 a signal with 16 Hz
triggers IC2. IC2 is a counter with 10 outputs. When output 0 of IC2 is active (pin3) the R-C
combination R8, C5 creates the P-wave. When the counter jumps to output 3 (pin7) the R-
wave is created by R4, C4. The negative part is reduced by the two diodes and simulate the
following S-wave. When output 5 is active (pin1) the T-wave is created by R7 and C5. The
outputs which are not connected create the needed pauses between the signals. All signals are
put together through R3 and R6 which level the respective amplitudes.

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When one sequence is finished the shift register stops. Output 9 (pin11) is connected with EN-
input (pin13). Only when a reset pulse reaches the counter (pin15) the counter starts again.
This reset is also created by IC1. Because in addition to the 16 Hz trigger signal the IC also
provides a 1 Hz and a 0.5 Hz signal at pin14 and pin13 which correlate a heart beat rate of 60
and 120 (switch 2). Therefore the square signal has to be transformed in a positive needle
pulse. This is the duty of the combination C6, R11, D4, R10. Because this pulse comes earlier
or later (0.5 Hz or 1 Hz) only the lengths of the U period is shorter or longer. The PQRST wave
form is not effected.
A small LED D3 with resistor R5 connected to output 3 (pin7, IC2), flashes during the
R- period.
The final resistor combination R12-R15 converts the bipolar signal from the electronic board
into the needed three pole output signal.

Note: The circuit is designed for common electronic devices. All parts can be found on old
electronic boards or at the nearest electronic shop. But if you have problems to find the clock-
crystal of 4.1943 MHz you can take a 4.43 MHz PAL-crystal from a TV. Your output signal is as
good as with the clock-crystal but the heart rate will change to 63 and 127 beats per minute.

(large image) (large image)

Part list:

R1 = 4K7
R2, R8 = 1M
R3, R4, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13 = 100K
R5 = 1K
R6, R7 = 470K
R14, R15 = 220
C1 = 22 p
C2 = 82 p
C3, C4, C5, C6 = 220n
IC1 = 4521
IC2 = 4017

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23/7/2018 Frank's ECG Simulator
D1, D2, D4 = 1N4148
cristal = 4.1943 Mhz
D3 = LED 3 mm
2 x IC sockets 16 pin

Here the first design:

Here the second version:

(large image) (large image)

(large image)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrocardiography
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/QRS-Komplex
4521
4017

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.: powered by ubuntu · linux :.

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