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International Journal of VLSI and Embedded Systems-IJVES

ISSN: 2249 6556

Embedded Based Real-time Patient Monitoring System

P.KARTHICK [1], C.SURESHKUMAR [1], P.ARUNPRASAD [1] S.PUSPARAJ [1],
M.JAGADEESHRAJA [2], N.SUTHANTHIRA VANITHA [3]

Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, Tamilnadu, India.
1
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
ABSTRACT
The main focus of the paper is to implement a prototype model for the real time patient monitoring system. The
proposed is used to measure the physical parameters like body temperature, heartbeat, ECG, blood sugar, and
oxygen level monitoring with the help of biosensors. Conventionally there are number of techniques available
for the ICU patients health monitoring system with wired communication technology. In the novel system the
patient health is continuously monitored and the acquired data is transmitted to an ARM server using zigbee
wireless sensor networks. Embedded processor supports for analyzing the input from the patient and the results
of all the parameters are stored in the database. If any abnormality felt by the patient automatic alarm sound
will arrive and the message will send to the doctor mobile automatically by using GSM module. The
implementation of the system is achieved by the advanced processor and simulation results are obtained by Keil
c software.
Keywords: ARM Processor, sensors, Zigbee, GSM, keil C.

[1] INTRODUCTION
Recently wireless sensors and sensor networks plays a vital role in the research, technological community. But
there are different from traditional wireless networks as well as computer networks, today the progress in
science and technology offers miniature, speed, intelligence, sophistication, and new materials at lower cost,
resulting in the development of various high-performance smart sensing system. Many new research is focused
at improving quality of human life in terms of health by designing and fabricating sensors which are either in
direct contact with the human body (invasive) or indirectly (noninvasive)[5],. In the current proposed system the
patient health is continuously monitored by the patient monitoring system and the acquired data is transmitted to
a centralized ARM server using Wireless Sensor Networks. A Zigbee node is connected to every patient monitor
system that consumes very low power and is extremely small in size.
This paper builds an independent system that automatically logs vital parameters of patients for easy access. The
data is accessible to doctors through mobile device for convenience. Data of all patients is stored in a common
database. A system to monitor the overall health of welfare facility, which needs constant care, has been
reported. The host computer stores the data, which can be used to analyze the patients overall health condition.
When the patient is in an emergency situation, such as falling or in an inactive state for more that the allotted
time, the host computer automatically alerts the situation to the care staff by an alarm sound and also the
message has been send to doctor through GSM module. These facts show an increasing demand for long-term
health monitoring which is affordable, continuous, and unobtrusive, which will result in considerable impact on
annual medical costs and health management. Wearable systems for continuous health monitoring are a key
technology in helping the transition to more practical and affordable healthcare. It not only allows the user to
closely monitor changes in her or his aimed to provide emergency assistance to senior citizens, rehabilitation
patients, and medically physiological parameters but also provides feedback to help maintain an optimal health
status [8],. The fundamental problem with this system is that when medical emergencies happen to the user, they
are often unconscious and unable to press an emergency alert button. There is no product on the market which
does not require manual activation of the alarm and monitors a users vital signs smartly, though research is
currently undergoing [3]. This is the novel design goal of the work presented in this paper. The reported device
consists of a wrist strap and a finger ring (circuitry). This allows the sensors to be mounted around the wrist,
finger and the ARM unit connected via ribbon cable.
2. LITERATURE SURVEY
Karandeep Malhi et al [1] develop Zigbee smart noninvasive wearable physiological parameters monitoring
device has been developed and reported in this paper. The system can be used to monitor physiological
parameters, such as temperature and heart rate, of a human subject. The system consists of an electronic device
which is worn on the wrist and finger, by an at risk person. Using several sensors to measure different vital
signs, the person is wirelessly monitored within his own home. An impact sensor has been used to detect falls.
The device detects if a person is medically distressed and sends an alarm to a receiver unit that is connected to a
computer. This sets off an alarm, allowing help to be provided to the user.
Rubina.a.shaikh, et al [2] Design a module to monitoring of remote patients, after he is discharged from
hospital. I have designed and developed a reliable, energy efficient remote patient monitoring system. It is able

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to send parameters of patient in real time. It enables the doctors to monitor patients parameters (temp,
heartbeat, ECG) in real time. Here the parameters of patient are measured continuously (temp, heartbeat, ECG)
and wirelessly transmitted using Zigbee.
B. sirisha et al [3] describes a solution for enhancing the reliability, flexibility by improving the performance
and power management of the real-time multi-patient monitoring system (MPMS). In the current proposed
system the patient health is continuously monitored by the MPMS and the acquired data is transmitted to a
centralized ARM server using Wireless Sensor Networks. A Zigbee node is connected to every patient monitor
system which will send the patient's vital information .Upon system boot up, the mobile patient monitor system
will continuously monitor the patients vital parameters like Heart Beat, body temperature etc and will
periodically send those parameters to a centralized server using Zigbee node configured as co-coordinator. If a
particular patients health parameter falls below the threshold value, a buzzer alert is triggered by the ARM
server. Along with a buzzer an automated SMS is posted to the pre-configured Doctors mobile number using a
standard GSM module interfaced to the ARM server.
3. EXISTING SYSTEM
There are some shortcomings present in existing system. The patient is monitored in ICU and the data
transferred to the PC is wired. Such systems become difficult where the distance between System and PC is
more. The available systems are huge in size. Regular monitoring of patient is not possible once he/she is
discharged from hospitals. These systems cannot be used at individual level. The other problem with these
systems is that it is not capable of transmitting data continuously also range limitations of different wireless
technologies used in the systems. So to overcome these limitations of systems we proposed a new system. Our
system is able to transmit the parameters of patient continuously and over long distance in wireless medium.
Due to which we would be able attend the patient immediately. Therefore by developing a system that can
constantly measure the important parameters of patients body and which can alert the closed ones and the
doctor on any time when the patients condition gets bad, this can really provide quick service and be beneficial
in saving a lot of lives.
4. PROPOSED SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The proposed system is designed for monitor the patient is in any place. The system would constantly monitor
important physical parameters like temperature, heartbeat, ECG, blood sugar, and would compare it against a
predetermined value set and if these values cross a particular limit it would automatically alert the alarm and
doctor via a SMS. This system provides a continuous health monitoring service.

Block diagram of the Proposed Systems

The data processed are transmitted by Zigbee wireless. Finally the received data is sent to the PC. The graphical
user interface programs on the PC are coded using keil C software, Using GSM modem message is transmitted
to the doctor mobile number when the measured temperature exceeds the allowable value or if the pulse
measured is abnormal.
5. HARDWARE DESCRIPTION
It includes various sensors like Temperature sensor, Heart beat sensor, ECG sensor, Blood sugar sensor, ARM
processor, display, buzzer, and Zigbee connector circuit. Wireless sensors nodes with a single accessing from
one AP (access point) to another have addressed the usefulness of these sensors in sending and retrieving data.
The proposed circuit has the ability to determine the patient's temperature in real-time status inside the hospital.
Heart beat sensor is designed to give digital output of heart beat when a finger is placed inside the clip. This
digital output can be connected to Zigbee and transmitted to ARM directly to measure the Beats per Minute
(BPM) rate. The ECG (Electrocardiogram) records the pathway of electrical impulses through the heart muscle,
and can be recorded on resting and ambulatory subjects, or during exercise to provide information on the hearts
response to physical exertion.

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Zigbee is Wireless Networking Technology and is an established set of specifications for wireless personal
area networking (WPAN), i.e., digital radio connections between computers and related devices. This kind of
network eliminates use of physical data buses like USB and Ethernet cables. Zigbee indoors can usually reach
400 m range.
The ARM TDMI-S is a special ARM purpose 32-bit microprocessor, offers high performance and very low
power consumption. ARM architecture is based on RISC principles, instruction set and related decode
mechanism are simpler than CISC Pipeline techniques employed ARM Processor supports both 32-bit and 16bit instructions via the ARM and Thumb instruction sets. The 5 parameters to be monitored are sensed using
respective sensor and data is feed to ARM processor.
6. SOFTWARE DESCRIPTION
6.1 Keil C VISION 4
The Vision IDE from KEIL combines project management, make facilities source code editing, program
debugging, and complete simulation in powerful environment. The Vision development platform is easy to use
and helping you quickly creates embedded programs that work. The Keil C development tools for the ARM
processor family support every level of developer from the professional applications engineer to the student just
learning about embedded software development. The industry-standard Keil C Compilers, Macro Assemblers,
Debuggers, Real-time Kernels, and Single-board Computers support all ARM processor compatible derivatives
and help you get your projects completed on schedule. With the Keil tools, we can generate embedded
applications for virtually every ARM derivative. The Keil Software ARM development tools are designed for
the professional software developer; any level of programmer can use them to get the most output of the ARM
processor architecture. Keil C Vision 4 help provides the various simulation output.
7. ALGORITHM
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

Start the program

Enter the mode of operation.
Evaluate mode of operation with switch case
Heart Beat Measured
Temperature Measured
ECG Monitored
Sugar Level Monitored
Data base saved successfully
Intimation to Doctor

8. FLOWCHART

9. SIMULATION RESULTS
In our research we use the ARM processor board for porting our ideas. Since after the debugging, we get the
results in UART window.

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International Journal of VLSI and Embedded Systems-IJVES

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Output of Mode 1
Output of Mode 2
The UART show the ARM microprocessor was displays the mode of operation and waits for input in fig.7
MODE 2 was operated for Patient monitoring system, UART display the output as ****

Output of Mode 3
MODE 3 was operated for Patient monitoring system, UART display the output as @@@
CONCLUSIONS
In this proposed model of monitoring physiological parameters such as temperature, heartbeat, ECG, blood
sugar, are more powerful than currently available system. Currently available systems for monitoring
physiological signals suffer from technical limitations. The proposed system is an enormous improvement over
existing commercial methods, the present system can support up to twenty patients with real-time, low-power,
low-cost, long-distance, and dual-mode monitoring, from the above designed project. The keil C software is
used for implementing the process and results were discussed. In future we can expand this system by using
RFID technology; through this technology we can monitor the multiple numbers of patients. It may be a future
work to develop another patient monitoring application code in that direction.
REFERENCES
1. Karandeep Malhi, Subhas Chandra Mukhopadhyay, Fellow, IEEE, Julia Schnepper, Mathias Haefke, and
Hartmut Ewald A Zigbee-Based Wearable Physiological Parameters Monitoring System IEEE sensors
journal, vol. 12, no. 3, march 2012 online at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org
2. b. sirisha, t.sraddha, k. vijayanand Real-time multi-patient monitoring system using arm and wireless
sensor network International Journal of Communication Network Security, ISSN: 2231 1882, Volume-2,
Issue-2, 2013
3. Reza S. Dilmaghani, Hossein Bobarshad, M Ghavami, Sabrieh Choobkar, and Charles Wolfe Wireless
Sensor Networks for Monitoring Physiological Signals of Multiple Patients IEEE transactions on biomedical
circuits and systems, vol. 5, no. 4, august 2011 online at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.
4. Yadav Satyendra Satyanarayan, Yadav Raghvendra Satyanarayan, Deep H. Desai Intelligent Wireless
Emergency Alert System for Patient Monitoring using AT89S52 Microcontroller International Journal of
Advanced Research in Electrical, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering Vol. 2, Issue 4, April 2013 online
at www.ijareeie.com
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on information technology in biomedicine, vol. 16, no. 1, January 2012 Online at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.
6. Sergio Gonzalez-Valenzuela, Min Chen, Senior Member, IEEE, and Victor C. M. Leung, Fellow, IEEE
Mobility Support for Health Monitoring at Home Using Wearable Sensors IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN BIOMEDICINE, VOL. 15, NO. 4, JULY 2011 online at
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
P.KARTHICK is pursuing eighth semester, Bachelor of Engineering in the discipline of Electrical
and Electronics Engineering at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, affiliated under Anna
University, Chennai, India. He has presented number of technical papers in symposium National
Conferences and International conference. He is doing minor research works on various fields
like Microcontroller, Power Electronics, Renewable Energy systems and Embedded System. He
got State second prize for his project and achieved many price in different conducted by
AMBERZ association. He is member of Green Club and higher education cell. He is highly appreciated by the
Head of the Department.
C.SURESHKUMAR is pursuing eighth semester, Bachelor of Engineering in the discipline of
Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, affiliated
under Anna University, Chennai, India. He has presented number of technical papers in
symposium and National Conferences. He is doing minor research works on various fields like
Microprocessor, Microcontroller and Embedded System. He got State second prize for his project
and achieved many price in different conducted by AMBERZ association. He is highly appreciated by the Head
of the Department.
S.PUSHPARAJ is pursuing eighth semester, Bachelor of Engineering in the discipline of
Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, affiliated
under Anna University, Chennai, India. He has presented number of technical papers in National
Conferences. He is doing minor research works on various fields like Microcontroller, and Power
Electronics. He is highly appreciated by the Head of the Department.
P.ARUNPRASAD is pursuing eighth semester, Bachelor of Engineering in the discipline of
Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, affiliated
under Anna University, Chennai, India. He has presented number of technical papers in
symposium . He is doing minor research works on various fields like Power Electronics and
Embedded System. He is highly appreciated by the Head of the Department.
M.JAGADEESHRAJA is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of
Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem. He received
his B.E - Electrical and Electronics Engineering degree from Paavai Engineering College under
Anna University, Chennai and M.E Embedded System Technologies form Academic Campus,
Anna University of Technology, Coimbatore. His research includes in Embedded System, Real
Time Operating System, and Renewable Energy Sources. He has published and presented number of technical
papers in National and International conferences. He is guiding number of projects for UG and PG students.
Dr. N.SUTHANTHIRA VANITHA is currently working as a Professor and Head of the EEE
Department at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem. She received the B.E. Electrical and
Electronics Engineering from K.S.R. college of Tech, Tiruchengode in 2000 from Madras
University, M.E. - Applied Electronics in Mohamed Sathak Engineering College in 2002 from
Madurai Kamaraj University and Ph.D., in Biomedical Instrumentation & Embedded Systems in
2009 from Anna University, Chennai. She is life member of ISTE & CSI. Her research interests lie in the area of
Robotics, DSP, MEMS and Biomedical, Embedded Systems, Power Electronics and Renewable Energy
systems, etc. She has published and presented number of technical papers in National and International Journals
and Conferences. She has guided number of Projects for UG and PG students, currently guiding 12 Ph.D.,
scholars.

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