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Designing an Electrocardiogram (ECG) circuit

Technical Report · November 2021

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.36652.59523

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 Engineering College
Biomedical Engineering department
Octobe17, 2021

BIOEN 431. Biomed. Electronics & Measurement

Designing an Electrocardiogram (ECG) circuit

Project Report

Students name -ID:

Eman Alshutbi 2190009015
Doaa Bahbry 2190009100
Kawther Alsadah 2190005207

Instructors:
Dr. Ibraheem Alnaib
Eng. Sana Ijlal
Abstract
An Electrocardiogram (ECG) is the interpretation of the electrical activity of the
heart over a period of time. This project is designed to simulate the ECG signal. First,
the ECG circuit was designed by Multisim software, which can provide different
types and values of the selected components. Second, the designed circuit was
implemented in the lab and connected to the ECG simulator as an input. The ECG
simulator used to generate an ECG signal identical to the signal generated by a real
heart. Finally, the results of the designed circuit show an amplified and filtered ECG
signal.

1. Introduction
Electrocardiogram (ECG) used to visualize the electrical activity of the heartbeat.
It is used to measure the voltage that produced during the diastole and systole of the
heart. ECG has small amplitude, low frequency and affected by the environmental and
biological interference. This project aimed to design a circuit to amplify and filter a
noisy input signal. According to the characteristics of ECG, the circuit needs to have
high amplification, high input impedance, small output impedance, constant gain
throughout the entire bandwidth range, less drift and noise. Thus, our design contains
important components that contribute to achieve the requirements mentioned above.
Band pass filter used to encompass the frequencies of the ECG, notch filter used to
eliminate the power line interference, and finally inverting amplifier.

2. Design problem statement

Design a circuit to amplify and filter a noisy ECG input signal.

3. Project constraints
In order to eliminate the inappropriate designs, all the suggested designs must be
checked against the project constraints. The designed circuit should have a high gain
and be able to amplify a signal as small as the ECG signal. A high-quality component
should be used in order to avoid damage. Also, it is important to use a high input
impedance that reduce distortion of the input, and small output impedance in order to
avoid the voltage drop in the output impedance.

1
 4. Project description

Figure1 : Block diagram of the ECG circuit.

4.1 Calculation
4.1.1 Band pass filter

Low pass cut-off frequency: High pass cut-off frequency

Capacitor Set two 0.1µF series Set 2200µF

Resistor 1 1
𝑅12 = 2𝜋𝐹 (𝐶 = 𝑅6 = 2𝜋𝐹 𝐶 =
𝑐 6 +𝐶5 ) 𝑐 4
1 1
2⨉𝜋⨉260⨉(5⨉10−8 ) 2⨉𝜋⨉0.012⨉(2200⨉10−6 )

𝑅12 = 12.2𝑘Ω 𝑅6 = 6𝑘Ω

Voltage Gain −𝑅12 12.2

𝐴𝑣 = = = 2.03
𝑅6 6

Table (1): band pass filter calculation

For the inverting band pass filter, there was to assumption.

• The amplifier inverts the input signal. Starting with high pass filter, as we
learn in the course that the minimum frequency needed is 0.1. we set the cut
off frequency to 0.012 and the capacitor to 2200 µF to calculate 𝑅1 .

• Moving to the second part, the low pass frequency. As mentioned previously
in the course the maximum frequency of ECG signal is 250 Hz. We set the cut
off frequency to 250 and used 2 series 0.1 µF capacitor. Then we calculated
𝑅2 .

2
 • The reason of choosing these values of capacitors, is to have a gain in this
stage so that we did not get gain less than 1 that causes a reduction of the
signal before it is going to the notch filter. Moreover, during many stages of
filtration the signal is expected to be attenuated. Approximately 70% of the
input is showed in the output. So, we choose resistors that results a gain = 2.

4.1.2 Notch filter

Equation Value Calculated Value used

𝟏
Cut-off frequency: 𝟒𝝅𝑹𝑪 - 60 Hz
Capacitor (C1 and C2) - 1 μF
Capacitor (C3): 2×C1 2 μF Two 1 μF connected in parallel
𝟏
Resistor (R5): 𝟒𝝅𝒇𝑪 1326.29 Ω 1.2 kΩ and 100 Ω connected in series
𝟏
Resistor (R3 and R4): 2*R1 2652.58 Ω 2.2 kΩ and two 200 Ω connected in series
Voltage gain - 1
Table (2): Notch filter calculation

• The main function of this stage is to filter out the power line interference that
occurs at a frequency of 60 Hz.

4.1.3 Operational amplifier (Inverting amplifier)

Required value Values used Formula Calculation
𝐴𝑣 = −3 𝑅𝑓 =3kΩ 𝑅2 =1kΩ −𝑅𝑓 −𝑅𝑓 −3𝑘
𝐴𝑣 = 𝐴𝑣 = = 1𝑘
𝑅2 𝑅2
𝐴𝑣 =-3
Table (3): Inverting amplifier calculation

• Inverting amplifier used in the last stage to invert the signal that comes from
band bass filter. Also, negative feedback used to have flat gain over much
wider bandwidth.

• The value of gain was chosen according to the distribution of amplification

throughout the circuit.

• Resistors was chosen depending on the desired gain and the available values in
the laboratory.

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 4.2 Implementation

Figure2 : Multisim simulation of the ECG circuit

The signal enters to The signal enters the

notch filter to eliminate amplifier as the last
interfering input stage to amplify it and
display the output

Figure 3: Signal processing stages

4
 5. Results

Multisim
After band pass filter After notch filter After inverting amplifier

Figure 4: Output after band pass Figure 5: Output after notch filter Figure 6: Final ECG signal

Breadboard

Figure 7: Filtered and amplified ECG signal

Table (4): The output after each stage

6. Engineering standards consideration

According to FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the ECG devices intended for
diagnostic purposes are determine as Class II and fall under EC-11 standard. Where
EC-11 is a standard that covered by the ANSI (American National Standards
Institute). This standard establishes minimum safety and performance requirements
for electrocardiographic (ECG) systems with direct working devices which are
intended for use, under the operating conditions specified in this standard, in the
analysis of rhythm and of detailed morphology of complex cardiac complexes [1],[2].

7. Discussion
The aim of this project is processing ECG signal using different component studied in
the Biomed. Electronics & Measurements. Firstly, band pass filter was used to
eliminate the signals that are out of the normal ECG range of frequencies. The band
pass is fixed to cover 0.012-260 Hz. So, we cancel any large undesired interfering

5
 signals that may be caused by the DC electrode offset potential. Other sources of
noise include movement that affects the skin-electrode interface, electromagnetic
interference (EMI), and noise from other electronic devices that couple into the input.
Moreover, we designed the filter to get amplification =2. So that we avoid any
reduction caused during filtration. Due to the limited values in the lab, we replaced
some resistors with different combination of series resistors.
In the second stage, a notch filter was used to remove the interfering input. The cutoff
frequency of the notch filter is 60 Hz, and amplifier possess a gain of 1. The capacitor
value was assumed to be 1 μF so the calculation affects the resistors only, therefore
the resistor value can be calculated by the cutoff frequency formula.
In the last stage, The amplification is constrained by the power source ( Vcc=12,
Vee=-12); Therefore, the gain should have a value that does not drive the signal into
saturation. The gain of the amplifier is 3. Moreover, the total gain of the circuit is 6.
In Figure (9), the input voltage is 100 mV and the output is 576 mV. The gain of the
576𝑚𝑉
implemented circuit is = 5.76 which is close to the calculated gain with
100𝑚𝑉
percentage error of 4%. This error may refer to the low input impedance, resistors and
capacitors tolerance, and drift sensitivity.

8. Conclusion
In this project many components was simulated an implemented to accomplish a part
of Electrocardiogram devise. Filtration and amplification were the main concepts used
in the project. It was conducted in two steps, simulation the circuit of bandpass filter,
notch filter and amplifier using Multisim. After that, the same circuit was
implemented in the lab. Using these three components we obtained the desired output.
Moreover, it is recommended to try different combination of capacitors and resistors
to obtain higher amplification to see smoother ECG signal. Moreover, the band pass
filter could be a single high pass series with low pass filter to control the amplification
without concerning the saturation of the amplifiers.

9. References
[1]"Diagnostic ECG Guidance (Including Non-Alarming ST Segment Measurement", U.S.
Food and Drug Administration, 1998. [Online]. Available: https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-
information/search-fda-guidance-documents/diagnostic-ecg-guidance-including-non-
alarming-st-segment-measurement-guidance-industry. [Accessed: 15- Oct- 2021].

[2]"IEEE 1426-1996 - ANSI/AAMI EC11-1991 - Diagnostic Electrocardiographic

Devices", Standards.ieee.org. [Online]. Available:
https://standards.ieee.org/standard/1426-1996.html. [Accessed: 15- Oct- 2021].

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