Heart Rate Monitor

Intro: Heart Rate Monitor

I built a relatively simple heart rate monitor circuit that is monitored and controlled by an Arduino Uno. The theory of operation is based on the fact that infrared (IR) light is partially absorbed by blood. When your index finger is placed between the IR emitter and detector, the amount of IR light absorbed by the finger (and thus transmitted into the detector) varies in sync with your heart beat.

The Arduino monitors and filters the IR detector's signal, and turns a blue LED on and off in sync with your heart beat. The signal filtering library used by the Arduino code can be found here. The filtering is done mathematically and not with an external circuit.

I also modified some Processing code that monitors and plots the filtered signal from the serial monitor.

UPDATE: I replaced the previous Arduino code with a slightly "cleaner" version in which I made a few changes that I believe result in a more robust, less noisy signal. First, I amplify the signal before doing the filtering. Second, I use a band-pass filter with a passband of 1 hz - 3 hz. Also, with the rollout of Arduino 1.6.6 and the Serial Plotter tool, it's quite easy to see the heart rate signal without running the Processing code that I included. Of course, if you want more control over the display, you're going to need more than the Serial Plotter tool, but it's a good first start.

STEP 1: Building the Circuit

Build the circuit shown. I used this emitter detector pair from SparkFun. The resistor in series with the emitter is 100 Ohm, and the resistor in series with the detector is 10 kOhm. I use a blue LED (right side of bread board) in series with a 100 Ohm resistor.

STEP 2: Connections to the Arduino Uno

The 5 V pin on the Arduino powers both the IR emitter and detector. The Analog 0 input pin monitors the voltage after the 10 kOhm resistor, and the Analog 8 output pin controls the voltage on the blue LED.

STEP 3: Output

First upload and run the Arduino code. Second, run the Processing code. The Processing code monitors the serial port output and plots it. The shape of the output pulses is very sensitive to how the index finger is placed between the emitter and detector (position, pressure, etc.), and you can see this in the video below as it's impossible to hold my index finger perfectly still for the duration of the video.

Update: On a whim, I removed the blue LED from the circuit and retested. The new video below shows a markedly improved heart rate signal. I'm not sure what kind of interference (optical? electrical?) was occurring with the Blue LED near the IR detector, but getting rid of it certainly improved the signal. I'll continue testing but I'm curious to see what others find.

Comments

[stevew17]

You have 2 programs that need to be ran 1 is the Arduino code and 2 is the processing code as you call it , but how are both programs downloaded to the Arduino? I mean I know the Arduino uses sketches or programs to run each project but I am getting confused on how 2 programs are downloaded and ran simultaneously? This question is a newbies question any experienced Arduino man should be able to answer.

[ZafarF]

i am not able to run the arduino code, where did you get the libraries from?

[Festerdam]

The signal filtering library can be found at:

http://playground.arduino.cc/Code/Filters

[Shiva PrasanthA]

Arduino code error :'(

[Festerdam]

What is the error message that you receive?

[Anandas7]

hello friends, good project ..i tried it but if run processing software there will be error like this 'please update your code'...how to solve it? i am using processing 3.1.1

[Festerdam]

Try to use an older version like Processing 2.x.x. That allowed me to run it.

[tomatoskins]

Love it! Thanks for sharing!

[pureAmericanbrother]

Thank you for the feedback!

[Malmosely]

great project - works perfectly. Would the revised processing code showing the BPM be available

MM

[pureAmericanbrother]

#include <FilterDerivative.h>

#include <FilterOnePole.h>

#include <Filters.h>

#include <FilterTwoPole.h>

#include <FloatDefine.h>

#include <RunningStatistics.h>

float amplifiedSignal; //amplified HR signal

float filteredSignal; //filtered HR signal

int threshold = 200; //FILL IN THIS LINE WITH THE THRESHOLD SIGNAL VALUE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO USE

int heartbeatCount = 0; //variable keeps track of number of heartbeats

int beatsPerMinute; //HR in units of bpm

int numOfHeartbeats = 5; //total number of heartbeats used to calculate heartrate

float startTime; //time in seconds when first heartbeat occurs

float stopTime; //time in seconds when the last heartbeat (numOfHeartbeats) occurs

bool possibleHeartbeat = false; //if the signal is above the threshold, we may have a peak

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

}

// filter out frequencies below 1 Hz.

float highFilterFrequency = 1;

// create a highpass filter that only keeps frequencies above highFilterFrequency

FilterOnePole filterOneHighpass( HIGHPASS, highFilterFrequency );

// filters out frequenceies greater than 3 Hz.

float lowFilterFrequency = 3;

// create a lowpass filter that only keeps frequencies below lowFilterFrequency

FilterOnePole filterOneLowpass(LOWPASS, lowFilterFrequency);

void loop() {

//The next line applies a band pass filter to the signal

amplifiedSignal = 100*analogRead(A0);

filteredSignal = filterOneHighpass.input(filterOneLowpass.input(amplifiedSignal));

//Serial.println(filteredSignal);

//check to see if we have a heart beat

if (filteredSignal > threshold)

possibleHeartbeat = true;

else if (possibleHeartbeat == true && filteredSignal < threshold){

heartbeatCount+=1;

possibleHeartbeat = false;

Serial.println("heartbeat, ba-bum");

//start timing if we have the first heartbeat

if (heartbeatCount == 1)

startTime = millis()/1000.0; //starting time in seconds

//if we count "numOfHeartbeats" heartbeats, calculate a heartrate

else if (heartbeatCount == numOfHeartbeats){

stopTime = millis()/1000.0; //stopping time in seconds

beatsPerMinute = 60*(numOfHeartbeats-1)/(stopTime-startTime);

Serial.print("Your HR is : ");

Serial.print(beatsPerMinute);

Serial.println(" bpm");

heartbeatCount = 0;

}

}

[Abdul KarimK1]

do u have source code for pulse counter in aruino?

[vaibhavn15]

please can u upload your exact ckt diagram plz.and is the ir pair used is diode pair or diode phototransistor pair .i tried but i recieved a constant high signal when index finger was placed.

[عليا8]

Hi

how are you frind please help how do find the compiler source code for this project please reply

[purgoufr]

Hi thanks for sharing, I have a question. Where is the Analog 0 input on your arduino code? How to sense arduino the A0 on your code?

[pureAmericanbrother]

Look in the loop!

filterOneLowpass.input(filterOneHighpass.input(analogRead(A0)));

[purgoufr]

Ooh I saw , thank you so much :)

[akshay.d21]

hey i tried implementing on an arduino nano but to no avail. the ino file is uploaded correctly but nothing shows out on processing. What should i do ? connections are proper as well.

[vaithi]

Hi thanks for the project , but i have some problems . when i tried to open the .ino project file using arduino ide it says error . can u please send me the codes for the same to the email id pls

[akshay.d21]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing such an easy and useful instructable ! :)

Can you tell me a way yo display the count on an lcd or a screen ? i am new to embedded systems.

Would be helpful for me if you can guide me.