So, Please give me some input on how to solve the above issues!
Thanks

As you can see, this ECG is still a total work in progress! If you are reading this and know the answer to any of questions, please click on More Info at the top of the page and mail me. I'd love to know your answers.

Update 23/5/08 - Computer interface completed

I have soldered an audio jack to the CRO port, and plugged it into my computer. The result using the '1mV' test tone button the CRO is shown in the image below

Please note, these are not QRS complexes, rather, they are JUST the test tone on the ECG. However, a new problem has emerged.

When anything is plugged into the patient port (I used three resistors, hypothesising that port 1 is R arm, port 2 is L arm, port 4 is patient ground) a huge noise feedback event takes place. This results in a totally unreadable signal. It does not occur when nothing is plugged into the patient port - so this begs the question - what kind of circuitry occurs after the plug?

Since this is likely to be a constant thing in all ECGs, what occurs between the plug and the patient? Will not having all patient cables connected cause the feedback described? Could it be as a result of not grounding either the ECG or the patient correctly?

I need your help!

So, as you can see - there is a small problem working out which cable corresponds to the correct plug. Needless to say - it WILL be solved. If you have a suggestion, please email it through.

Update 27/5/08

I've received some mail about the lead pattern.

From Jamie comes this:

Hi

Jamie here - I have a few paramedics standing next to me saying:

Pin 1 is likely ground, the next 4 are likely limbs, and the next 6 are
precordial.

One says - since the electronic isolation is INSIDE the unit, there is
almost certainly nothing but copper to the patient - no external wiring.

This isn't to be taken as true true true fact - but it's the best info
we have here!

Hope that helps

Jamie

The only point for clarification is what 'ground' acutally means. For example, I though that electrode 4 (RL) is the patient ground, if so, what is pin one on the ecg? Jamie suggests the following:

Hi Marcus

I believe they were referring to patient ground. (bed)

And you need minimum 3 leads to get a signal - positive, negative, and
ground (in my limited comprehension).

Good luck!

Jamie

and

Bed ground - just a term - grounded to the patient, not the earth.

If they were on (and touching) a metal table, it would work...

-Jamie

So perhaps pin 1 is the patient, pin 5 (i.e. electrode 4) is RL (patient ground). But why then have another pin for the patient? This seems like duplication. If you know - let me know!

Further update 27/5/08

A helpful visitor has sent me the following link to a great (free) piece of ECG monitoring software

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cpp/ecg_dsp.aspx

Unfortunately it appears to be uncompiled. I have neither the software nor the expertise to compile the program into an executable. It would be great if a more techno-literate reader could email me a compiled version.

Update 1/6/08

A very helpful suggestion has led to the further dissection of the machine. By a process of deduction (and plainly simple PCB markings) the ECG leads can be identified.

First the shell was removed

What's that I can see? Coloured wires?

Further dissection

And, hiding at the bttom of the image below those resistors, you might notice some markings on the pcb.

They correspond as follows (plug port #, colour, PCB marking, theorised role)

1 brown R - Presumably the right arm

2 red L - Presumably the left arm

3 orange F - Apparently stands for left leg

4 yellow C1 - Chest electrode 1

5 blue C2, 6 purple C3, 7 gray C4, 8 white C5, 9 red C6

10 black RF - I presume that given F stands for left leg, RF means right leg (patient ground)

11 brown S - (not in line with the others, i assume this is the shielding plug for the cable)

This hypothesis would be supported by the slide plugs on the bottom of the switching unit

Which do look curously like described ones. The second set of two reads 'pre input' - slightly cut off by the shadow in the photographs.

So where does this project now stand?

The computer interface is complete. All that remains is:

1) Hope that the plugs align with the colours & thus electrodes as described.

2) Plug it in (i.e. right arm, left leg, right leg) and try to take a rhythm strip (Lead II)

Thankyou everyone who has contributed so far, it's much appreciated. Further comments certainly welcome.

Update 2/6/08

Jerry rigged the cables to provide an interface to the ecg leads. Plugged the machine in to display lead I (as in, RA LA & RF (patient ground)) and here's the results

As you can see, the P wave, QRS and T wave are all clearly visible. There is still some noise, probably caused by:

1) The fact that I am using unshielded cables
2) The fact that the machine itself is not grounded
3) The fact that my electrodes have been used about 20 times each, and that I didn't prep the skin, and that I placed them over biceps - so possibly some EMG noise

I'll work to eliminate all these factors - but as you can see for now the result is pleasingly good.

Update 4/6/08 - HARDWARE PHASE COMPLETE!

I've finished the hardware installation. From the outside, you can't see any changes

But as soon as you lift the service hatch (orange) you might notice a few changes

There are a set of audio plugs mounted. Top is RA, middle is LA or LL (whatever you want really) and the bottom one is Patient ground. Each of the plugs has now been shielded, so the ecg cables have also been shielded. I have installed a small plastic box below this unit to store the wires when it is not being used. You can now pull the audio interface cable from this center console. And yes, I will use a real label rather than tipex.s

At the same time, I tracked down the DC supply (hopefully 12v 1A) and ran a cable to supply it - perhaps in the future. Although the unit is still running on batteries, 8D cells are likely to last a long time - especially now i've removed the hot stylus and motors etc.

And here's one of the traces.

That's pretty nice compared to the noise I had before. Very happy with this.

So the only thing from here is SOFTWARE!!!

Please email me any suggestions you have about software that might suit. As you can see, I am currently using a VB program which is very basic. It does not record the trace, and there are no processing options (eg software 50hz removal).

I'm still looking for a kind programmer who knows how to compile this. If this is you, please email me :)

Update 25/6/08

I have now finished the software (at least for now). Based on Jason's original source code, I have added some functionality myself, and freelanced out the other work here to an excellence coder at GetAFreelancer. The product spec was to add saving & playback ability, bulletproof the program a little and make it more usable for the average joe.

I have every intention of releasing this software as freeware. The only condition is that you don't sell it to anyone, as that's not reasonable to any of the developers involved in the production.

You can see screenshots & download FreeECG here

digg this