Page 1
AD8232 Heart Rate Monitor Hookup Guide a learn.sparkfun.com tutorial
Available online at: http://sfe.io/t250
Contents
Introduction
Understanding the ECG
Connecting the Hardware
Arduino Example
Processing Example
Troubleshooting and Tips & Tricks
Resources and Going Further
Introduction
The AD8232 is a neat little chip used to measure the electrical activity of the heart. This electrical activity can be charted as an ECG or Electrocardiogram.
Electrocardiography is used to help diagnose various heart conditions. Now for the disclaimer:
NOTE: This device is not intended to diagnose or treat any conditions.
SparkFun Single Lead Heart Rate Monitor - AD8232
SEN-12650
$19.95
17
Favorited Favorite 31
Wish List
Covered in this Tutorial
Page 1 of 12
Page 2
In this tutorial, we will go over the basics for getting your AD8232 Heart Rate Monitor up and running. First, an overview of the board and all its features will be
presented. Then, we'll show you how hook it up to your favorite microcontroller and how to create visual data using Processing.
Suggested Reading
If you are not familiar with any of the following concepts, you may want to review them before moving ahead.
Serial Communication
Asynchronous serial communication concepts: packets, signal levels, baud rates, UARTs and more!
Favorited Favorite 69
How to Power a Project
A tutorial to help figure out the power requirements of your project.
Favorited Favorite 42
Working with Wire
How to strip, crimp, and work with wire.
Favorited Favorite 20
What is an Arduino?
What is this 'Arduino' thing anyway?
Favorited Favorite 32
Connecting Arduino to Processing
Send serial data from Arduino to Processing and back - even at the same time!
Favorited Favorite 31
Serial Terminal Basics
This tutorial will show you how to communicate with your serial devices using a variety of terminal emulator applications.
Favorited Favorite 26
Understanding the ECG
In general terms, lets look at what an ECG is representing and how we're able to sense it. The ECG is separated into two basic Intervals, the PR Interval and the
QT Interval, described below.
Note: All information comes from the Waves and Intervals section of the ECG Wikipedia page .
Credit Wikipedia.org
Page 2 of 12
Page 3
AD8232 Heart Rate Monitor Example SparkFun Wish List
Diagram of the heart. Credit Wikipedia.org
PR Interval
The PR interval is the initial wave generated by an electrical impulse traveling from the right atrium to the left. The right atrium is the first chamber to see an
electrical impulse. This electrical impulse causes the chambers to "depolarize". This forces it to contract and drain deoxygenated blood from both the Superior
and Inferior vena cava into the right ventricle. As the electrical impulse travels across the top of the heart it then triggers the left atrium to contract. The left atrium
is responsible for receiving newly oxygenated blood from the lungs into the left ventricle via the left and right pulmonary veins. The pulmonary veins are red in the
diagram because they are carrying oxygenated blood. They are still called veins because veins carry blood towards the heart. Science!
QT Interval
The QT Interval is where things get really interesting. The QRS is a complex process that generates the signature "beep" in cardiac monitors. During QRS both
ventricles begin to pump. The right ventricle begins to pump deoxygenated blood into the lungs through the left and right pulmonary arteries. The pulmonary
arteries are blue in the diagram because they are carrying deoxygenated blood. They are still called arteries because arteries carry blood away the heart.
Science, Again! The left ventricle is also begining to pump freshly oxygenated blood through the aorta and into the rest of the body. After the initial contraction
comes the ST segment. The ST segment is fairly quiet electrically as it is the time where the ventricals waiting to be "re-polarized". Finally the T wave becomes
present to actively "re-ploarize", or relax the ventricles. This relaxation phase resets the ventricles to be filled again by the atriums.
Heartbeat with corresponding ECG Credit Wikipedia.org
Connecting the Hardware
In this guide, we'll connect the AD8232 Breakout to an Arduino microcontroller. We will build a simple cardiac monitor that will allow you to measure the electrical
activity of the heart in real time!
Required Materials
Page 3 of 12
Page 4
SparkFun USB Mini-B Cable - 6 Foot
CAB-11301
This is a USB 2.0 type A to Mini-B 5-pin cable. You know, the mini-B connector that usually comes with USB Hubs, Cameras, MP3 players, etc. You can us…
SparkFun FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V
DEV-09873
This is the newest revision of our [FTDI Basic](http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8772). We now use a SMD 6-pin header on …
Jumper Wire Kit - 140pcs
PRT-00124
This is a time saving kit of jumper wires - cut, stripped, and pre-bent for your prototyping pleasure. Included with this kit are 14 various lengths o…
Break Away Headers - Straight
PRT-00116
A row of headers - break to fit. 40 pins that can be cut to any size. Used with custom PCBs or general custom headers.**Features: *** Pin Style: Squar…
Breadboard - Self-Adhesive (White)
PRT-12002
This is your tried and true white solderless breadboard. It has 2 power buses, 10 columns, and 30 rows - a total of 400 tie in points. All pins are sp…
Arduino Pro Mini 328 - 3.3V/8MHz
DEV-11114
Pin Connections
The AD8232 Heart Rate Monitor breaks out nine connections from the IC. We traditionally call these connections "pins" because they come from the pins on the
IC, but they are actually holes that you can solder wires or header pins to.
We'll connect five of the nine pins on the board to your Arduino. The five pins you need are labeled GND, 3.3v, OUTPUT, LO-, and LO+.
Board
Label
Pin Function Arduino Connection
GND Ground GND
3.3v
3.3v Power
Supply
3.3v
OUTPUT Output Signal A0
LO- Leads-off Detect - 11
LO+ Leads-off Detect + 10
SDN Shutdown Not used
Connecting Headers to the Board
You can use any method you'd like to make your connections to the board. For this example, we'll solder on a five-pin length of male-male header strip and use a
Page 4 of 12
Page 5
breadboard and jumpers to make our connections.
Headers installed
Circuit Diagram
Follow the diagram below, to make necessary connections. The SDN pin is not used in this demo. Connecting this pin to ground or "LOW" on a digital pin will
power down the chip. This is useful for low power applications.
Connection Diagram
Sensor Pad Placement
Now that the electronics are complete, let's look at sensor pad placement. It is recommended to snap the sensor pads on the leads before application to the
body.
Page 5 of 12
Page 6
Sensors Connected to Heart Monitor
The closer to the heart the pads are, the better the measurement. The cables are color coded to help identify proper placement as shown in the table based on
Einthoven's triangle. The sensors can be placed on the forearms and leg as shown on the diagram on the left. Or they can be placed on the chest near the arms
and above the right, lower abdomen (i.e. just above the right hip) as shown on the diagram on the right.
Cable
Color
Signal
Black RA (Right Arm)
Blue LA (Left Arm)
Red RL (Right Leg)
Typical Sensor Placements
Arduino Example
Note: This code has been written and tested on Arduino IDE version v1.0.5. Otherwise, make sure you are using the latest stable version of the Arduino IDE on
your desktop. If this is your first time using Arduino, please review our tutorial on installing the Arduino IDE. Also, make sure to check out the following tutorials
before uploading code: How to Install FTDI Drivers and Using the Arduino Pro Mini 3.3V.
By this point, you should have the hardware connected and ready. The example sketch can be found in the GitHub repository.
Page 6 of 12
Page 7
GitHub: AD8232 Heart Rate Monitor/.../Heart_Rate_Display_Arduino.ino
You can cut and paste the code straight from GitHub or clone the repository and open the file. Make sure to select the correct board (i.e. Arduino Pro Mini
3.3V/8MHz) and COM port. When you are ready, hit the upload button to upload the code to your board.
Upload Sketch to Arduino Pro Mini 3.3V/8MHz
To verify that the heart rate monitor is working as expected, open the serial monitor at 9600 baud. You should see values printed on the screen. Below is an
example output with the sensors connected on the forearms and right leg. Your serial output should spike between +300/-200 around the center value of about
~500.
The serial data is hard to visualize if you are just viewing the values. If you are using Arduino IDE v1.6.6+, there is an option to view the data on a graph using
the Arduino Serial Plotter as one option. In the Arduino IDE, select Tools > Serial Plotter. You should see a waveform similar to the image below when the
sensors are placed correctly and not moving.
Page 7 of 12
Page 8
Processing Example
Heads Up! This Processing Sketch is for advanced users! For those that are new to programming, you may just want to use the Arduino Serial Plotter. For those
that have experience programming and have used Processing before, feel free to continue on!
Note: Processing is a software that enables visual representation of data, among other things. If you've never dealt with Processing before, we recommend you
also check out the Arduino to Processing tutorial. Follow the button below to go ahead and download and install Processing IDE v2.2.1. The following examples
were intended for Processing IDE v2 so you may have issues getting it running on Processing IDE v3.
Download Processing IDE 2.2.1
The Processing example code will give you another option to visualize the output of what's going on. The example processing sketch can be found in the GitHub
repository as well.
GitHub: AD8232 Heart Rate Monitor/.../Heart_Rate_Display.pde
The example Processing sketch works with the Processing IDE v2.2.1. Later versions may not work with the example code so makes sure to download the
stable release for v2.2.1 from the Processing IDE Download page. When ready, press the "Run" button.
Run the Processing sketch
The Processing sketch will probably not work at first and you will probably see nothing drawn.
Page 8 of 12
Page 9
If you see nothing displayed, it is probably because the Processing sketch is not reading the correct COM port. Make sure to modify the following line of code if
this happens.
language:c
myPort = new Serial(this, Serial.list()[2], 9600);
You will need to change the parameter inside Serial.list()[N] based on the enumerated COM ports on your computer. A list of available COM ports will appear in the
lower portion of the sketch window. Remember that COM port selection begins at 0 so you would be counting each COM port from 0 (in terms of programming
not in mathematical terms) from left to right. In this case, the Arduino enumerated as COM38 when uploading so it should be in the 3rd element in the array.
Therefore, you would change the value to 2. As a result, the example code would be listed as Serial.list()[2]. Typically your Arduino will appear as the highest COM
number if it is the only device connected to your computer.
The Arduino shows up as COM38. This is found in the Serial List at array element "2".
Once the COM port is adjusted with your setup, hit the Run button again. If everything is working correctly, you should see a nice box pop up and start displaying
the output signal similar to the image below.
"Normal" heart rate of an SFE engineer
If your subject decides to remove the sensors, the leads off detection in the code will kick in and display a flat blue line.
"Flight, we just lost Lovell!"
Troubleshooting and Tips & Tricks
ECG's are notoriously noisy. This is because you are measuring muscle activation. The furtherthe sensor pads are from the heart, the more muscle noise you
will see. These are commonly referred to as "Motion Artifacts". So here are some simple tips to improve the signal quality.
Keep sensor pads as close to the heart as you can.
Page 9 of 12
Page 10
Make sure the RA and LA sensor pads are on correct sides of the heart.
Try not to move too much while taking a measurement.
Try to use fresh pads for each measurement. The pads loose the ability to pass signals with multiple applications.
Prep and clean the area you plan to stick pads. This will help make a good connection (hair is not a good conductor).
You may have to adjust sensor placement for different individuals.
If the sensor pads are not placed correctly on the body or the cable is not connected, you may see an output similar to the image below in the serial monitor. The
values will either clip the waveform between 0 and 1023 or display an "!".
As a result, you will either see a flat line in the Arduino serial plotter or nothing will be drawn in the Processing's display window. If this happens, you'll need to
check your solder joints and try placing the sensor pads to a different location around the body.
Arduino Serial Plotter
Displaying Flat Line
Processing Sketch
Displaying Nothing
If you happen to moving a lot or flex your muscle, you will not get a distinct waveform. Make sure to remain still and relax as the sensor is taking measurements.
You may see a few distinct waveforms but it will not be as reliable.
Arduino Serial Plotter
Displaying a Noisy Waveform
Processing Sketch
Displaying a Noisy Waveform
Depending on where the sensor pads are placed, you may still get a distinct waveform similar to the graphs displayed in the Arduino serial plotter below. You
may notice the QT interval pulsing even though the center value is noisy. This is not as desirable as the waveforms shown earlier and the pads may need to be
moved to a different location depending on your application. When inspecting the graph on the right further, you'll notice that there is a gradual spike at the end of
the waveform. This was due to the sensor picking up movements from a user breathing deeply similar to when a user is moving a lot or flexing a muscle. If this
happens, make sure to not force the breathing.
Page 10 of 12
Page 11
Arduino Serial Plotter
Displaying a Noisy Waveform with Distinct QT Intervals
Arduino Serial Plotter
Displaying a Noisy Waveform with Distinct QT Intervals and Motion Artifacts
Resources and Going Further
Thanks for reading. For more resources on the AD8232 Heart Rate Monitor, check out the following links:
AD8232 Datasheet
AD8232 GitHub Repository
SFE Product Showcase
For more Electronics Fun, check out these other SparkFun tutorials:
Teardown: Misfit Shine Activity Tracker
A quick tear down of the popular fitness tracking device, the Misfit Shine.
Favorited Favorite 3
MAX30105 Particle and Pulse Ox Sensor Hookup Guide
The SparkFun MAX30105 Particle Sensor is a flexible and powerful sensor enabling sensing of distance, heart rate, particle detection, even the blinking of an
eye. Get ready. Set. Shine!
Favorited Favorite 6
Fingerprint Scanner (GT-521Fxx) Hookup Guide
This tutorial provides information about how to connect to ADH-Tech's fingerprint scanner (GT-521F32) and how to use it with Hawley's FPS_GT511C3 library for
Arduino.
Favorited Favorite 8
Getting Started with Walabot
See through walls, track objects, monitor breathing patterns, and more using the power of radio frequency with the Walabot! In this tutorial, we will explore
Walabot’s features using the Software Demo Kit (SDK) on Windows and the Application Programming Interface (API) on Linux-based distributions for embedded
projects.
Favorited Favorite 3
More Biometric products offered by SparkFun:
MyoWare Muscle Sensor Development Kit
KIT-14409
$82.95
1
Favorited Favorite 30
Wish List
Page 11 of 12
Page 12
MyoWare Muscle Sensor
SEN-13723
$37.95
6
Favorited Favorite 49
Wish List
SparkFun Single Lead Heart Rate Monitor - AD8232
SEN-12650
$19.95
17
Favorited Favorite 31
Wish List
Fingerprint Scanner - TTL (GT-521F32)
SEN-14518
$35.95
4
Favorited Favorite 35
Wish List
learn.sparkfun.com | CC BY-SA 3.0 | SparkFun Electronics | Niwot, Colorado
Page 12 of 12
Loading...