Remote Health Monitoring Messenger

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

ABSTRACT

Health is an important factor of every human being. Remote health monitoring messenger is needed for the people to reduce their inconvenience in travel to hospitals due to ail in health. Ill patient requires accurate decision to be taken immediately in critical situations, so that life-protecting and life-saving therapy can be properly applied. In recent years sensors are used in each and every fast developing application for designing the miniaturized system which is much easier for people use. A remote health monitoring messenger informs the doctor about the patient condition through wireless media such as Global System for Mobile communication. The system specifically deals with the signal conditioning and data acquisition of heart beat, temperature, and blood pressure of human body. The Heart beat sensor was designed to read the patient’s beats per minute (bpm) and temperature sensor used to measure the body temperature of patient through external skin and pressure sensor used to measure the level of pressure in blood. Signals obtained from sensors are fed into the microcontroller for processing and medicine is prescribed as first aid for patient to control the parameters through visual basic, then message is sent to the doctor for further actions to be taken for treatment of patient after first aid. The system has a very good response time and it is cost effective.

Keywords: Remote Health Monitoring, GSM modem, PIC Microcontroller, Wireless Sensor Network node, Visual Basic

INTRODUCTION

In earlier days large devices were used in many applications which are not so comfortable for the people usage. Especially in health monitoring system devices such as Home Transmitting Unit (HTU) is connected to the medical instruments at the patient side used to collect and transmit the physiological parameters information to the receiver side [M.Triventi et al., 2008]. In spite of those large devices sensors are used to miniaturize the system which is easy for the people usage in order of sensing and transmitting the information to the respective caretaker. Recent developments are taking place in each and every application. In medical field health is an important concern. Health monitoring system plays a major role in the fast moving world were many developments are done to monitor the health in various ways such as sensors are used to monitor the physiological parameters of human being. The sensors can be contactable and non-contactable; information about patient health can be collected and transferred to the caretaker through information gateway such as mobile phones [Shyamal Patel et al., 2012]. Nowadays biomedical sensors are used in fast developing world to detect and control the physiological parameters of people. Wireless transmission technology is used for the purpose of communication between the patient and respective caretaker. Wireless health monitoring systems are getting improved to provide real time care for patient. The zigbee network is used for the transmission of data [zhang qing et al., 2011]. The Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) is used as a well known network for immediate response to the patient whereas zigbee network also did the same it is applicable for certain short ranging distance and also requires more amount of zigbee nodes have to be implemented which leads to the increase in cost. In remote health monitoring messenger mobile phone plays a major role for sending Short Message Service (SMS). The sensors used in the system to detect the values of physiological parameters whereas the detected parameters are sent to the caretaker through the SMS gateway. Sensors digital output are transferred to the Graphical User Interface of Visual Basic in order to show the each and every detail of detected parameters of a patient which reveals the patient health condition and treatment to be carried out by the doctor to respective person [B. Priya et al., 2009]. AMON system is the most popular remote health system, a wearable medical monitoring system for cardiac patients allow continuous monitoring of physiological signals for advancement in diagnosis and treatment. Blood pressure monitoring provides patient’s measured detail of pressure according to two pressure levels. Most ambulatory blood pressure monitoring devices rely on the repeated measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure at predetermined intervals. Invasive monitoring schemes supply such information and they are limited due to arterial damage and infection. Non-invasive monitoring schemes are essential to acquire such information for the development of devices [Paul Lukowicz et al., 2002]. A health monitoring system with nurse call station was implemented especially for the bedridden patient in hospital who does not have communication with others. The push button is employed in a bed of patient to initiate call and to alert the nurse during the abnormal situations for the treatment to proceed. The call can also be initiated automatically to respective caretaker. The automatic call can be initiated due to exceeded values of normal physiological parameters. The unique identification number is provided for patient where the details of patient can be indicated to nurse through voice message and SMS [S.Aswin et al., 2011].

LITERATURE SURVEY

Wireless Body Area Sensor Networks are a promising technology which enables health monitoring of elderly people and enhances their independent living. This paper proposes the system architecture and protocol stack of a Wireless Body Area Sensor Network for health monitoring of elderly people. The architecture used in both indoor and outdoor environments and enables transmission of both routine and emergency vital signs. The WBASN consists of a pulse oximeter sensor which monitors the blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and Heart Rate (HR) and an Electrocardiogram sensor (ECG) for monitoring heart activity. This project is based on Zigbee technology [1]. Online database system for remote monitoring of artificial heart patient has been developed were the remote terminal can be either of two types, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) based portable monitor or a laptop PC based terminal for hospital use that have more data acquisition functions not included in the PDA type utilizing extra communication port or data acquisition board. The portable monitor based on a PDA is linked to the implanted Artificial Heart (AH) controller via an exteriorized percutaneous cable or a transcutaneous wireless telemetry system using an IrDA-based infrared communication device. The communication protocol is RS-232C. The laptop PC based terminal has three additional functions such as data acquisition through patient monitors, direct remote monitoring via TCP/IP direct connection, and image capture functions. For patient monitoring the developed software implements two types of system interface, serial communication port interface used for certain types of patient monitoring that provide digitized data through serial port and a data acquisition board based interface for direct analog signal capture [2]. Wearable sensors tend to use emerging wireless transmission solutions like Bluetooth and ZigBee technology to improve mobility and minimize power consumption of the system. These inventions carries out some advantages such as the patients often are released from the hospital to give the priority to other heart patients on the waiting list, whom need to be hospitalized immediately. It does not only have an important positive economic impact, but it also produces an increment of the social wellbeing. These types of communication will only work for shorter distance and duration [Karandeep Malhi et al., 2012]. A study was done to determine the types of vital signs that are routinely measured for a patient by doctor. The vital signs are body temperature, pulse rate and detection of fall. Body tissues mass-weighted average temperature and skin temperature are measured. Direct temperature measurement of peripheral tissue is more complex than core temperature measurement [Rainer Lenhardt and Daniel I. Sessler, 2006]. Vital signals of patient health can be monitored by biomedical system using zigbee. The system is two tiered used for gathering and processing biomedical signals. First the device with number of biosensors has to be carried on the body and second is processing by a local base station using the raw data transmitted on request by the mobile device [N.Hamza et al., 2009]. Smart wearable remote health monitoring systems are increased in usage to improve the quality of health services and to reduce the cost by avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations and ensuring that those who need urgent care. System contributes to the enhancement of disease prevention with cost effective telemedicine platform [A. Lymberis, 2003]. For Physiological Parameters Measurement the network is approached which deals with portable parameter monitoring and analysis system for physiological studies and for assisting patient centric health care management. Data from sensors are acquired and transmitted to a server by network through wireless connection. Acquisition and monitoring of physiological parameters are automated by system and displayed on the monitoring screen [Fazlur Rahman et al., 2005].

SYSTEM OVERVIEW

A Remote Health Monitoring Messenger consists of three main modules such as data sensing module, data processing module and data communication module. The data sensing module consists of temperature sensor, heart beat sensor and pressure sensor which senses the changes in physiological parameters of human body such as temperature, heart beat and pressure and conveys the information in a certain manner to the PIC microcontroller of data processing module which analyze the input signals and by controlling the noise signals processes the certain digital value, if the processed value exceeds than normal value of certain parameter the medicine will be given as a first aid for patient which is displayed on the personal computer using Graphical User Interface of Visual Basic at the patient side. The communication module used to transfer data between person and equipment which has basic components such as the message, the sender, the receiver, the medium and the protocol by which the message is sent to the doctor through mobile phones by information gateway for the treatment to be taken.

The schematic diagram of Remote Health Monitoring Messenger is represented in the figure 1.

Figure 1. System Overview

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

In this process design and implementation of remote health monitoring messenger is done with modules of data sensing, data processing and data communication. Three sensors are contained in data sensing module such as temperature sensor, heart rate sensor and pressure sensor. Temperature sensor is used to measure the body temperature through external skin. Heartbeat sensor is used to measure the function of heart by blood flow through Finger. Pressure sensor is used to measure the blood pressure of human being. The output of each sensor is interfaced with Analog to Digital circuit (ADC) pins of microcontroller. Data processing module consists of PIC 16F877A a 40-pin 8-Bit CMOS FLASH microcontroller of Harvard architecture which is a high-performance RISC CPU and MAX232 circuit used to solve problems in conversion of RS232 signal voltage to TTL voltage and needed to communicate the PC and mobile of data communication module for prescribing medicine through VB and sending SMS through information gateway, LCD is used as a display unit in connection with microcontroller for displaying the current details of physiological parameters.

Data Sensing Module

It consists of Temperature, Heart beat and Pressure sensors used to detect and measure the values of physiological parameters of human body such as Temperature, Heart beat and Blood Pressure.

Temperature sensor

The LM35 is a temperature sensor used to measure the body temperature through external skin and it is a precision integrated-circuit. Output voltage of sensor is proportional to the Celsius (Centigrade) temperature and varies by 10 mV. The LM35 sensor is advantageous than other temperature sensors which are calibrated in ° Kelvin and requires external calibration from user, which is not needed in LM35 sensor to provide typical accuracies of ±¼°C at room temperature and ±¾°C over a full -55 to +150°C temperature range. Temperature measurement is done accurately with LM35 sensor more than a thermistor and also possesses low self heating were temperature does not rise than 0.1 °C.

 

Figure 2. LM35 Sensor

Working principle

Temperature in °C is calculated by formula, Temp in °C = [(Vout in mV) - 500] / 10. For LM35 sensors temperature in °C can be calculated using the formula, Temp = (Vout in mV) / 10.

Heart beat sensor

Heart beat sensor is used to measure the function of heart by blood flow through Finger. Heart beat is sensed by using a high intensity Infra red (IR) LED and Infra red receiver. The finger is placed between the LED and receiver. The skin gets illuminated with IR rays transmitted by LED for detection. Changes can be caused in IR rays transmission due to the variation in blood flow. High glowing LED is used to indicate detection of blood flow, noise signals can interrupt the accurate pulse sensing by means of external signals. Noise signals are higher than the amplitude of the pulse signal. Accurate pulse measurement requires raw signal processing. Comparator is used in heart beat sensor to compare the voltages and produces larger output by suppressing noise signals.

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Figure 3. Heart beat sensor

Working Principle

Heart beat can be detected for every 60 seconds using the Timer 0 and accurate pulse is measured using the formula, HB = Pulse * 60

Pressure sensor

Pressure sensor measures the pressure level in blood which is made up of silicon, used for many health monitoring applications particularly in usage with a microcontroller or microprocessor were measured analog signals got converted and the digital value of blood pressure is produced. In sensor micromachining techniques and metallization of thin-film is get combined by transducer and bipolar processing provides an accurate analog output signal which is proportional to the applied pressure.

Figure 4. Pressure sensor

Working Principle

Data Processing Module

PIC Microcontroller is used for processing and controlling functions of the system and MAX232 circuit is used for the conversion of signals to perform the communication, is contained in the data processing module.

Peripheral Interface Controller (PIC) uses harvard architecture for a small, simple and fast working embedded microcontroller with strong I/O capabilities and separate program, data bus were data can be flown to the Central Processing Unit (CPU) in large amount. PIC has two types of Program storage such as EPROM and Flash were PIC16F877 has flash memory which is rewritable and uses 14 bit instruction and it consumes low power for the application usage. PIC has inbuilt Analog to Digital Circuit (ADC) for sampling and conditioning of signals. PIC is widely used in many applications for its various features such as more program storage and consumption of low power. MAX232 circuit is a driver or receiver used to solve problems in conversion of RS232 signal voltage to TTL voltage and needed to communicate the PC and mobile of data.

Data Communication Module

For Communication between the patient and doctor mobile phone is used so that the message can be sent through the GSM modem and Personal Computer with Visual Basic is used to display the medicine details for first aid and LCD displays the details of physiological parameters.

Global System for Mobile Communication Modem provides full functional capability for serial devices to send Short Message Service. A maximum of 160 alphanumeric characters can be sent in a message to or from a mobile station. If there is a power off of subscriber's mobile unit or the network coverage area is left, the message can be stored, retrieved and sent to the subscriber when mobile is powered on or entered the network coverage area. The GSM Modem support popular "AT" command by which user can able to develop application quickly. The product SIM-300S module is used which has SIM Card holder to which activated SIM card is inserted and used with respective number for sending emergency messages about the condition of patient to doctor.

The Personal Computer is used at the patient side with Graphical User Interface Visual Basic which is used to show the details of medicine to be used for the critical condition of indicated parameter so that by consuming the medicine patient can able to overcome the critical situation immediately.

YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

GSM

END

PC

Message Sent to Doctor

Medicine is Prescribed

Performs Instruction Execution

Pressure value = Mvalue

Temp value = Mvalue

Hbeat value = Mvalue

Read Sensor Values

Pressure Sensor

Temperature Sensor

Heart beat Sensor

START

START

Figure 5. System FlowDiagram

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK

A Remote Health Monitoring Messenger is developed mainly to assist the people for monitoring and detecting the major physiological parameters such as temperature, heart beat and blood pressure through the respective sensors for sensing and providing the accurate signals by conditioning and processing through the microcontroller. GSM modem is provided to send the measured parameter details of patient through SMS to the indicated mobile number and abnormalities in health conditions with medicine details are displayed in PC with VB. The main focus of this system is that the people can overcome the critical situation and to be cautious about their health condition. The work can be get extended by adding web application to pass the information and several interior details of the various parameters can also be get detected.