Healthcare based on loT using Raspberry Pi

M. Surya Deekshith Gupta, Vamsikrishna Patchava, Virginia Menezes,

Dept. of Electronics and Dept. of Electronics and Dept of Electronics and
Communication, Communication, Telecommunication,
ISM-Dhanbad, RGUKT-Nuzvid, St.Francis Institute of Technology,
lharkhand, India. Andhra Pradesh,India. University of Mumbai, India.
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Abstract - This paper explains a Raspberry pi controlled remote

monitoring system. Raspberry Pi is a credit card sized single
board computer with ARMll microprocessor. In this study, a
system is designed to continuously monitor the �� AllDIO OUT
Electrocardiogram (EeG) and other vital parameters. This
data is stored in a database and can be displayed in a website
that can be accessed only by authorized personnel. This idea is
familiar however; this paper presents a substantive and
inexpensive method using Raspberry pi. The primary task of SO CAROSIOT
(BACK OF BOARD)
this system is to update the data to the database and alert the
doctors for any aberrancy. The former is accomplished by
using MySQLdb module to link Raspberry pi to the database
whereas the latter is achieved by the combination of Raspberry
Pi and GSM module. This system has much future scope as the
data gathered by monitoring is so valuable and can be used for USB 2.0

scientific research by the medical community. By determining

the patterns in the parameters observed, the nature of disease
can be predicted. The paper mainly emphasizes on the system ETHERNET OUT
HOM I OUT ONLY ON 256MII MOORS

design and the algorithm used to accomplish the task. The

obtained results are presented.

FIGl.!: RASPBERRY PI B+ BOARD

Keywords: Raspberry pi, EeG, Healthcare applications,
Internet of things
But there could be instances where the doctor couldn't be
alerted in time when there is an emergency, despite of 24
I. INTRODUCTION hours of monitoring. Also the data couldn't be shared
remotely with the other doctors who are specialists in that
The advancement in the new innovative technology and field and the family members. Technology that enables all
Internet of Things (loT) has had it substantial influence in these activities are available but aren't accessible and
the healthcare system. Moreover, the fusion of novel affordable by many people in developing nations. Hence the
advances in technology with the healthcare systems provide problem can be overcome by just a simple add-on to the
us with a wide window for improvements in the areas of current devices lacking these capabilities. A simple
patient care and communications, support for decision pragmatic solution to this problem can be made using
making and reducing the inaccuracies. But the fragmented Raspberry pi [1, 3], a credit card sized single board
nature of the healthcare system, which is further worsened computer.
by the lack of tools for communication between the
specialists, stimulates the need of functional interoperability The functions of the various components are given below:
to ameliorate this coordination. Currently, information
technology is considered a necessity rather than a supporting A. Raspberry Pi:
tool. Raspberry Pi is a credit card sized single board computer
A major aspect in the healthcare system is the weighs only 50g. It uses power rating of 5V, 700mA and
monitoring of the patient's vital signs such as temperature, cost effective than an actual computer. The board comes in
blood pressure and heart rate. Many monitoring devices that different models A, B and a more advanced version B+. The
display the patient's vital signs are commonly present in the B+ model has 512 MB RAM, runs on ARMII processor and
critical care units in operating rooms. has an operating frequency around 700MHz. Many bootable

978-1-4673-7910-6/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE 796

 Raspberry Pi
GPIO PINS & USB
PORTS

:11111 Raspberry Pi
Database
FIG1.2: EeG GRAPH

FIG2.1: SYSTEM DESIGN FOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

C. GSM Module:
GSM Modem [6] is a wireless modem that works with a
GSM wireless network. The baud rate can be modified using
AT commands from 9600 to 115200. It is operated on 12V
supply and frequencies 90011800 Mhz. It comprises of a
SIM card slot and an antenna to receive signals. Using serial
communication, RS232 interface, it can be connected to
devices like Raspberry Pi, PC etc. Refer the fig 1.3. Several
Serial Port • Power port AT commands are used to perform various operations like
sending and receiving SMS [5], voice calls. With a set of
FIG1.3: GSM MODULE extended set of AT commands the strength of the signal,
reading, writing and searching phone book entries is also
Operating systems like Raspbian, Pidora, and Raspbmc can possible. Functions such as receiving and sending messages,
be installed using a SD card. Different peripherals like answering calls can be done using AT commands through
mouse, keyboard, Wi-Fi adapter can be connected using its serial port on Raspberry Pi.
four USB2.0 ports to make it a full size computer. Also the
board consists of an Ethernet port to connect to network, The rest of the paper is structured as follows. Section II
GPIO pins to interface and control switches, sensors, LEDs deals with the system design. Section III discusses the
and other devices. All kinds of monitors like projectors, algorithm of the program and Section IV presents the results.
LCD screens, Tvs can be connected using HDMI port. Some Finally Section V and VI explains the scope for future
additional features include the audio jack and the camera research and conclusion respectively.
connector to interface camera. These numerous features
enable the users to use Raspberry pi in wide range of
applications. Refer the fig 1.1.
II. IMPLEMENTATION

B. Electrocardiogram (ECG):
System Design
The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is the register of The basic aim of system design is to monitor different
heart's electrical activity. Heart muscles contract by
ECG machines automatically, updating the database of
electrical stimulation, known as activation or excitation.
website continuously and alerting the doctors by a message,
These muscles are electrically charged at rest and get
if the health parameters are not in range of normal values.
contracted by depolarizing the charge. ECG [10] is the graph
Different ECG machines are connected to Raspberry pi
of these electrical signals. It gives the information about
which is written a program to monitor the parameters
heart rate and rhythm, and the mass or volume of the
continuously. If any abnormal values are obtained, a
chambers of heart.
message is sent to doctors through the GSM module
connected to RS232 serial port and alerting the people there
There are several methods for determining heart rate. In
through a buzzer connected to GPIO pins. Refer the fig 2.1.
this paper we used the method of counting the number of
QRS complexes over a 6 second interval. Multiply that MySQLdb module has been used to update the website
counting number by 10. This method works well for both
database continuously. A display monitor can be connected
regular and irregular rhythms. In the fig 1.2, we can count 7
to Raspberry pi through HDMI port and the website can be
QRS complexes, so the heart rate is 70. Like this we can
examined directly from the Raspberry pi. Several monitors
determine the Heart Rate from ECG graph. can also be connected using HDMI extension switch.

2015 International Conference on Green Computing and Internet of Things (ICGCloT) 797
 Find the heart beat of persons eHEAL TH = .I. Dr Surya Deesk,!h·

from the ECG connected to ..

Raspberry Pi Room No : 101 Control panel

1
It Home 101

Update the website database

with new health parameters 72 130
Deleting the
Heart Rate BP
message to
make space
1 NO
More mfoO More IOfo C)

Find if the health parameters are _

not in range of normal values

Room No : 102 Control panel

1 YES 8 Home 102

Sending the message to Doctor

& Switching on the buzzer
71 129
Heart Rate BP

FIG3.!: CODING ALGORITHM FOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

More Info 0 More Info 0

III. ALGORITHM FIG4.!: WEBSITE SHOWING THE HEALTH PARAMETERS

Raspberry pi [4] is installed with a Linux based operating

system, Raspbian, supports all programming languages like
python Project. py
<<:< Finding Heart Beat from Input

C, Python etc. For easy access, Python [8] programming Heart beat is
updating the Website
72
Database

language is used for the communication with ECG machines DONE

Checking it the heart beat is NORMAL or NOT

and updating website database using MySQLdb. DONE

Heart Beat is Normal

Altogether the function of the algorithm, written in

« < Finding Heart Beat from I np ut ECG » >

Python, is to update the database and alert the authorized Heart beat is 32
updating the Website Database
individuals for any aberrancy. Refer the fig 3.l. DONE
Checking if the heart beat is NORMAL or NOT
DONE

.By following the below steps the system is implemented:

Heart Beat is NOT Normal
switching on the Buzzer
Sending Message to Doctor . . • .
AT+CHGS=' +919492 31949 3'

• Import all the modules required for Serial Message:

Message Sent.
Heart beat of pat.lent 101 is NOT Norma l

Communication, MySQLdb. Finding Heart. Beat from Input ECG » >

I
• Communicate with the ECG's connected to Raspberry Pi.
FIG4.2: SCREENSHOT OF TERMINAL IN RASPBERRY PI
• Find the heart beat from the input data.
• Update the website database with new health parameters.
V. SCOPE FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
• Check if the heart beat is in the normal range.
• If heart beat is not in normal range alert the authorized
A large amount of data can be collected using this
person by sending SMS through GSM module and alert system. This colossal amount of data, consisting medical
in the hospital through buzzer sound. history of many patients' parameters and corresponding
• Delete the message in SIM card to make space. results, can be explored using signal processing techniques

• If heart beat is in normal range monitoring continues. and data mining, in search of consistent patterns and
systematic relationships in the disease. This could a point of
paramount significance for the medical research. Simply, the
IV. RESULTS
researchers provided with actual results which make their
study easier. Additionally, they can also predict the nature of
Health care system is practically implemented and
disease and take some preventive measures in advance. For
the results are obtained.
instance, if a patient's health parameters are changing in the
same pattern as those of a previous patient in the database,
Results of Health care system are as follows:
the consequences can also be estimated. If the same patterns
are repeatedly confirmed, it would be easier for the medical
The health platform is show in fig 4.1. It is the
personnel to find a remedy.
website authorized person can view the patient health
parameters online.
VI. CONCLUSION

Fig 4.2 show the terminal diagram that finding the

In this study, a new approach is presented and proved,
heart beat from the input sample files and updating the
that works in an automatic way, guaranteeing a seamless
database of website.

798 2015 International Conference on Green Computing and Internet of Things (ICGCloT)
monitoring of ECG signals and other health parameters.
Realized system can be a prototype for health care system to
monitor patient's vital signals. Raspberry pi is used for this
application because of its multi-tasking capability and low
power consumption. Also this system can be installed easily
in all the hospitals and huge data obtained can be stored in
the database. Moreover this data is much valuable.
Raspberry Pi, with its broad variety of features can be used
for several purposes and have much scope in future. Even
the results can be made to be accessed from mobile through
an application. Any intelligent system can be added and can
be further improvised to facilitate the clinicians and the
patients.

REFERENCES

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[11]Helath, http://en.ecgpedia.org
[12]Health, www.heartlandmedical.com

2015 International Conference on Green Computing and Internet of Things (ICGCloT) 799