International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887)

Volume 51– No.22, August 2012

ZigBee based Patient Monitoring System

Jaykaran Singh Mukesh Tiwari Manisha Shelar
R.G.P.V. University R.G.P.V. University R.G.P.V. University
Department of E & T C Department of E & T C Department of E & T C
S.S.S.I.S.T. Sehore S.S.S.I.S.T. Sehore S.S.S.I.S.T. Sehore

ABSTRACT
Statistics reveal that every minute a human is losing his/her
life across the globe. More close in India , everyday many
lives are affected by heart attacks and more importantly
because the patients did not get timely and proper help .
There are many emergency response services striving hard
to save the lives of people during emergencies, though
they are successful at few times. But sometimes they fail to
race against time to reach the victim. All over the globe
, emergency response service is the need of the hour.
India has the highest incidence of heart related diseases in the
world and the number of those affected is likely to double in Figure 2.1 Existing System.
the coming years. If no initiative is taken to check the disease,
the most predictable and also preventable among all chronic
2.2 Drawbacks of Existing System
diseases, India will have 62 million patients with heart In existing system patient need to hospitalise shown in
disease. So in the future what if due to lack of urgent service fig.1. Regular monitoring of patient is not possible once
we are not able to save the patient? he/she is discharged from hospitals. These systems cannot be
The answer to such a problem is that the patient needs to be used at individual level.
“monitored constantly”[1]. Due to which we would be able
attend the patient immediately. Therefore by developing a 3. THE PROPOSED SYSTEM
system that can constantly measure the important parameters The system which we propose to develop would not only help in
of patient’s body and which can alert the closed ones and the monitoring the patient when he is in the bed but also when he is
doctor on any time when the patient’s condition gets bad out of his bed i.e.like in Fig.2 when he is mobile.[2] Such a
when he is not along with them, this can really provide quick system would constantly monitor important body parameters like
temperature , heartbeat and would compare it against a
predetermined value set and if these values cross a particular
1. INTRODUCTION limit it would automatically alert the doctor and relatives of the
Now-a-days many people are looking forward to have a patient via a SMS. In such case the patient will get a very quick
healthy life. These days due to pollutions and highly medical help and also would save time and energy of the relatives
competitive aspects in field of living, number of people who neither would have to be with them all the time.
falling pray for heart related diseases are seen often arises due
to increase of stress level. These days maintaining a healthy
life is tough. It is vital to keep track on body by regular check-
up. Patient monitoring refers to the continuous observation of
repeating events of physiologic function to guide therapy or to
monitor the effectiveness of interventions and is used
primarily in the intensive care unit and operating room.

At least in India there is no system which continuously

monitors the patient when patient is on move. And this
motivated us to work in this area.

2. BACKGROUND OVERVIEW
2.1 Existing System
Currently the system used for patient monitoring is the
fixed monitoring system which can be used only when the
patient is on bed. The available systems are huge in size and Figure 3 System for mobile patient.
only available in the hospitals in ICU.

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 International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887)
Volume 51– No.22, August 2012

3.1 System Overview

The above proposed system will be divided into the
following sub modules or sections…

The System

Embedded PC Side
System Coding

H/W S/W
8051 Based
Design Embedded C The Main ZB SMS
GUI Coding Protocol

Battery MC ZigBee Modem 8-bit ADC Sensors LCD

Figure 3.1Hardware / Software Overview

The controller here user will be of 8051 family.[3] The
3.2 Block Diagram code will be written in Embedded C and will be burned or
The Block Diagram of the system is given below programmed into the code memory using a programmer.[4]
This unit requires +5VDC for it proper operation.

3.2.1.3 LCD 16x2

LCD It is called Liquid Crystal Display. We are going to use
Micro- 16x2 16x2 character LCD. This will be connected to
ADC
microcontroller. The job of LCD will be to display all the
controller system generated messages coming from the controller. LCD
0809 8051 will provide interactive user interface.
ZigBee This unit requires +5VDC for it proper operation
HB Cavity
3.2.1.4 ADC 8-bit
This unit is one of most important unit in embedded
Temp. system as microcontroller uses this to understand this unit
LM35 +5v requires +3.3VDC for it proper operation various analog
+3.3v parameter incoming from transducers. The job of this section
is to convert analog input signals (voltages) into its equivalent
digital (decimal) value. Here we are using 8-bit ADC that
means its digital range is 0-255. Also the same ADC will be
used for multiple sensors as it has 8 channels.
Figure 3.2 Hardware. This unit will be connected with microcontroller with 8-bit
Data lines,3-bit Address lines and some control lines. Also it
3.2.1Explanations of Blocks requires clock pulses for its internal operation which will be
The following are the brief explanations of the working given by 555 timer section.
principle of the various major blocks or sections used in the This unit requires +5VDC for it proper operation.
system…
3.2.1.5 555 Timer
3.2.1.1Power Supply The 555 monolithic timing circuit is a highly stable
This unit will supply the various voltage requirements of each controller capable of producing accurate time delays, or
unit.[6] oscillation. Here we are using it in Astable Multivibrator
mode for generating clock pulses. The frequency depends
3.2.1.2Microcontroller upon the external register connected to the IC.[7]
This unit is the heart of the complete system. It is actually This unit requires +5VDC for it proper operation.
responsible for all the process being executed. It will monitor
& control all the peripheral devices or components connected
in the system. In short we can say that the complete 3.2.1.6 ZigBee Modem
intelligence of the project resides in the software code ZigBee is a specification for a suite of high level
embedded in the Microcontroller. communication protocols using small, low-power digital
radios based on the IEEE 802.15.4-2003 standard for wireless
personal area networks (WPANs), such as wireless

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 International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887)
Volume 51– No.22, August 2012

Table1. Comparison between current wireless standards

Standard Bandwidth Power Consumption Stack Size Strongholds Applications

up to 400+mA TX, 100 KB High data rate networking, file

Wi-Fi 54 Mbps High Data Rate transfers

Bluetooth 1 Mbps 40mA TX, Standby ~100 KB Interoperability, cable Wireless USB, headsets, handsets
0.2mA replacement
30mA TX, standby Long battery life, low Remote control
ZigBee 250 Kbps 3µA <32 KB cost
Battery-operated
Products, sensors

headphones connecting with cell phones via short-range The followings are the various Programming Languages &
radio[1].The technology defined by the ZigBee specification Technologies that are going to be used in the proposed
is intended to be simpler and less expensive than other system...
WPANs, such as Bluetooth. ZigBee is targeted at radio- For Embedded System…
frequency (RF) applications that require a low data rate, long  Embedded Technology,
battery life, and secure networking.  8051 Family Based Controller,
 Embedded C - Keil Compiler,[4]
3.2.1.7 Temperature Sensor LM35  Eagle Software for PCB Designing,
The LM35 series are precision integrated-circuit temperature
sensors, whose output voltage is linearly proportional to the
Celsius (Centigrade) temperature. The LM35 does not require
any external calibration or trimming to provide typical HL
+5V +3.3v
accuracies. This is 3 leg IC that directly gives analog output.
v
This unit requires +5VDC for it proper operation. LL TEMP
HB
MAX
Z.B.
232
Data cable
Serial port

Figure 3.2.1.7 Temperature sensor LM35

3.2.1.8 Heart Beat Sensor
Figure 5.1 PC Side PC/VB net/S2L/Access
Here we will be making a cavity having one bright red LED &
one LDR just opposite to it. By placing the finger in between 6. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
a LED and LDR, we can detect the pulses of heart, the analog
voltages are further processed with an operational amplifier METHODOLOGY OR STEPS
LM 358, this chip has two built in OPAMPs.[2] One will act The following will be development steps so as to achieve
as amplifiers and another will be used as comparator. The the working Prototype Model of the above proposed
output of comparator will be fed to the microcontroller. system…
This unit requires +5VDC for it proper operation.  Defining the Problem,
 Understanding the Need & Usability in industry and
4. FEATURES society (Market Analysis),
 Developing Block Diagram,
The Following are the prominent features of the above
discussed system…  Designing Circuits of individual blocks,
 Real time monitoring of patient.  Testing circuits in LAB & Finalizing,
 Automatic Alert SMS to family or doctor,  Developing PCB on PC,
 Flexibility of changing trigger limits,  Getting the PCB printed from market,
 Handy device can be kept in pocket.  Soldering the components,
 Performing various Basic Experiments to test the
5. TECHNOLOGY AND PCBs,
 Developing Flowchart for the entire process,
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
 Writing actual Software Program,
As microcontrollers are the core of these days digital circuit  Compilation & Burning,
design in industry, this system uses it for the centralized  Testing and Debugging
operation and digital processing. The technology used here is  Finally Running the system and, Documentation
embedded technology which is the future of today’s modern
electronics.

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 International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887)
Volume 51– No.22, August 2012

7. SCOPE AND APPLICATION 9.3. Future Modifications

Only the imagination can limit the applications of the above There is always chance to improve the any system as
proposed system. research & development is an endless process. Our system is
Though the following are some examples… no exception to this phenomenon. The following
improvements can be done…
 Cure can be provided at an early stage.
 ECG Blood pressure,
 Notification to the doctor is provided in case of
 Pulse oximetry,
critical conditions even though the patient is unable
 Galvanic- Skin Resistance,
to provide any details.
 Nearest hospital will be informed automatically with
the help of GPS and ambulance will be sent to the
8. CONCLUSION patient,
Thus the microcontroller based wireless Heartbeat and  Automatic calling to the doctor in case of emergency,
body temperature monitoring system is designed and
implemented, in which both the signals directly measured 10. REFERENCES
from the human body and both the parameter values [1] Ovidiu Apostu, Bogdan Hagiu, Sever Paşca, “Wireless
displayed on LCD on the transmitter side. This data is ECG Monitoring and Alarm System Using
transmitted to the receiver wirelessly through ZigBee. The ZigBee”2011 The International Symposium on
received signal compared with normal heartbeat and body ADVANCED TOPIC INELECTRICAL
temperature signals based on normal range in the receiver ENGINEERING2068-7966/ATEE 2011.
side. If an abnormality is detected, the SMS is send to the
doctor. The distance between the transmitter and receiver is [2] Arun Kumar, Fazlur Rahman, ”Wireless Health Alert
less in the range of about 10m. and Monitoring System”, 81-904262-1-4/06/ c_
The distance range can be extended in future. 2006 Research Publishing Services.
By the realization of the above proposed system one can learn [3] Muhammad Ali Mazidi, Janice Gillispie Mazidi, 8051
many aspects of a digital electronics circuit. This will give the Microcontroller and Embedded Systems, Prentice-Hall,
complete knowledge of designing microcontroller based Page:183-193, 236, 243.
system and developing embedded software.
We will also learn the software development strategies and [4] Dogan Ibrahim, Microcontroller Projects in C for the
various programming techniques for PC based applications. 8051, Newnes, Page:29-161.
[5] Kenneth J. Ayala, The 8051 Microcontroller
9. ENHANCEMENTS ARCHITECTURE, PROGRAMMING and
APPLICATIONS, WEST PUBLISHING COMPANY,
9.1. Limitations Page:131-197.
As generally all systems have some limitation, here
[6] Ramakant A. Gayakwad, Op-Amps and Linear
are some listed for the proposed system
Integrated Circuits, 4th Edition, Prentice-Hall, Page:342,
 Developing Data Flow Diagram,
417, 455.
 Writing actual code.
 System can monitor only temperature and [7] R.P.Jain, Digital Electronics, Tata McGraw-Hill
heartbeat www.electronic-circuits-diagrams.com
 Patient need to carry the hardware all the time,
9.2. Drawbacks
This system has certain drawbacks also as listed…
 SMS will not be send if patient is out of range,
 Every SMS will attract some cost,
 System will not work if mobile phone is switched off,

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