swharden/diyecg-1opamp

A surprisingly good ECG circuit using a single op-amp and some Python software

DIY ECG (with 1 op-amp)

A surprisingly good ECG is possible using a single op-amp. The main idea is that you allow the simple circuit to amplify noise (mixed in with your ECG), send the noisy signal into a PC using the microphone jack of the sound card, then use Python to remove the noise in real time, revealing the ECG.

Project page: http://www.swharden.com/wp/2016-08-08-diy-ecg-with-1-op-amp/

YouTube demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfirWls9Sys

Alternative Project (Sound Card ECG)

Many people have found this python source code difficult to use due to its dependence on version-specific libraries. A simpler click-to-run EXE for Windows that does essentially the same thing (written in C#) is available on the Sound Card ECG project page.

Screenshot	Video Demonstration

Python GUI

Warning: This Python 2 code is obsolete. To get this software running you must install a legacy Python 2 on your system. Consider using a more modern software option like this Sound Card ECG using C#/.NET.

This software needs certain libraries like PyQt4 and numpy, so the easiest way to make sure you have versions of everything that get along is to download a pre-packaged Python distribution. This software has been tested and works with WinPython 3.5.2.1 (not the Qt5 one)

• install WinPython-64bit-3.5.2.1 (not the Qt5 one)
• download this project and modify go.bat to reflect where your python.exe is
• build the circuit, plug it into your microphone hole, and run go.bat

Python Analysis

If you build the 1-op-amp ECG circuit and record data as a WAV file you can use a Python script like analyze.py to reduce the noise and plot the result, creating an interactive figure like this:

Hardware

---

diyecg-1opamp's Issues

'Electrodes' won't detect anything.

Hello Scott,
first of all your ECG work is amazing!! I'm currently studying electromedicine and I always wanted to make a simple electrocardiograph with not such expensive components, and you already did it!
I tried to follow all the steps to make it work but when I connect it to the computer, I don't get the ECG wave like yours. I am obviously doing something wrong but I dont know what it is.
I changed the path of the python.exe and made it run but, when it comes to the circuit I probably did something wrong. Here's a picture of how I made it.

where can I find demo_ecg.wav

Scott.. I'm enjoying playing with your diyECG project.. I'm doing some experimentation with high frequency QRS waves in an ECG and your circuit and sw are a great starting point !. I've proted the SW to use Qt5 on a Mac and its working well. I noticed you mention a .wav sample demo_ecg.wav .. I can't find it. Any chance you could post it or send it to me at [email protected]

Thanks for this great project !
John cohn

Only 5 data points on graph

First, let me say thanks for this very interesting project.

I just made it and it seems to work, however, I'm getting just 5 data points on graph as you can see on http://mjesec.ffzg.hr/~dpavlin/tmp/ECG_1470671653.png

My opamp is LM358, and while it's spec is not same as LM741, they seem close enough.

I'm python newbie, so any help in resolving this would be appreciated.

Won't start

Hi,
I really want to get this working but every time I click the batch file I get an error.

I have windows 10, I downloaded the recommended version of winpython, and renamed the go.bat file exactly as in your video.
I have no idea of what to do or what is going on but I have no experience with python and could really use help.
I did notice that none of my pthyon applications have ".exe" next to them, but they still run when I click on them.
Thank you.