International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)

ISSN (Online): 2319-7064

Impact Factor (2012): 3.358

Simulation of ECG signal using Advanced Virtual

Instrumentation system Based on LAB VIEW
Anjali Deshmukh1, Yogendra Gandole2
A
1
Department of Electronics Shri Shivaji College Akola (India)
2
Department of Electronics Adarsha Science J.B.Arts and Birla Commerce Mahavidyalaya Dhamangaon Rly (India)

Abstract: ECG signal can be acquired using various software’s. This paper introduces the concept and advantages of Virtual
instruments. National Instruments Lab VIEWVIEW-11 is used to design the ECG acquisition experimental system and then briefly outlines its
salient characteristics. The aim is to provide a new approach to fully understand signal acquisition, and data-saving process in
biomedical research. It is a flexible experimental platform for exploring new ECG acquisition methods.

Keywords: Virtual instrument, Lab VIEW, ECG

ECG, ECG parameters

1. Introduction
ECG has proved out to be very useful in the analysis of
human heart beat and subsequently diagnosis of various
human cardiovascular diseases. The design of real time
ECG acquisition system is difficult since real time
environment is not always available for the performance
analysis of these systems. The existing ECG analyser
systems are more expensive. The use of advanced virtual
instrumentation system based on Nationalational Instruments
LabView software makes the system cost efficient and can
be utilized as a test bench for the study of ECG signals at
the laboratory level.

1.1 THEORY OF ECG:

Electrocardiography is a method of monitoring and

recording the electric currents generated during the
alternating contractions of the atria and ventricles of the Figure1: ECG waves and intervals [15]
heart. The device used to monitor and record these signals is
an electrocardiogram, more commonly referred to as an Normally the frequency range of an ECG signal is 0.05–
ECG. 100 Hz and its dynamic range – of 1–10 mV. The ECG
The ECG records the electrical activity of the heart, where signal is characterized by five peaks and valleys labelled by
each heart beat is displayed as a series of electrical waves the letters P, Q, R, S, T. In some cases we also use another
characterized by peaks and valleys. Any ECG gives two peak called U. The performance of ECG analyzing system
kinds of information. depends mainly on the accurate and reliable detection of the
1) The duration of the electrical wave crossing the heart QRS complex, as well as T and P-waves. The P-wave
which in turn decides whether the electrical activity is represents the activation of the upper chambers of the heart,
normal or slow or irregular the atria, while the QRS complex and T-wave represent the
2) The amount of electrical activity passing through the excitation of the ventricles or the lower chamber of the
heart muscle which enables to find whether the parts of heart. The detection of the QRS complex is the most
the heart are too large or overworked important task in automatic ECG signal analysis. Once the
QRS complex has been identified a more detailed
examination of ECG signal including the heart rate, the ST
segment etc. can be performed [1]. Normal ECG with
standard values is shown in Fig-1
Fig & 2.

Volume 3 Issue 9, September 2014

www.ijsr.net
Paper ID: SEP14293 1096
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Impact Factor (2012): 3.358
monitoring devices. This ranges from simple and portable
Holter instruments to sophisticate and costly implantable
gadgets. The Holter monitors have been used only to collect
data in ambulatory patients. Processing and analysis are
then performed off-line on recorded data [3]. Systems with
multiple sensors have too many wires between the sensors
and the monitoring device, which limit the patient's activity
and comfort level. Available systems also lack universal
connectivity of interfacing to any output display device
through common communication ports. There is a
requirement of data acquisition (DAQ) circuits with analog
to digital converters as the interface between the Instrument
and the Computer. The hospitals generally use Wilson
Central Terminal arrangement having three electrodes
placed at the limbs and connected at the inverting input of
the ECG amplifier. The Wilson reference can however
Figure 2: Normal ECG Waveform [16]
degrade the overall amplifier specifications [4]. Implantable
Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) is other system, which is
So, from the recorded shape of the ECG, we can say
very expensive and invasive method to record physiological
whether the heart activity is normal or abnormal. The
data. The ICD is used only on high-risk cardiac patients [5].
electrocardiogram is a graphic recording or display of the
MOLEC monitor is an embedded real time system that
time variant voltages produced by the myocardium during
captures, processes, detects, analyzes and notifies
the cardiac cycle. The P-, QRS- and T--waves reflect the
abnormalities in ECG [6]. However, the cost of MOLEC
rhythmic electrical depolarization and repolarization of the
monitor is high. Further, EPI--MEDIC is a twelve-lead ECG
myocardium associated with the contractions of the atria
system that allows continuous monitoring, but has a large
and ventricles. This ECG is used clinically in diagnosing
array of electrodes, which makes the system cumbersome
various abnormalities and conditions associated with the
[7]. Normal ECG done in clinical setting allows monitoring
heart
and recording but gives no analytical results. Available data
analysis algorithms are complicated,
compli as they do not
The normal value of heart beat lies in the range of 60 to100
implement transparent decision procedure [8].
beats/minute. A slower rate than this is called bradycardia
(Slow heart) and a higher rate is called tachycardia (Fast
The growing health concerns, especially for cardiac
heart). If the cycles are not evenly spaced, an arrhythmia
disorders reflect on the need of developing a simple
may be indicated. If the P-R interval is greater than 0.2
inexpensive and portable ECG system. In the present work,
seconds, it may suggest blockage of the AV node.
a simple ECG simulator module has been developed using
• Each action potential in the heart originates near the top LabVIEW-11 that displays ECG wave. The ECG wave is
of the right atrium at a point called the pacemaker or recorded and analyzed using LabVIEW software.
sinoatrial (SA) node.
• The wave generated by action potential, terminates at a 1.3 CHALLENGES IN ECG ACQUISITION
point near the center of the heart, called the
atrioventricular (AV) node. ECG signal is a very small signal and it is difficult to
capture. The noise will be interfered and distort the signal.
The horizontal segment of this waveform preceding the P- The notch filter is used to filter the noise. Any noise from
wave is designated as the baseline or the isopotential line. 50Hz power line present the input signal will be attenuated
The P-wave represents depolarization of the atrial by 80dB. This mean that the 50Hz noise at the output will
musculature. The QRS complex is the combined result of be 10000 times smaller than at the input. The notch filter
the repolarization of the atria and depolarization of the rejects just 50Hz. It passes frequencies below and above the
ventricles, which occur almost simultaneously. The T-wave 50Hz centre. But while tried to reduce the 50Hz noise, the
is the wave of ventricular repolarization, where as the U- entire small signal also been rejected include the ECG
wave, if present is generally believed to be the result of signal [9].
after potentials in the ventricular muscle.

So, the duration amplitude and morphology of the QRS

2. Materials and
nd Methods
complex is useful in diagnosing cardiac arrhythmias,
A simple virtual ECG simulator experimental system has
conduction abnormalities, ventricular hypertrophy,
been developed that consists of front-panel and block
myocardial infection and other disease states [2].
diagram using National Instrument’s LabView -11 software.
Virtual system displays ECG signal for different parameters
1.2 Types of ECG Recorders
on user interface i. e. block diagram.
There are numerous types of ECG recorders. Many of these
are portable units, while others are part of permanent 2.1. Virtual Instrumentation
installations. Looking at the recent trends in bio-medical
Virtual instrumentation is the foundation for the modern
applications, a major advancement can be noted in health
laboratory. A virtual instrument consists of a computer,
Volume 3 Issue 9, September 2014
www.ijsr.net
Paper ID: SEP14293 1097
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Impact Factor (2012): 3.358
software, and modulator hardware; all combined and information acquisition cards (analogical and digital), cards
configured to emulate the function of traditional hardware of interface with the buses of instrumentation and a few
instrumentation. It is also called as LabVIEW program. channels of control also analogical and digital. Virtual
Because their functionality is software-defined by the user, instrumentation will allow to operating with this hardware
virtual instruments are extremely flexible, powerful and by means of a user's graphical interface that will be the
cost-effective. controls panel of the habitual devices (Oscilloscope,
multimeter, etc.). By means of its representation on screen
Virtual instruments, by virtue of being PC-based, inherently of the graphical elements of visualization and control that
take advantage of the benefits from the latest technology will use as interface with the user, this one will observe the
incorporated. These advances in technology and conditions of the input selected in the screen and will
performance, which are quickly closing the gap between interact directly or by means of the execution of the routines
stand-alone instruments and PCs, include powerful that finds programmed [10]. LabView is a graphical
processors such as the Pentium 4 and operating systems and programming environment which provides high-level
technologies such as Microsoft Windows XP, .NET, and network capabilities. This software platform has provided
Apple Mac OS X. In addition to incorporating powerful us with the ability to perform remote handling of equipment
features, these platforms also offer easy access to powerful in a highly interactive manner, but with enough simplicity.
tools such as the internet. Stand-alone traditional
instruments such as oscilloscopes and waveform generators 2.2. Introduction to LabVIEW - A Graphical
are very powerful, expensive, and designed to perform one Programming
or more specific tasks defined by the vendor. However, the
user generally cannot extend or customize them. The knobs The software package LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual
and buttons on the instrument, the built-in circuitry, and the Instrument Engineering Workbench) is a commercial
functions available to the user, are all specific to the nature product from National Instruments and runs on several host
of the instrument. In addition, special technology and costly machines (PC, Macintosh, or Sun workstations). LabVIEW
components must be developed to build these instruments, is a powerful graphical development environment for signal
making them very expensive and slow to adapt. acquisition, measurement analysis, and data presentation,
giving the flexibility of a programming language without
A typical system of Virtual Instrumentation (VI) is the complexity of traditional development tools. Since
constituted by a set of devices capable of communicating 1986, when National Instruments introduced LabVIEW for
between them and for a program that controls the mentioned the Macintosh, it has quickly and consistently attracted
communication. The device that controls the system of engineers and scientists looking for a productive powerful
virtual instrumentation is a computer, whereas other devices programming language to use in test, control and design
are measurement devices (multimeters, oscilloscopes, applications. Today, LabVIEW is the preferred graphical
sensors…) and other equipments (generators of sign, power development environment for thousands of engineers and
sources, and speed controls of motors…). From the scientists. With the right software tool, engineers and
information loaded by the different devices we can change scientists can efficiently create their own applications, by
the conditions of the test, modifying parameters of the designing and integrating the routines that a particular
measurement instruments. In an environment as the process requires. They can also create an appropriate user
described one, the current trend is that specialized software interface that best suits the purpose of the application and
controls the system, coordinating the functioning of the those who will interact with it. They can define how and
different elements. One of these programs software is when the application acquires data from the device, how it
LabView of National Instruments. Labview allows to load, processes, manipulates and stores the data, and how the
to analyze and to monitor the information inside a graphical results are presented to the user. With powerful software,
programming environment in which there are assembled we can build intelligence and decision-making capabilities
objects called virtual instruments to form the program of into the instrument so that it adapts when measured signals
application with which the user will interact. In addition change inadvertently or when more or less processing
LabView allows the information representation in power is required. An important advantage that software
interactive panels that work as if it was a real provides is modularity.
instrumentation, and it allows multiple options of
information treatment, as his storage on disc and to share LabVIEW has been developed as an environment for the
them in network or with other applications. The interaction design of virtual instruments (VI). LabVIEW is a software
with other applications will be able to be carried out by package developed to build programs with symbols (icons)
means of calls to bookshops of dynamic link (DLL: rather than writing out lines and lines of programming text.
Dynamic Link Library) and dynamic exchange of It is a graphical programming. It uses symbols, terminology
information (DDE: Dynamic Data Exchange) in local way and formats that are familiar to technicians, scientists, and
or by means of TCP/IP in remote connections. Always engineers. LabVIEW is programmed to act as an interface,
looking for independence of the platform in which we have helping pieces of hardware “communicate” with each other.
carried out our application. A measurement instrument that Moreover, LabVIEW offers built-in libraries that allow the
we can have in any laboratory remains perfectly defined by user to work over the internet and use different
a few controls and a few elements of representation. programming formats and systems.
However, a virtual instrument will be related to the concept
of software. This software will execute in a computer that Every VI comprises a control panel and an interconnection
will have a few elements lodged hardware concrete, diagram i.e. block diagram. On the panel, the user can
Volume 3 Issue 9, September 2014
www.ijsr.net
Paper ID: SEP14293 1098
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Impact Factor (2012): 3.358
interactively specify graphical devices for input (e.g., 3.1 Data Logging Module
sliding cursors, buttons, text controls) and for output (e.g.,
gauges, images, graphs). In the diagram, the user It is often necessary to permanently store ECG-data
graphically enters the functionality of the VI. A library of acquired. LabVIEW includes the ability to create a
standard functionalities is available to perform this task: LabVIEW measurement file, an ASCII text file that can be
icons performing numerical functions, string treatment, read by a spreadsheet, or a text editor. The LabVIEW
matrix computations, etc. can be linked together to design measurement file is easy to create. When we place the Write
an algorithm. An icon can be associated with a complete VI LabVIEW Measurement File Express VI on the block
and used hierarchically in the diagram of another diagram, a configuration dialog box appears where we can
instrument, thus allowing a modular approach. Moreover, specify how to store the file. For example, we can specify
modules can be written in standard programming languages, the format of the file, and how often we want the file to be
such as C or Pascal [11]. saved to the hard drive.

2.3. LabVIEW Applications

The applications to LabVIEW are endless. In the past,

multiple instruments were necessary to obtain the data a
researcher wanted. In the case of the ECG, several
oscilloscopes would be needed to view more than one heart
beat from an individual
simultaneously. Instead, LabVIEW has virtual instruments
(VIs). These are programs that are built into LabVIEW and
perform the same function as another piece of equipment
such as an oscilloscope, so that user can view as many heart
beats from many individuals as he wants. User just needs to
specify how many channels he will need rather than use
multiple oscilloscopes. LabVIEW’ virtual instruments may
be modified for each specific application. This means that
the user can manually add functions to their VI at any time.
Furthermore, Lab VIEW can be “plugged” into the internet,
so progress can be controlled from remote locations [12].
Figure 3: Front panel of ECG Simulator
3. Simulation of Virtual ECG using LabVIEW
For viewing the ECG signal, software must be used to
convert the electrical impulse into a visual representation
that we can see and understand. Lab VIEW is a unique
software package that provides just that.

Virtual cardiograph has been designed using LabVIEW -11

software of National Instruments. The cardiograph is used
for monitoring of the ECG signal [13, 14]. In this case the
signal was taken from ECG simulator. Figure (3) shows
front panel diagram. ECG signal was displayed for various
parameters such as P-wave magnitude, T-wave magnitude,
QRS-magnitude, Noise amplitude, Baseline fluctuation
frequency, No. of iterations and others as shown in block
diagram The acquired signal from ECG simulator has been
shown in Figure (4) for the case of 30 beats/min which
indicates the abnormality of bradycardia. Similarly Figure
(5) shows the same for the 60 beats/min Figure (6) shows
the virtual cardiograph for140 beats/min which shows the
problem of tachycardia. Figure (7) shows block diagram of Figure 4: Block Diagram of ECG for BMP = 30
ECG for BMP = 60, with noise amplitude= 4mv, P-wave
Mag.= 0.3v, T-wave Mag.= 0.5v Thus by adjusting the
various parameter values different types of virtual
cardiographs can be generated and studied. Data logger can
also be made that provides the numeric values of acquired
waveforms in terms of Virtual voltage and x-values. The
corresponding data can be read in terms of graph on
LabVIEW. Cardiograph has provision to start acquisition
and save data that gives more flexibility to the cardiologist.

Volume 3 Issue 9, September 2014

www.ijsr.net
Paper ID: SEP14293 1099
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Impact Factor (2012): 3.358
more helpful for the acquisition and study of different types
of virtual electrocardiogram. Thus software makes the
system cost efficient and can be utilized as a test bench for
the study of ECG signals at the laboratory level with more
interactive and simplicity.

The virtual instrumentation provides the flexibility for

biomedical researchers. It can rapidly create applications
using intuitive graphical language, it is easy to customize
the instruments and add new functionality by modifying the
LabVIEW code. This ECG-Analyzing experimental system
based on virtual instrument is helpful to improve initiative
study and enhance the understanding of theoretical
knowledge.

Figure 5: Block Diagram of ECG for BMP = 60 References

[1] [Online]. Available: http://matlab-project-
codes.blogspot.com/2010/08/algorithms-for-ecgs
[2] D. Balasubramaniam and D. Nedumaran,
“Implementation” of ECG Signal Processing and
Analysis Techniques in Digital Signal Processor based
System,” MeMeA 2009 - International Workshop on
Medical Measurements and Applications, Cetraro,
Italy, May 29-30, 2009.
[3] E. Jovanov, P. Gelabert, P. Adhami, B. Wheelock, R.
Adams, Real time Holter monitoring of biomedical
signals, DSP Technology
[4] S.Y. Shoon, S.W. Wan, H.T. Nguyen, A novel
approach to the design of a Wilson referenced ECG
amplifier. Australia, Phys. Eng. Sci. Med. 16 (3) (1993)
111–117.
[5] N.V. Thakor, Therapeutic/prosthetic devices—
pacemakers & defibrillators, Lectures on biomedical
instrumentation, JHU Applied Physics Lab. and
Figure 6: Block Diagram of ECG for BMP = 140 Education Conference DSPS'99, Houston, Texas,
August 4–6, 1999.
[6] J. Rodríguez, A. Goñi, A. Illarramendi, Real-time
classification of ECGs on a PDA, IEEE Trans. Inf.
Technol. Biomed. 9 (1) (2005) 23–34.
[7] J.W. Zheng, Z.B. Zhang, T.H. Wu, Y. Zhang, A
wearable mobihealth care system supporting real-time
diagnosis and alarm, Med. Bio. Eng. Comput. 45
(2007) 877–885.
[8] Dipali Bansala,∗, MunnaKhanb, AshokK.Salhanc, A
computer based wireless system for online
acquisition,monitoring and digital processing of ECG
waveforms (© 2009 Elsevier Ltd. D. Bansal et al. /
Computers in Biology and Medicine 39 (2009) 361 –
367
[9] ERNY SYAHIDA BT MD. SHAFII , ECG
ACQUISITION WITH LABVIEW INTERFACE ,
KOLEJ UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL KEBANGSAAN
MALAYSIA
[10] C. Morón, A. García, E. Tremps, Virtual
Figure 7: Block Diagram of ECG for BMP = 60, with noise Instrumentation And LABVIEW Application In
amplitude= 4mv,P-wave Mag.= 0.3,T-waveMag.= 0.5 Electronic Understanding Universidad Politécnica de
Valencia (SPAIN) 6th International Technology,
4. Conclusion Education and Development Conference (2012) 586-
592
The use of advanced virtual instrumentation system based [11] LabVIEW based Advanced Instrumentation Systems.
on National Instruments LabView-11 software is much By: S. Sumathi and P. Surekha © Springer-Verlag
Berlin Heidelberg 2007
Volume 3 Issue 9, September 2014
www.ijsr.net
Paper ID: SEP14293 1100
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Impact Factor (2012): 3.358
[12] The ECG Biomedical Engineering The University of
Connecticut, BME Program Director: Dr. John D.
Enderle]
[13] J. A. Moczko, L. Kramer, et.al “virtual instrumentation
in medical investigation and diagnosis support’
proceeding of 23rd Annual EMBS international
conference of IEEE pp 1888-1891 Oct. 25-28, 2001,
Istanbul, Turkey.
[14] D .S. Benitez, A. zaidi, “virtual instrumentation for
clinical assessment of cardiovascular and automatic
functions’” IEE Proc- Sci. Measurement Technology,
vol. 147, no. 6 pp 397-402, Medical Signal Processing,
IEEE, Nov. 2000. WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on
BIOLOGY and BIOMEDICINE.
[15] [Online]. Available :
http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/ecg_outline/Lesson
1/index.html
[16] [Online]. Available :
http://www.temple.edu/biomed/qrs.html

Author Profile
Anjali J. Deshmukh is serving as Asociate Professor,
Department of Electronics, Shri Shivaji College,
Akola, Maharashtra, India Anjali J. Deshmukh
received M.Sc. Applied Electronics degree from
Amravati University, Amravati in 1986, Advance Diploma in
Computer Software, System Analysis and Application from
Bombay technical Board, Bombay in 2000, registered student of
Ph. D. of Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati. She is
working as associate professor in department of Electronics at Shri
Shivaji College, Akola since 1986

Dr. Yogendra Babarao Gandole is Principal at

Adarsha Science J.B.Arts and Birla Commerce
Mahavidyalaya, Dhamangaon Rly-444709 (India)
Email: [email protected]. Dr. Yogendra
Babarao Gandole received M.Sc. Applied Electronics degree
from Amravati University, Amravati in 1987, Advance Diploma in
Computer Software, System Analysis and Application from
Bombay technical Board, Bombay in 1992, M.Sc. Subject
communication (Electronics) from Yashawantrao Chavan
Maharashtra Open University, Nashik in 2000. Ph.D. In
Electronics from Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University,
Amravati in 2008 and Ph.D. in Subject communication
(Electronics) from Yashawantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open
University, Nashik .He is working as a head and associate
professor in department of Electronics at Adarsha science, J.B.Arts
and Birla Commerce, Mahavidyalaya, Dhamangaon Rly since
1988. He has been actively engaged in the research. The current
interests of research are virtual Instrumentation and computer
Assisted learning. The fields are ultrasonic, Modelling and
Simulation, Digital signal processing, Artificial Neural Network,
Ultrasonic Instrumentation, Under his guidance seven students
have been registered for Ph.D. degree from Amravati University,
Amravati. Till now 45 research papers and 10 books are
published

Volume 3 Issue 9, September 2014

www.ijsr.net
Paper ID: SEP14293 1101
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY