THE CONCEPT

Connections

The main idea is represented in the following image. It's a diagram of the different connections between the Nano arduino and the other devices, such as the battery, sensors and devices who storage information.

The input devices are:

The pulse detector
Thermometer
Scales
Pressure gauge
Battery

The output devices are:

LCD 16x2 with backlight
SD Memory
Bluetooth module

The connections are these. Almost all the arduino digital pins are occupied. There is no place to connect a Bluetooth module. So it will be eliminated.

Functions

The Pocket Nurse is intended to work as an artifact that measures the pressure, weight, temperature and pulse from a person. It eases the way of making a diagnosis and puts within reach of their hand a lot of data from the symptoms.

If you want to have al this data in a computer you just remove the SD Card, or turn on the Bluetooth module and you process that in a plain text archive generated by the arduino. Also there would be an option of viewing the data in real time, except form the blood preasure.

Another way to access this information in real time is to watch the LCD screen and take note. Because it will display de the information there.

Like:

Temperature: 36,7°C
Pulsations per minute: 110

The display has only two lines were the text could be displayed, so the text would be displayed 10 seconds and the other text other 10 seconds and so on.

Components

Memory Card

There is where the information will be stored. As long as the board gather data, the important one will be stored here.

I had no money to afford an SD card shield, so I have built it by myself and with a little help from this tutorial.

The photo shows the pin assignament for the SD module.Also it is needed a code to me make it work that is HERE.

LCD 16x2

Other important part of this project is the screen, there will be displayed the data. All you need to know is how to solder it properly the pins to the screen and how to connect it to the board.

The code to make the LCD 16x2 work is HERE.

Temperature Sensor

To measure the body temperature is necesary a digital temperature measure device, as the TMP36GZ.

My camera does not provide so much resolution but it shows that is a small component.

The code to make it work and watch the temperature in the serial log is HERE.

Pulse detector

Other function of this pocket nurse was the capability of meauring the pulse. So with a LDR and a green ledit could be possible.

This photo shows the LDR and the green high bright led connected. The code to make it work is HERE.

Pulse detector WORKING!

RESULTS

After trying some codes and addapting them to my components I have reached something. The temperature sensor works fine and it mesures the temperature correctly. It has a Time counter because it is needed to have a correct measure of the temperature, you must wait around 3 to 4 minutes (180 to 240 seconds).

The display shows something like this:

Corporal Temp:
29.98 ºC Time:128 s

This other photo shows that I'm using a ATmega 328.

The final code

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
#include <SD.h>


LiquidCrystal lcd(5, 3, 6, 9, 8, 7);


const int chipSelect = 4;




float voltaje;
float grados;
float pulsostot;
int i=0;
int pulsos;
int cont = 1;
int pulsoini[1000];


void setup ()


{
  lcd.begin(16,2);
  pinMode(10, OUTPUT);
  Serial.begin(9600); //Iniciamos la comunicación con el puerto serial
  
  if (!SD.begin(chipSelect)){
    lcd.print("Error reading SD.");
    return;
  }
}


void loop() {
  
File dataFile = SD.open("PocketNurse.txt", FILE_WRITE);  


  voltaje = analogRead(5) * 0.004882814;                         
  grados = (voltaje - 0.5) * 100.0;
  lcd.setCursor(0,0);
  lcd.print("Body Temp:");
  lcd.print(grados);
  lcd.print("C");




  //pulsoini[cont]=analogRead(3);
  pulsostot= i;
  cont++;
  lcd.setCursor(0,1);
  lcd.print("Pulse:");
  lcd.print(pulsostot);
  lcd.print("bpm");  
  delay(500);
  // if (pulsoini[cont] != pulsoini[cont--]){
  //i++;
  //}




 if (dataFile) {
    // Escribimos en el fichero "POT: "
    dataFile.print("Temp: ");
    // A continuacion escribimos el valor de la variable pot y saltamos a la linea siguiente.
    dataFile.println(grados);
    dataFile.println("-----0.5s-----");
    // Cerramos el archivo.
    dataFile.close();
   
    // Avisamos de que se ha podido escribir correctamente.
    lcd.setCursor(1,14);
    lcd.print(":)");
   
  // Si no pudimos escribir en el fichero avisamos por el puerto serie.
  }else{
    lcd.setCursor(1,14);
    lcd.print(":(");
  }
  
}

It has few problems but I will upgrade later....

Video

This video shows the pocket nurse working partially. I explain in the video the problems I had with this project. I want to thank to the followers, and say that I will improve it.

Project Details