Digital signal processing to simulate heart beats as a medical education tools

Abstract

We explore new methods for medical education using digital signal processing to simulate heart beats and compare normal and abnormal heart pulses. In this work the healthy heart is replaced by a fixed heart-like pulse generator as an AD/DA converter. A visual basic code with friendly interface is written for this purpose. Additionally, abnormal heart beat corresponding to different heart disease were simulated using a waveform generator that allowed production of variable signals we stored in its library. Both of the normal and abnormal heart pulses were displayed using PC oscilloscope. Medical students are allowed to select the heart beats from a drop menu for diseases and compare the characteristics e.g. time intervals, pulse amplitudes and pulse shape deformation with the already displayed healthy heart beats. We believe our teaching methodology enhances the way knowledge are introduced to students in order to meet their educational preferences.