2nd Weekly Status Update

1) What we planned to get done this week.
Last week, our goal was to begin construction of the simple EKG circuit as the basis for our first EKG prototype (see schematic diagram of circuit). We also planned to begin gathering materials for and experimenting with various configurations for the leads.

2) What we actually got done this week.

We ordered the required parts and had several preliminary discussions about our ideas for the form factor of the machine. However, we ran into a bit of an obstacle-we realized that the simplicity of the circuity made modularity difficult and almost inefficient. We decided that in the interest of meeting our goal of modularizing the circuit, it would be a better idea to eliminate the computer processing from the system and build a more complex circuit that performed all of the necessary functions, including data acquisition, signal amplification, noise elimination, and display (we also found and experimented with an oscilloscope, which performs this last function in a small device). Our thinking is that this will give us the opportunity to divide the entire circuit into functional components, each of which will be separable from the rest in the case of malfunction. We came up with several ideas for how to modularize the circuit in practice...the leading idea at this point is a puzzle like layout-we will use the laser cutter to create several printed circuit board pieces that each have a unique shape based on the desired function of the piece. These will all be connected into a functioning whole and fastened to a unifying base using either screws or sewing snaps (which will also be used for our leads). We will expand on these design ideas during the week to come.

3) What we plan to get done this week.
This week, we plan to start building a functional circuit in as well as begin prototyping the ideas that we brainstormed to modularize the circuit. We will continue researching possible materials that can be used as thermo-chromal indicators of an overheated part in the circuit. In addition, we will continue prototyping leads that can have snap-on disposable metal electrodes.