Problem:

Our challenge was to design and build both a virtual and physical processing unit capable of detecting when a patient may be experiencing a heart attack. Using EveryCircuit for circuit design and simulation, TinkerCAD for chip-level layout and simulation, and physical electronic components, we developed a monitoring system based on three key medical indicators:

• Elevated troponin levels

• ST-segment changes on an ECG

• Decreased SpO₂ (blood oxygen saturation)

Prototypes & Development: 

Before constructing the final system, we developed several prototypes to build our understanding of digital logic, breadboard wiring, TinkerCAD simulations, and the 555 timer circuit. These early designs allowed us to test ideas, identify potential issues, and improve our understanding of how each component interacted within the overall system. Samiul and Lucas built a simple circuit to understand how two different buttons can be used to control an LED. This activity helped us learn how to use multiple switches to control different LEDs in more complex circuits. 

Design & Testing:

We began by creating the circuit logic in EveryCircuit, using trial and error to develop a functional design. Once the logic was verified, we tried to replicate it on the bread board and do it in real life. However, we were supposed to recreate the circuit in TinkerCAD so that we could refined the layout and simulated the complete system. If we had followed this order of design, creating the circuit would have been a lot easier because it would have solved many complications that we had on the way. For example, Lucas and Yixiang had a lot of trouble connecting the wires to the different AND and OR gates. Issues like these could have easily been solved by creating the TinkerCad circuit first and basing our design off of that. The digital model would have served as a blueprint for building the physical breadboard circuit. Throughout the process, we tested each subsystem individually before integrating them into the complete monitoring device.