A study of new pulse auscultation system

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Signal Processing

Background:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pulse diagnosis lacks objective, quantifiable metrics.
• Existing pulse sensing instruments are affected by applied pressure, limiting accuracy.
• A need exists for a precise, cost-effective system to validate TCM pulse diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel pulse auscultation system for objective TCM pulse diagnosis.
• To convert pulse sound waves into quantifiable heartbeat frequencies.
• To provide a scientific basis for TCM pulse diagnosis techniques.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a condenser microphone to capture pulse sound waves on the wrist.
• Employed signal filtering, amplification, and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) for analysis.
• Measured pulse signals at TCM points ('cun', 'guan', 'chi') under varying pressures (100-150 g).
• Designed a novel active filtering circuit using operational amplifiers to eliminate noise.

Main Results:

• The system accurately captures pulse waveforms and converts them into heartbeat frequencies.
• Unlike piezoelectric sensors, this system is unaffected by applied pressure, ensuring consistent accuracy.
• The developed circuit effectively eliminates external signal interference and high-frequency noise.

Conclusions:

• The new pulse auscultation system offers a precise, objective method for TCM pulse diagnosis.
• The system's design is simple, cost-effective, and highly accurate.
• This technology provides a scientific foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine practices.