A virtual tool for the rehabilitation of patients based on the developed heart rate measurement model

Abstract

Relevance. The development of intelligent information and measurement systems for patient rehabilitation is an important area of modern biomedical engineering. Particular attention is paid to synchronizing physiotherapeutic interventions with individual physiological processes to improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation procedures for patients with peripheral circulatory disorders. Aim of the study. The aim is to develop a heart rate measurement model and a virtual hardware-software device for synchronizing electrical stimulation with the natural rhythm of peripheral blood flow. Objectives. The objectives include developing a model for determining the arrival time of the arterial pulse wave at the affected limb area, implementing a virtual measurement and stimulation system, and experimentally evaluating its functionality and effectiveness. Methods. The study applies methods of cyber-physical systems design, biomedical signal acquisition and processing, mathematical modeling, virtual instrumentation, and automated feedback control. The hardware-software system was implemented using multifunctional data acquisition equipment and the LabVIEW programming environment. Scientific novelty. A model and an approach to controlling electrical stimulation are proposed that enable the generation of stimulation pulses synchronized with the actual propagation of the arterial pulse wave. Unlike conventional approaches with predefined stimulation intervals, the developed system dynamically adjusts stimulation timing according to individual changes in the patient's heart rhythm and peripheral blood flow characteristics. Practical significance. The developed virtual device provides automated monitoring of physiological signals, real-time generation of synchronized stimulation pulses, and assessment of rehabilitation effectiveness using indicators of limb temperature and peripheral blood circulation. The proposed solution can support the development of adaptive physiotherapeutic equipment and personalized rehabilitation technologies. Results. Experimental investigations confirmed the functionality of the developed virtual device and demonstrated stable synchronization of electrical stimulation pulses with the patient's physiological rhythm. The rehabilitation procedures were accompanied by increased limb temperature and improved peripheral blood supply, indicating positive changes in the monitored physiological parameters. Conclusions. The developed heart rate measurement model and virtual rehabilitation device provide a technological basis for adaptive electrical stimulation synchronized with natural blood flow dynamics. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating virtual instrumentation, biomedical signal processing, and automated control into intelligent rehabilitation systems.