Cardiac Catheterization Testing System (CCTA)

Overview 🫀

Figure 1: System schematic showing data and control flow between components.

Figure 2: Physical prototype of the Cardiac Catheterization Testing Apparatus (CCTA).

This project presents a low-cost, modular cardiac catheterization testing system designed to simulate physiological pressure and flow conditions in a controlled and reproducible in-vitro environment. It replaces the need for expensive commercial simulators or ethically problematic animal testing setups by offering a customizable, software-integrated alternative.

At the core of this system is a MATLAB UI that interfaces with an Arduino microcontroller. The Arduino collects data from pressure and flow sensors and transmits it to MATLAB, where it's processed and visualized in real-time. Based on user-defined targets and modes, MATLAB sends control signals back to the Arduino to adjust a positive displacement pump. The system supports manual, automatic (PID-based), and pulsatile flow control.

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Quick Start Guide 🚀

• See docs/CCTA Operation Manual.pdf

Folder Structure 📁

/data

By default this folder is not present. When the "Export Data" button is pressed it will be generated if needed. It is used to store collected experimental data, logs, and exported results from MATLAB sessions.

/docs

Project documentation, including:

• CCTA Full System Report.pdf
  • Report outlining system design, components, verification tests, and future work
• CCTA Operation Manual.pdf
  • Short operation manual for new users
• CCTA Verification Results/
  • Folder containing a list of test procedures and results that were performed on the system before handoff to Boston Scientific
• CCTA BOM.xlsx
  • Full bill of materials

/src

Includes the complete codebase:

• MATLAB App: Provides the user interface for data visualization, system control, and parameter configuration. Handles serial communication, real-time plotting, setpoint tracking, and exporting functions.
• Arduino Code: Acquires sensor data and transmits it to MATLAB via serial. It interprets control signals to adjust pump output depending on the selected mode:
  • Manual Mode: Receives and applies a direct PWM value
  • Auto Mode: Uses PID control based on provided setpoint and coefficients
  • Pulsatile Mode: Generates a sinusoidal PWM signal based on amplitude and BPM settings

See the diagram below for a simplified system data flow:

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For Developers 🛠️

This system consists of two main codebases: one running on the Arduino, and one built in MATLAB using App Designer. The two communicate through serial to perform real-time data acquisition and control.

📁 CAD Folder

The CAD folder contains all design files related to the CCTA system, including:

• Heart Models: 3D models of various anatomical sections used in testing and validation.
• Control Box Components: Individual parts and full assemblies for the control box housing the electronics.
• File Formats: Files are provided in both .STEP and .STL formats to allow for easy modification, 3D printing, or further CAD work.
• You can access all CAD files through the following Dropbox folder: here

✍️ Editing the Code

To modify the system behavior or interface, you'll need to edit either the Arduino firmware or the MATLAB App.

🧰 Software Installation

• Install Arduino IDE: Download here
• Install MATLAB: Download here
• App Designer (comes with MATLAB): Included with most MATLAB installations—no separate download required

🧠 Editing the Arduino Code

1. Open the Arduino IDE.
2. Navigate to the /src folder of this repository.
3. Open the Arduino .ino file.
4. Make your changes and upload to the Arduino board as needed.

🎨 Editing the MATLAB App (UI)

1. Launch MATLAB.
2. In the Current Folder pane, navigate to the /src directory.
3. Double-click on the file CCTA.mlapp to open it in App Designer.
4. This will bring you to the Design View, where you can modify UI components or switch to the Code View to edit callbacks and functionality.

⚠️ You cannot open .mlapp files directly from your file explorer or OS—use MATLAB to access it.

For more information on editing the UI, refer to the Additional Documentation section in this README.

Code Responsibilities

• Arduino:

  • Reads pressure and flow sensors using analog inputs
  • Controls the pump using PWM output
  • Runs PID control in Auto Mode, sinusoidal wave generation in Pulsatile Mode, and sets direct power in Manual Mode
  • Sends structured data strings to MATLAB over serial
  • Listens for incoming commands from MATLAB (e.g., new setpoints, PID parameters)

• MATLAB (App Designer):

  • Acts as the central hub for user interaction
  • Parses serial data from Arduino for visualization and logging
  • Sends control commands back to Arduino depending on user selections (mode, setpoints, PID values)
  • Provides UI-based manual control, automatic control (with real-time PID tuning), and pulsatile flow configuration
  • Handles data export, logging, and static head offset calibration

Code Flow 🔄️

Arduino

• loop()

  • The main function: reads sensors, updates control signals, sends data back to MATLAB.
  • Determines which control mode to run (Manual, Auto, Pulsatile) based on the last received command.

• serialEvent() and processSerial()

  • Run outside the main loop.
  • Triggered when data is received from MATLAB.
  • Parses incoming messages (e.g., mode change, new setpoints, PID config).

MATLAB

• ConnectDisconnectButtonPushed()

  • Entry point for establishing communication.
  • Starts the core loop via app.runMainLoop() which:
    • Continuously reads from serial
    • Updates plots and status indicators
    • Sends control data back to Arduino as needed

• UI Interactions

  • Each control (e.g., sliders, buttons) has a specific callback
  • You can find them by right-clicking the component in App Designer → "Callback" or searching the code (e.g., PumpPowerSliderValueChanged)
  • These callbacks manage user input and trigger control logic accordingly

Notes on Version Control for the MATLAB App

• The MATLAB App is built using App Designer, and its file (CCTA.mlapp) is a binary format. As a result, the file can only be edited inside MATLAB App Designer and cannot be viewed easily in Version Control Systems like Git.
  • This makes it very difficult to do merge commits between developers, or to pick and choose lines from previous commits to discard, for instance.
• The exported file CCTA_exported.m is provided for Git version tracking only. It should be re-exported and committed after any changes to maintain traceability. This file cannot run the application, however, and is purely cosmetic.
• If you plan to expand the app significantly or work collaboratively (i.e. with any more than one person at a time) on the UI, consider moving to a programmatic UI approach, which has files saved as plain text rather than binary, and which has more UI features than the App Designer provides:
  • Programmatic App Building
  • GUI Layout Toolbox
  • Note: Less complex changes made by a single developer can continue using App Designer.

Additional Documentation

• Arduino documentation is available here
• MATLAB App Designer documentation is available here

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Contributors 👥

For any questions or inquiries, feel free to reach out to the contributors:

• Dabeer Abdul-Azeez (Engineering Physics) – dabeerazeez@gmail.com
  • Wrote all Arduino and MATLAB code, as well as some help with the eletronics
• Syed Saad Ali (Engineering Physics & BME) - saad.ali1541@gmail.com
  • Helped design and build circuitry
• Owen Johnstone (Engineering Physics & BME) - owenjohnstone01@icloud.com
  • Helped design and build circuitry
• Yousuf Araim (Mechanical & BME) - araimy4@gmail.com
  • Designed and optimized mechanical components of design
• Aly Pirbay (Mechanical) - apirbay1@gmail.com
  • Designed and optimized mechanical components of design

Special thanks to Foss Jiao, Rhodaba Ebady, and Sara Safadel from Boston Scientific for all your support with the project!