YOU CAN BUILD THE VITAL SIGNS MONITOR FROM AN ICU BEDSIDE - IT RUNS ON A RASPBERRY PI
Build the machine that beeps next to ICU beds—real ECG, respiration, SpO2 and temperature on a Raspberry Pi HAT you assemble yourself.
by ProtoCentral
HealthOpen-hardware
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a weekend-plus
- license
- CERN-OHL-P v2 (hardware), MIT (software)
- repo
- repo ACTIVE74 stars
●●●●○ · a weekend-plus · CERN-OHL-P v2 (hardware), MIT (software) · 74 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
HealthyPi 5 is a fully open vital-signs monitor: live ECG waveforms, respiration rate, SpO2 pulse oximetry and body temperature displayed on a touchscreen, all running on a Raspberry Pi.This HAT costs a fraction of that, and you understand every part of it because the schematics, firmware and even the enclosure files are on GitHub. It is aimed squarely at biomedical engineering students, researchers building custom monitoring setups, and anyone who wants to learn how patient monitors actually work. The difficulty is real: you are sourcing a 50+ line BOM from the Google Sheet, soldering or ordering a professionally fabricated board, connecting multiple sensor types (ECG electrodes, pulse oximeter probe, temperature sensor), and running both firmware on the HAT and a Python desktop app on the Pi. The single biggest trap is treating this as a weekend Arduino project—it is not. Budget two weekends minimum, one for assembly and hardware bringup, another for software troubleshooting and sensor calibration. The payoff is a working multi-parameter monitor that displays the same waveforms surgeons watch during operations, and you built it. Just never confuse education hardware with a medical device: this is explicitly a research platform, not certified for clinical use, which is exactly why it is allowed to be open.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —Hardware schematics are CERN-OHL-P v2, software is MIT—both permit commercial use.
- —Repository includes KiCad files, firmware, Python desktop app, and a 3D-printable enclosure STL.
- —The BOM is a Google Sheet; component suppliers are listed but not linked, so expect a morning of cross-referencing and availability checks.
- —Multiple README files exist (hardware, software, getting started); navigating them takes patience.
- —Not a certified medical device—strictly an education and research platform, which is the only reason it can be fully open.
- —Designed as a HAT for Raspberry Pi 4/5; you supply the Pi, display, and all biosignal sensors separately.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterHeyGears G1: 10M+ colors and transparent parts in one print, plus UV printing on flat objects. Figures, parts and labels — no painting.
Videos
HealthyPi v5 - Unboxing and Quick Start
Official quick-start walkthrough from ProtoCentral; covers unboxing, sensor connection and first boot
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the Getting Started guide in the docs folder (Multiple README files; start with getting-started.md and hardware README for overview)
- 2.Decide whether to buy the HAT pre-assembled or fabricate it yourself (Official site links to Crowd Supply and Tindie for assembled boards; self-fabrication requires ordering PCB and sourcing 50+ BOM components)
- 3.Install Raspberry Pi OS and clone the software repository (Python desktop app and firmware are both in the repo; follow software setup instructions carefully)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
Partner · KickstarterCORE POWER BANK S: 0.2" thin, 2.8 oz, 5000 mAh with 22.5W fast charging. Semi-solid battery, carbon fiber, IPX7 waterproof.
KNOWN ISSUES
- Buying a Raspberry Pi without the official 7-inch touchscreen—third-party displays may not match the software's resolution and touch input expectations.
- Underestimating BOM sourcing time if self-assembling the HAT—50+ components, some specialized (AFE chips, precision resistors), and availability fluctuates.
- Skipping the firmware flash step on the HAT's onboard microcontroller before expecting the Pi software to communicate with sensors.
- Treating it as a medical device or diagnostic tool—this is explicitly an education and research platform, not certified for clinical use, and misrepresenting it is both unsafe and potentially illegal.
- Assuming plug-and-play sensor operation—ECG electrode placement, SpO2 probe fit and temperature sensor contact all require calibration and practice to get clean waveforms.
- Running the Python app without checking dependencies—multiple libraries (PyQt, pyserial, numpy) must be installed on the Pi, and version mismatches cause silent failures.
Can I use this to monitor actual patients or diagnose medical conditions?
No. HealthyPi 5 is explicitly an education and research platform, not a certified medical device. It is not validated for clinical use, and using it as such would be unsafe and likely illegal.
Do I need to buy sensors separately?
Yes. The HAT provides the acquisition hardware, but ECG electrodes, SpO2 pulse oximeter probe and temperature sensor are sourced separately—budget $30–$50 for medical-grade disposable electrodes and reusable sensors.
Can I run this without a Raspberry Pi touchscreen?
The software is designed for the official 7-inch display; running on HDMI monitors or alternative touchscreens may work but requires manual configuration and the UI may not scale correctly.
What is the difference between HealthyPi 5 and version 6?
Version 6 is a more general biosignal acquisition platform with additional channels; version 5 is specifically a vital-signs monitor with ECG, respiration, SpO2 and temperature. Both are open; choose based on your use case.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
If you were building one, would you go for the pre-assembled HAT or fabricate it yourself?
ProtoCentral
ProtoCentral is a Bengaluru-based open-hardware company specializing in biomedical and health-sensing platforms. They have run multiple successful Crowd Supply campaigns and maintain a catalog of open biosignal acquisition tools aimed at researchers, educators and makers.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM4d agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repository is actively maintained with regular commits, the YouTube quick-start video is official and genuinely helpful, and the BOM is a Google Sheet rather than an integrated file—expect an hour cross-referencing Digi-Key and Mouser for component availability. The single biggest non-obvious requirement is the official Raspberry Pi 7-inch touchscreen; third-party displays may work but the software UI is sized for that exact resolution. One weekend is optimistic unless you buy the HAT pre-assembled; budget two if you are fabricating and populating the board yourself. Correction 21 August 2026: this page quoted a refurbished Philips IntelliVue MP30 at about $1,600. We could not substantiate that figure - listings for that monitor run from a few hundred dollars to over $2,000 depending on condition and modules, so the specific number has been removed. Also worth restating: HealthyPi is explicitly not a certified medical device.