स्पर्शन · touch

Sparshan

Haptic Pulse Simulation for Ayurvedic Diagnostic Training

Design Thinking (MMC305) · CIE-1 · Odd Semester 2026

Department of Computer Applications, B. M. S. College of Engineering

Team: Shrilaxmi Heralagi · Sneha H · Sneha Uday — Guide: Dr. DN Sujatha

Motivation

Pulse diagnosis has no practice tool

Has a practice tool

Clinical skill

CPR

Practised on a manikin

Has a practice tool

Clinical skill

Injections / IV lines

Practised on a practice arm or pad

No practice tool

Clinical skill

Nadi Pariksha

No practice tool. Students go straight to real patients.

Nadi Pariksha is purely tactile: it can’t be learned from diagrams. Yet students feel pulses only occasionally, on classmates or on patients.

67%

of 52 surveyed students use no physical device to practise

Define

Problem statement

Problem statement

BAMS students struggle to develop accurate Nadi Pariksha skills because training is mostly theory and demonstration, with no safe, repeatable way to physically practise telling Vata, Pitta and Kapha pulses apart before working with real patients.

We can recite the three pulse types perfectly for the exam. But the first time I held a patient’s wrist, I froze.

Composite insight from BAMS student interviews

Who is affected

  • BAMS studentsLittle hands-on practice
  • FacultyCan only teach “feel what I feel”
  • Patients, indirectlyExamined by hesitant trainees

Define

Scope and objectives

In scope

  • Three dosha rhythms: Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • A wrist-worn pad with vibration motors
  • Pre-clinical practice for BAMS students
  • A low-cost prototype under ₹1,100

Out of scope

  • Diagnosing real patients
  • Reproducing every person’s unique pulse
  • Replacing supervised clinical training

Objectives

  1. 1

    Build a low-cost wearable that simulates Vata, Pitta and Kapha rhythms

  2. 2

    Give students safe, repeatable practice before their first patient

  3. 3

    Offer faculty a standard teaching aid

  4. 4

    Validate with students and doctors through surveys

  5. 5

    Finish in one semester with MCA-team skills

Impact

Mapping to UN Sustainable Development Goals

3Good Health & Well-being

Target 3.cTrain the health workforce

Better-trained doctors give more accurate care.

Long-term impact
4Quality Education

Target 4.4Relevant practical skills

Turns theory into repeatable hands-on practice.

Primary fit
9Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

Target 9.5Upgrade technological capability

A low-cost local device modernises a traditional practice.

Primary fit SDG 4 long-term impact SDG 3

Literature survey · 1 of 2

A 3-solenoid wrist pulse simulator

McLellan et al. (2014), A microprocessor-based wrist pulse simulator for pulse diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine, IEEE NEBEC, University of Rhode Island.

PIC microcontrollerStores waveforms in lookup tables
3 × D/A + current driversOne channel per finger
3 solenoidsUnder a silicone “wrist”
Three fingertipsIndex, middle and ring feel the pulse

Press harder the pulse changes, like a real artery.

Authors’ conclusionUseful for demonstrating and teaching pulse diagnosis.

12 patterns = 3 waveforms × 4 rhythms

WaveformNormal rateBrady­cardiaTachy­cardiaArrhythmia
Normal depth
Deep
Floating

5 of 6 classical pulse qualities simulated

  • SimulatedStrengthsolenoid stroke
  • SimulatedDepthreacts to pressure
  • SimulatedRateplayback speed
  • SimulatedLengthduty cycle
  • SimulatedRhythmirregular playback
  • Not simulatedWidthnot possible with fixed pistons

Literature survey · 2 of 2

A physiology-based pulse simulator

Yang, Kim, Kim, Koo & Woo (2019), A new blood pulsation simulator platform incorporating cardiovascular physiology, Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 4938063.

1Left ventriclePiston pump, up to 80 mL every 750 ms
2Aorta + compliance chamberAir spring sets artery stiffness
3Radial artery at the wristWhere the pulse is felt
4ReservoirKeeps 80 mmHg diastolic

≤ 80 mL

every 750 ms (≈ 80 beats/min)

80 mmHg

diastolic pressure

≤ 40 mmHg

adjustable pulse pressure

Augmentation index reproduced by age group
Young64
Middle-aged75
Older adults91

Stiffer artery higher index, matching real age groups.

Authors’ conclusionPulse diagnosis relies on subjective experience; a device generating standard pulses for training is urgently needed.

Literature survey · Synthesis

Comparing the approaches

FeatureMcLellan 2014Yang 2019Sparshan
Built to teach pulse diagnosis Yes No Yes
Vata / Pitta / Kapha patterns No No Yes
Realistic pulse waveform Yes Yes Partlyrhythm only
Responds to finger pressure Yes Yes No
Wearable on the wrist No No Yes
Low cost, student-buildable No No Yes
The empty space Sparshan fills
Built for teaching Cost and complexity Sparshan McLellan 2014 Yang 2019

Research gapSimulators work, but none teaches the Ayurvedic doshas, and none is cheap and simple enough for students to build and practise with every day.

Literature survey · Design implications

What the literature tells us to build

  1. McLellan

    Three actuators under three fingers

    Three coin motors at the same finger positions

  2. McLellan

    Patterns stored digitally; rhythm comes from timing

    Each dosha is a timing pattern in Arduino code

  3. McLellan

    Pulse width and pressure feedback need extra hardware

    Version 1 uses vibration only to stay near ₹1,000; pressure sensing is future scope

  4. Yang

    Pulses change with age and arterial stiffness

    Adjustable rate and intensity

  5. Yang

    The authors call for a training device

    Confirms the problem; position Sparshan as a pre-clinical trainer

Survey analysis · 56 responses

Survey overview

56

total responses (minimum required 50)

52

students / learners

4

Ayurvedic doctors / faculty

82.7%

of students are BAMS students

Year of study (n = 52)
1st year5
2nd year15
3rd year16
4th year11
Internship2
Not applicable3
Familiarity with Nadi Pariksha (n = 52)
Not familiar7
Slightly19
Moderately21
Very5

Survey analysis · Students

Students rarely practise, and have no tool

How often they practise (n = 52)
Daily5
Several times a week5
Occasionally22
Rarely16
Never4
How they practise (multi-select, n = 52)
On classmates27
On patients16
Books / notes14
Videos / online9
With teachers7

81%

practise occasionally or less

67%

use no physical device (35 No, 12 Not sure, 5 Yes)

52%

practise only on healthy classmates

Survey analysis · Needs

Their biggest difficulty matches the feature they want most

Main difficulty (n = 52)
Telling Vata / Pitta / Kapha apart22
Not enough practice20
Feeling the pulse correctly19
Remembering characteristics18
No major difficulty7
Most useful features (n = 52)
Distinct V/P/K patterns32
Adjustable vibration intensity
Portable21
Different pulse rates19
Immediate feedback12
Practice / quiz mode11

42% struggle to tell the doshas apart 62% want distinct V/P/K patterns, Sparshan’s core feature

Survey analysis · Desirability

81% of students say Sparshan would be useful

How useful would Sparshan be? (1 = not useful, 5 = very useful; n = 52)
12
23
35
414
528

4.21/ 5

average usefulness rating

42of 52

rated it 4 or 5

28

gave the top score

Survey analysis · Doctors and faculty (n = 4)

Doctors confirm the teaching gap, and add a caution

1.75/ 5

effectiveness of theory-first teaching

3of 4

say students get limited or no practice

2of 3

know of no simulation tool

3.5/ 5

value for standardising training

Would the device be useful? (n = 4)
Yes, definitely1
Maybe, with refinement1
No2

All respondents have 0–3 years’ experience and teach occasionally. Small sample; we are collecting more responses.

Caution from doctors

“Every person’s pulse is different, so a fixed pattern may not prepare students for real patients.”

Our response

Position Sparshan as a pre‑clinical pattern trainer, like a CPR manikin, and add adjustable rate and intensity.

Survey analysis · Synthesis

Key insights and refined problem statement

81%

Practice is rare

practise occasionally or less

67%

No practice tool

use no physical device

42%

Differentiation is hardest

can’t tell V/P/K apart

1.75/ 5

Faculty agree

rating for theory-first teaching

Refined problem statement · Phase 5

BAMS students need a safe, low-cost and repeatable way to learn to tell Vata, Pitta and Kapha pulse patterns apart before they examine real patients, because today they practise only occasionally, mostly on classmates, and without any physical training tool.

Customer journey and value

Customer journey map

Ananya 2nd-year BAMS student

GoalConfidently identify Vata, Pitta and Kapha pulses before clinical postings

Stage
Emotion
Curious Hopeful Frustrated Anxious Confident
Doing
Memorises the snake, frog and swan descriptions
Watches a teacher feel one pulse
Tries friends’ pulses
Examines a real patient
Drills all three patterns on the pad
Pain points
Can’t learn touch from text
Can’t feel what the teacher feels
Healthy pulses all feel alike
Freezes, unsure what to feel
Must still learn real-pulse variation
Opportunity
Pair each lesson with a felt pattern
Teacher plays one pattern for the whole class
Practise distinct patterns anytime
Arrive with tactile memory
Confident, repeatable practice

Customer journey and value

Value proposition canvas

Value map

Products & services

  • Sparshan wrist pad
  • 3 vibration motors at finger positions
  • Arduino Nano
  • Button to switch patterns
  • Answer card

Gain creators

  • Distinct V/P/K rhythms
  • Unlimited practice, anytime
  • Same pattern for the whole class
  • About ₹1,000

Pain relievers

  • No patient needed
  • No risk of mistakes on patients
  • Replaces “feel what I feel” teaching
  • Pocket-sized

Fit

Click a pain or gain to see what relieves or creates it

Customer profile: BAMS student

Gains

Pains

Customer jobs

  • Identify V/P/K pulses
  • Pass practical exams
  • Diagnose real patients confidently

Solution

A wrist pad that plays the three dosha pulses

  1. SelectPress the button
  2. PlayArduino drives 3 motors
  3. FeelFingers on the pad, as on a wrist
  4. CheckAnswer card or teacher
DoshaClassical feelSparshan pattern
VatasnakeThin, fast, irregularQuick, irregular bursts
PittafrogJumping, forcefulSharp, evenly bouncing pulses
KaphaswanSlow, steady, glidingSlow, smooth, sustained vibration

Low-fidelity prototype for todayArduino Nano + 3 coin motors on a breadboard, strapped to a wristband; a push button cycles the patterns.

Prototype

How it is built: hardware, cost and feasibility

Push buttonCycles patterns
Arduino NanoPlays dosha timing
3 × transistor driversNPN switches
3 × coin vibration motorsIndex · middle · ring
Student’s fingertipsFeel the rhythm

Each motor is switched by an NPN transistor (2N2222 / BC547) with a base resistor and a flyback diode; power via USB or battery.

Bill of materials
ComponentCost
Arduino Nano₹250–450
3 coin vibration motors~₹120
Transistors + diodes~₹55
Push button₹10–20
Wristband / neoprene strap₹100–150
Perfboard, wires, power₹200–350

₹700–1,100

full portable prototype (₹400–550 USB demo; about ₹235–370 per member)

  • TechnicalBeginner-level Arduino
  • TeamWiring learnable in 1–2 labs
  • CostWithin a student budget
  • TimeFits the semester plan

Prototype · Live demo

Feel it, see it, test yourself

Conclusion

Doable, wanted, and ready to demo

Validated need

56 survey responses; 81% of students rate it useful

Proven concept

Two published simulators show that pulse simulation works

Next · Phases 8–10

Full working prototype with adjustable intensity and quiz mode

Then · Phases 11–12

Test with BAMS students and more faculty

Thank you Questions?

References
  1. McLellan et al. (2014). A microprocessor-based wrist pulse simulator for pulse diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine. IEEE NEBEC. DOI 10.1109/NEBEC.2014.6972871
  2. Yang, Kim, Kim, Koo & Woo (2019). A new blood pulsation simulator platform incorporating cardiovascular physiology. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 4938063. DOI 10.1155/2019/4938063
  3. Jin et al. (2019). Sensors, 19(2), 386.
  4. Kandee et al. Virtual pulse simulation.
  5. Manjunatha et al. Nadifit.
  6. United Nations. Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4 and 9.
  7. Team surveys: n = 52 students, n = 4 doctors, September 2026.