Developing a multi-purpose microcomputer-based system for biological signal analysis for cardiovascular protocols
A description is given of the development of a general microcomputer-based system to perform biological signal processing concerning clinical and experimental protocols in cardiology. At intensive care units the software of this system enabled the clinical staff to acquire several signals simultaneously, like the cardiac chamber pressures, arterial pressure, respiratory flow, ECG, and EEC, and to interface an IBM PC compatible with other devices (like thoracic electrical bioimpedance) which can furnish important ventricular stroke volume mesurements. On the other hand, in experimental protocols, where the relationship between the latter signals with action potentials from peripherical nerves was pursued, it was necessary to design a window discriminator (WD) that allowed the study of point processes related to the neural control of the cardiovascular system. This WD was connected to the microcomputer through the parallel interface which suffered minor modifications. The software was divided in modules. To evaluate the signals after acquisition several basic routines are available (smoothing, statistical and spectral procedures).
Duke Scholars
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- Cardiovascular System & Hematology
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Published In
ISSN
Publication Date
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Cardiovascular System & Hematology