Action potential stimulation and recording with a portable microcomputer

A microcomputer-based data acquisition system was developed to provide electrocardiographic monitoring, nerve stimulation, and nerve and muscle response recording abilities for use in investigations of phrenic nerve dysfunction in animal models. The system incorporates the ability to trigger a stimulation pulse at a precise interval in the cardiac cycle and to digitize, display, and store the resultant nerve and muscle action potentials. Other important system attributes include portability, resistance to environmental noise, physical ruggedness, and minimal operator input. Realization of this system was possible through the use of a custom software program in a high-speed hardware environment.

Duke Scholars

Author Peter Kent Smith Surgery, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery