Adv. Cardiol., vol. 21, pp.162-164 (Karger, Basel 1978)
A Terminal for Computerized ECG O. STEENHAUT, J. TIBERGHIEN, J. CORNELIS and F. KORNREICH Elektronica, Hart- en Bloedvatenonderzoek, Medische Informatiek, Vrije Universiteit, Brussel
A new architecture for ECG data acquisition equipment is proposed. Its field of application is primarily the early diagnosis of heart trouble by the general practice physician by means of a computer-assisted morphological ECG analysis. The main advantage of the proposed structure resides in the mobility it gives to the equipment. In the simplest version, an acoustic coupler will, through any home telephone, connect the proposed terminal to a central computer. Local storage and preprocessing minimizes the amount of data to be exchanged and makes the use of a low-speed connection practical. In its most sophisticated version, the terminal is completely independent. A built-in microprocessor will perform the complete ECG analysis. In the preceding paper the authors describe such an equipment.
Description
The proposed architecture is shown in figure 1. The main functions of the component blocks are discussed below.
Main memory. The digital semiconductor memory, with sufficient size to hold the raw ECG data requested by the diagnostic program, has two working modes selected by the operator.
Downloaded by: University of Cambridge 131.111.164.128 - 2/1/2019 3:55:00 AM
Patient interface. In this part, up to 16 synchronous ECG signals could be amplified, filtered and converted into digital measurements at a suitable sampling rate. For safety reasons, this part is electrically insulated, the signals being optically coupled with the other parts of the equipment.
163
STEENHAUT/TmERGHIEN/CoRNELIS/KoRNREICH
High insulation barrier r----------------- ---------------l"[orpatient safety
t
I
= Analog
amplifiers
S Multiplexers Sample and Hold AID Converter
I'?~!~~ I
Digital Mass
c_C!.'!.~! ,g
storage (CCD or MOS)
: -- Size adapted to ECG
---f
- program used
Needle Printer
,
for Hard Copy
.-- " ....-------...j
-c; 0
n
t
Digital Cassette /Ifor off line proc;essing " or filing
r
0 CRT Display
'------
Showing continuously contents of memory
I I
"
e
_r , ,
-
bata trans~lssion unit ,.land acoustIcal coupler for interactive remote processing
,
\1 Microcomputer for interactive
local processing
Fig.]
Display. It gives the operator a continuous representation of the ECG data present in the memory. In the monitor mode, the operator is able to inspect visually the heart rhythm, this enables him to choose the systoles he will freeze into memory. A visual cursor allows him to identify parts of the frozen systoles for ease in processing. Operator interface. This is in fact an interactive computer terminal. A teletype or some equivalent could be used, but, to ensure mobility, a much simpler special purpose terminal is preferable. Some push buttons to select programs or to enter commands, and some light indicators to show the computed results seem to be enough, for the 'field level diagnosis' for which the equipment is intended.
Downloaded by: University of Cambridge 131.111.164.128 - 2/1/2019 3:55:00 AM
The monitoring mode: New data is continuously fed into the memory, old data being continuously lost. The process mode: The ECG record selected by the operator is frozen in the memory.
STEENHAUT/TmERGHIEN/CoRNELlS/KoRNREICH
164
Compter interface. This part sends the commands and the identifications from the operator panel to the computer. When requested, this interface gives the computer access to any point of the frozen waveform for processing. Diagnostic results obtained by the computer are routed through this interface to the operator panel. Conclusions
Dr. O. STEENHAUT, Elektronica and Medische Informatiek, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels (Belgium)
Downloaded by: University of Cambridge 131.111.164.128 - 2/1/2019 3:55:00 AM
The described BeG terminal is a true interactive terminal. Doctor and computer have complementary tasks: - The doctor, with his synthetic mind performs quality control on the recording of the BeG, selects the beats or parts of the beats to be analyzed, and finally interprets the computer answer. - The computer makes a quantitative analysis of the BeG waveform, and suggests a diagnostic, only based on objective data.
A Terminal for Computerized ECG O. STEENHAUT, J. TIBERGHIEN, J. CORNELIS and F. KORNREICH Elektronica, Hart- en Bloedvatenonderzoek, Medische Informatiek, Vrije Universiteit, Brussel
A new architecture for ECG data acquisition equipment is proposed. Its field of application is primarily the early diagnosis of heart trouble by the general practice physician by means of a computer-assisted morphological ECG analysis. The main advantage of the proposed structure resides in the mobility it gives to the equipment. In the simplest version, an acoustic coupler will, through any home telephone, connect the proposed terminal to a central computer. Local storage and preprocessing minimizes the amount of data to be exchanged and makes the use of a low-speed connection practical. In its most sophisticated version, the terminal is completely independent. A built-in microprocessor will perform the complete ECG analysis. In the preceding paper the authors describe such an equipment.
Description
The proposed architecture is shown in figure 1. The main functions of the component blocks are discussed below.
Main memory. The digital semiconductor memory, with sufficient size to hold the raw ECG data requested by the diagnostic program, has two working modes selected by the operator.
Downloaded by: University of Cambridge 131.111.164.128 - 2/1/2019 3:55:00 AM
Patient interface. In this part, up to 16 synchronous ECG signals could be amplified, filtered and converted into digital measurements at a suitable sampling rate. For safety reasons, this part is electrically insulated, the signals being optically coupled with the other parts of the equipment.
163
STEENHAUT/TmERGHIEN/CoRNELIS/KoRNREICH
High insulation barrier r----------------- ---------------l"[orpatient safety
t
I
= Analog
amplifiers
S Multiplexers Sample and Hold AID Converter
I'?~!~~ I
Digital Mass
c_C!.'!.~! ,g
storage (CCD or MOS)
: -- Size adapted to ECG
---f
- program used
Needle Printer
,
for Hard Copy
.-- " ....-------...j
-c; 0
n
t
Digital Cassette /Ifor off line proc;essing " or filing
r
0 CRT Display
'------
Showing continuously contents of memory
I I
"
e
_r , ,
-
bata trans~lssion unit ,.land acoustIcal coupler for interactive remote processing
,
\1 Microcomputer for interactive
local processing
Fig.]
Display. It gives the operator a continuous representation of the ECG data present in the memory. In the monitor mode, the operator is able to inspect visually the heart rhythm, this enables him to choose the systoles he will freeze into memory. A visual cursor allows him to identify parts of the frozen systoles for ease in processing. Operator interface. This is in fact an interactive computer terminal. A teletype or some equivalent could be used, but, to ensure mobility, a much simpler special purpose terminal is preferable. Some push buttons to select programs or to enter commands, and some light indicators to show the computed results seem to be enough, for the 'field level diagnosis' for which the equipment is intended.
Downloaded by: University of Cambridge 131.111.164.128 - 2/1/2019 3:55:00 AM
The monitoring mode: New data is continuously fed into the memory, old data being continuously lost. The process mode: The ECG record selected by the operator is frozen in the memory.
STEENHAUT/TmERGHIEN/CoRNELlS/KoRNREICH
164
Compter interface. This part sends the commands and the identifications from the operator panel to the computer. When requested, this interface gives the computer access to any point of the frozen waveform for processing. Diagnostic results obtained by the computer are routed through this interface to the operator panel. Conclusions
Dr. O. STEENHAUT, Elektronica and Medische Informatiek, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels (Belgium)
Downloaded by: University of Cambridge 131.111.164.128 - 2/1/2019 3:55:00 AM
The described BeG terminal is a true interactive terminal. Doctor and computer have complementary tasks: - The doctor, with his synthetic mind performs quality control on the recording of the BeG, selects the beats or parts of the beats to be analyzed, and finally interprets the computer answer. - The computer makes a quantitative analysis of the BeG waveform, and suggests a diagnostic, only based on objective data.
