Search PubMed⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 7231225

A distributed microprocessing system for laboratory computing.

J R Bourne
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The concepts and practical implementation of a distributed processing system used for biomedical research demonstrably increase efficiency and cost effectiveness of microprocessor use. The hardware system is based on a minicomputer host and remote microcomputer slaves. Remote microcomputer systems are used for data acquisition and display, whereas the host system is used for data and program storage, as well as program compilation. The software used is the "C" programming language and the Unix operating system. Methods for programming the microcomputer in the higher level language "C" for laboratory usage are described. Examples illustrate how a distributed microprocessor system can be effectively used in a medical laboratory for the common tasks of data acquisition, processing, and display.

Explore related subjects

Biomedical EngineeringComputersLaboratoriesMedical Laboratory ScienceMicrocomputersJournal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

J R Bourne. A distributed microprocessing system for laboratory computing.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7231225/

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed1996

Design of an FECG scalp electrode fetal heart rate monitor.

The design of a fetal heart rate (FHR) monitor using fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) scalp electrodes is described. It is shown that the design approach followed two stages: generation of FHR pulses at R-R intervals and FHR computation. The former uses a simple hardware approach for QRS detection and R-wave enhancement, while the latter requires a software implementation in order to produce FHR traces on a beat to beat basis. The QRS detection is based on bandpass filtering using switched mode capacitor technique; the R-wave enhancement and amplitude information are achieved by differentiation followed by fullwave rectification and peak detection. An adaptive threshold together with a comparator circuit are used to generate FHR pulses at R-R intervals. Beat to beat variations of FHR traces are produced by hardware and software implementation on a Z80 microprocessor board. Results obtained by the FHR monitor are evaluated and contrasted to other commercial FHR monitors.

Biomedical Engineering↗
PubMed1996

Vaginal temperature sensing using UHF radio telemetry.

User-induced errors are common when women repetitively employ conventional probe type thermometers to chart their basal body temperatures in an effort to indicate ovulation. An alternative technique employing a two-part telemetric thermometer is proposed, with low-power, SAWR-controlled UHF radio as the transmission medium. Worn overnight in the vagina, the 1 microW erp telemetry transmitter sends pulse modulated data continuously to a microcontroller in a nearby receiver; a real time clock enables programmable sampling and storage of the subject's temperature to 0.1 degrees C resolution. Initial clinical results indicate an enhanced performance compared to oral and axillary temperature trends taken by a mercury-in-glass thermometer. Polar plots of both the isolated and body-worn telemetry transmitter are presented; body induced attenuations of up to 30 dB were measured.

Biomedical Engineering↗