System collects medical data directly from patients and permanently records and displays several parameters - electrocardiograph, electroencephalograph, heart rate, respiration rate, auscultatory blood pressure, leg circumference changes, body temperature, and time. Components and operation of the system are described

Vick, H. A.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

December 1970	 Brief 70-10697 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, 
Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief progam may be directed to the Tech-
nology Utilization Division, NASA, Code UT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Biomedical Recording System 
A new Biomedical Recording System which collects 
medical data directly from the patients incorporates 
a means for permanently recording and displaying 
the following parameters: electrocardiograph (ECG) 
and electroencephalograph (EEG); heart rate; res-
piration rate and approximate depth by impedance 
pneumography (ZPG); auscultatory blood pressure; 
leg circumference changes; body temperature; and 
time (tRIG-B code). Because the system is designed 
for easy operation, the operators need not be tech-
nically skilled, and the system is electrically grounded 
to avoid endangering the patient. 
The recording and readout units, designed for 
compatability, are packed in three carrying cases 
resembling personal baggage. The time required for 
setting up and checking the instruments is less than 
30 mm. Data are recorded on magnetic tape for 
machine analysis. 
Readily available components are incorporated into 
the system wherever possible. Specific system units 
are as follows: the three carrying cases for signal 
conditioning and data monitoring equipment, plus 
accessories; complete case-interconnecting harnesses; 
special-subject harnesses and four normal-subject har-
nesses; two blood-pressure cuffs with microphones; 
one audio microphone-speaker set, with cable; suffi-
cient recording supplies for more than 12 hr operation; 
and several plug-in modules for the signal-conditioner 
case. 
The plug-in modules include one signal conditioner 
each for the ZPG, blood pressure, and cardiotachom-
eter; one vector (VCG) resistor network; two signal 
conditioners each for the leg circumference, EEG, and 
body temperature; and three blank plug-in units. 
A magnetic-tape recorder-reproducer can record or 
reproduce at least seven data channels continuously,
and can handle 1 hr of vocal annotation without chang-
ing tape. Magnetic tape is the primary recording 
medium, but a graphic recorder can be used simulta-
neously to record four channels of data with two mark 
channels. 
An tRIG-B time-code generator and display unit 
provides a time code for both recording systems, as 
well as a digital display of hours, minutes, and seconds. 
An output from the generator initiates the cuff-
inflation system. 
Specific parameters for the tape-recorder channels 
are determined by the location of the signal condi-
tioners in the signal-conditioner case. The output from 
any signal conditioner can be connected to the signal 
input circuits of any graphic-recorder channel. Taped 
data can be reproduced on the graphic recorder in the 
field without adjusting the amplifier gain in either the 
tape-recorder-reproducer or the graphic-recorder-
drive amplifier. 
Note: 
Further documentation may be obtained from: 
National Technical Information Service 
Springfield, Virginia 22151 
Single document price $3.00 
(or microfiche $0.65) 
Reference: 
NASA-CR- 101978 (N70-10044), Biomedical 
Recording System 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA 
Source: H. A. Vick of

Northrop Corp.

under contract to

Manned Spacecraft Center

(MSC-l363)
Category 05 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700000673 2020-03-17T01:02:44+00:00Z


Biomedical recording system

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