title: Management software for a universal device communication controller: application to monitoring and computerized infusions.
abstract: We designed a virtual device for a local area network observing, operating and connecting devices to a personal computer. To keep the widest field of application, we proceeded by using abstraction and specification rules of software engineering in the design and implementation of the hardware and software for the Infusion Monitor. We specially built a box of hardware to interface multiple medical instruments with different communication protocols to a PC via a single serial port. We called that box the Universal Device Communication Controller (UDCC). The use of the virtual device driver is illustrated by the Infusion Monitor implemented for the anaesthesia and intensive care workstation.
authors.affiliation: Département de Calcul Scientifique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculté de Médecine, Belgium.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Coussaert
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Cantraine
mesh_terms: D000777:Anesthetics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001530:Belgium; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000295:instrumentation; D008122:Local Area Networks; D008838:Microcomputers; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012984:Software; D012985:Software Design; D014584:User-Computer Interface
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics