Design and implementation of a portable physiologic data acquisition system.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and report the reliability of a portable, laptop-based, real-time, continuous physiologic data acquisition system (PDAS) that allows for synchronous recording of physiologic data, clinical events, and event markers at the bedside for physiologic research studies in the intensive care unit.


METHODS
Descriptive report of new research technology.


METHODS
Adult and pediatric intensive care units in three tertiary care academic hospitals.


METHODS
Sixty-four critically ill and injured patients were studied, including 34 adult (22 males and 12 females) and 30 pediatric (19 males and 11 females).


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Data transmission errors during bench and field testing were measured. The PDAS was used in three separate research studies, by multiple users, and for repeated recordings of the same set of signals at various intervals for different lengths of time. Both parametric (1 Hz) and waveform (125-500 Hz) signals were recorded and analyzed. Details of the PDAS components are explained and examples are given from the three experimental physiology-based protocols. Waveform data include electrocardiogram, respiration, systemic arterial pressure (invasive and noninvasive), oxygen saturation, central venous pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, left and right atrial pressures, intracranial pressure, and regional cerebral blood flow. Bench and field testing of the PDAS demonstrated excellent reliability with 100% accuracy and no data transmission errors. The key feature of simultaneously capturing physiologic signal data and clinical events (e.g., changes in mechanical ventilation, drug administration, clinical condition) is emphasized.


CONCLUSIONS
The PDAS provides a reliable tool to record physiologic signals and associated clinical events on a second-to-second basis and may serve as an important adjunctive research tool in designing and performing clinical physiologic studies in critical illness and injury.
Vinecore
Kevin
K
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, OR, USA. bgol@novordisk.com
Aboy
Mateo
M
McNames
James
J
Phillips
Charles
C
Agbeko
Rachel
R
Peters
Mark
M
Ellenby
Miles
M
McManus
Michael L
ML
Goldstein
Brahm
B
D000328:Adult; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D003199:Computer Systems; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D009922:Oregon; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014584:User-Computer Interface