Continuous patient monitoring with a small digital computer.

Abstract This monitoring system, which is centered on a small computer with a 12 bit word size and 8 K of core memory, is controlled by core resident programming which carries out continuous monitoring of several analog signals from 4 patients while a variety of programs are paged into core from disk or tape when needed. The continuous programs monitor the electrocardiograph for arrhythmias, the respiratory rate, temperature, indirect blood pressure and intra-arterial pressure with a cardiac output estimation. Paged programs provide respiratory mechanics, intermittent cardiac output and an analysis of blood gases in addition to service functions such as those which control the TV display and those which type graphs for the medical record. Peripheral instrumentation has been developed from commercially available equipment with some modifications and additions. The system is designed for growth. Expansion from continuous monitoring of 4–8 patients could be provided by adding 4 K of memory to core. The paging system will permit the additon of many new programs to handle intermittent functions.