SBIR-STTR Award

Considerable evidence exists that analysis of the electrocardiogram over extended periods of time provides clinically significant information important in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease. Available ambulatory monitoring devices are adequate for 24-hour periods; limitations are evident when longer periods are required.The project will establish the feasibility of Biological Data Acquisition and Recording System for Cardiac Rhythm (BIDARS/CR), a longterm ambulatory-monitoring system for subjects with known or possible rhythm disturbances. BIDARS/CR can provide patient surveillance for a minimum of about 18 days, with a maximum exceeding three months. The system consists of a small, lightweight patient-worn monitor and a base station. The monitor contains a micropowered digital recorder that records- ECG complexes immediately before, during, and after affhythmic disturbances. The monitor also records the number of premature complexes and heart rate versus time. The base station is a standard PC with a BIDARS interface card and software. It permits the user to test and program the monitor and analyze and store the collected data.The system is modular and adaptable to other applications, including ST segment analysis, monitoring of patients undergoing chemotherapy, and l00-day monitoring of bone-marrow transplant patients.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

The design, fabrication, and evaluation of a Biological Data Acquisition and Recording System for Cardiac Rhythm (BIDARS/CR) is proposed. This is a new, long-term ambulatory-patient monitoring system for subjects with known or possible rhythm disturbances. BIDARS/CR can provide patient surveillance for a minimum of approximately 18 days with a maximum exceeding 3 months. It has direct application for diagnostic purposes and for evaluation of therapy efficacy in the arrhythmia subject.The system consists of a small, lightweight, and unobtrusive patient-worn monitor with a base station. The monitor contains a unique, micropowered, digital recorder that records ECG complexes immediately before, during, and after arrhythmia disturbances. BIDARS/CR also records the number of premature beats and the heart rate versus time. The base station is a standard PC with a BIDARS interface card and software, which permits the user to test and program the monitor, and analyze and store the collected data.During the project, 20 monitors will be built. The system's ability to analyze, record, and play back cardiac rhythm abnormalities will be evaluated by using simulated rhythms, and by testing the system with patients undergoing electrophysiologic studies and patients wearing Hotter and transtelephonic monitors.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)