SBIR-STTR Award

This program develops a modular short- range radio telemetry system to monitor independent real-time physiological parameters on unrestrained subjects. The system transmits data in coded digital form to improve its immunity to radio-channel noise and signal dropouts. The radio receiver connects to a personal computer to permit the use of a wide variety of inexpensive data display and storage devices. The transmitter's measurement setup values and programs are loaded via menu selections on the personal computer so that computer expertise is not needed to run standard experimental procedures. Users may also write custom programs in popular highlevel languages.The microprocessor-based transmitter accepts eight plug-in modules that contain physiological measurement circuits and special system features. The modules are standardized so that any combination of different module types can be used in the transmitter. Initially, eight types of modules will be developed to support psychophysiological studies of infants and children in situations where long-term monitoring is not currently practical. An open system architecture will encourage other investigators and thirdparty vendors to develop additional modules and software.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

This project will develop and evaluate a modular digital telemetry system capable of recording various physiological parameters on 16 independent channels. It will fully integrate a powerful microprocessor with the measurement function of a polygraph and is intended to replace the cumbersome polygraph equipment commonly used in psychophysiological research today.The system will consist of two parts: a compact transmitter unit based on sophisticated microcomputer technology and a receiver unit that is essentially an inexpensive personal computer. Three measurement modules will be developed for the transmitter unit: a dual-channel wide-band AC amplifier, a DC amplifier, and an activity monitor function. With five other module types developed for a previous project, a researcher could monitor any combination of ECG, EEG, muscle activity, respiration, and skin conductance signals.The evaluation procedure includes three series of tests to challenge the system's capabilities in substantially different field settings. The first attempts to identify the visual stressors responsible for eye fatigue commonly linked to the use of video display terminals in the workplace. The second will examine slow brain potentials occurring in anticipation of significant events in human infants. The third explores the development of critical band filtering in infants.

Anticipated Results:
The digital telemetry system will be a computerized polygraph with remote measuring capability via a fiberoptic or digital FM radio link. It will be useful where it is not practical to use existing polygraph equipment.National Institute Of Mental Health (NIMH)