Rodger D Nelson

US Patent:

52414698, Aug 31, 1993

Filed:

Jul 25, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/558691

Inventors:

Rodger C. Nelson - Issaquah WA
F. Brian Ginn - Houston TX

Assignee:

Micro Development Technologies, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 1500
A61B 502

US Classification:

36441303

Abstract:

A method and apparatus which include a special purpose cable and printed circuit board adapted for use with and installation in a personal computer for the specific purpose of automated acquisition and processing of analog spirometry and temperature data. The cable has on one end an interchangeable connector that is plugged into a volumetric spirometer. A temperature sensor is placed within the body of the connector and external to the sheaths of the cable and transmits analog data to the board via lines within the sheaths of the cable. The board provides an excitation voltage signal via the cable to the volumetric spirometer and receives analog data from the spirometer. The board then filters the analog spirometry and temperature data and alternately switches the data to an A/D converter by virtue of a signal selector. The A/D converter is enabled by the output of a comparing address and clocked by a frequency divided signal provided by a timing device. The A/D converter converts the filtered, switched analog data to digital form with 12-bit resolution and outputs it to the computer's data bus.