AN2101

AN206 Vishay Siliconix DG406 Multiplexer Optimizes Medical Simulator Introduction A patient monitoring system collects information from several transducers connected to a patient. The transducers convert physiologic electromechanical activity into electrical signals which are routed to a data acquisition module for digitization. The digitized data is then processed and displayed on the monitor screen. Additionally, bedside patient information can be relayed to a central nursing station, a hospital information system, or a doctor’s office. Patient monitors must provide reliable data at all times. For this reason, it is imperative to have an accurate means for calibration and troubleshooting of patient monitoring instrumentation. This function can be accomplished by using a patient simulator which generates electrical signals similar to those produced by the transducers. For this application note, a patient simulator was designed and built. The simulator consisted of a personal computer peripheral device and had to be capable of producing the static display of all numerics and graphics associated with the following three human parameters: a) body temperature, b) blood oxygen saturation level, c) heart pulse rate. Having these capabilities greatly enhances the ability to perform fine calibration and troubleshooting. Performance Goals The simulator design goals were as follows: a) b) c) Body temperature: from –1_C to 46_C in 0.1_C increments, with an accuracy of "0.1_C. Blood...