next up previous contents index
Next: About Linux Up: System Requirements for WAVE Previous: X11 window managers


Data acquisition and digitization

PC-based data acquisition is a good choice given the large number of ADC boards available; note, however, that Linux drivers for these boards are rare. The WFDB Software Package available separately from MIT includes an MS-DOS program (named sample) for digitization and replay of analog signals using a DAP 1200- or 2400-series data acquisition board (available from Microstar Laboratories, http://www.mstarlabs.com/).

Note that the WAVE host must be able to read the signal files. If you use an MS-DOS data acquisition program, this can be accomplished in several ways:

You may also find that an existing database of digitally recorded signals may be useful for your studies. PhysioNet, at http://www.physionet.org/,, offers free on-line access to over 30 such databases with thousands of recordings ranging in length from a few seconds to several days. These include all or most of the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database, the European ST-T Database, the MIT-BIH Polysomnographic Database, the MGH/MF Waveform Database, and the Long-Term ST Database (which are also available on CD-ROMs from their creators), and many other databases available only via PhysioNet. WAVE can read these databases directly from PhysioNet without downloading them first (the WFDB library, which handles reading and writing data for WAVE , contains HTTP client code that permits applications such as WAVE to read input with equal ease from local disks or remote web servers). This is an excellent way to explore PhysioBank (PhysioNet's collection of signal databases).


next up previous contents index
Next: About Linux Up: System Requirements for WAVE Previous: X11 window managers
George B. Moody (george@mit.edu)
2004-03-09