DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR MONITORING LOW BIRTH WEIGHT NEONATES.

A research project is being conducted to study the underlying cause of intraventricular hemorrhage in neonates with birth weights below 1500 grams. There are many environmental and physiological parameters that are considered as potential factors in an increase of the neonate's blood pressure that ultimately ruptures the fragile capillaries in the germinal matrix of the brain. As many of these parameters as possible should be continuously monitored for the 120 hours after birth to study the basis of intraventricular hemorrhaging. A data acquisition system is presented that is being used to monitor these parameters for patients enlisted in the study. The outputs from eight data channels are sampled by an Apple IIe computer using a real-time clock and an analog-to-digital converter. Data collected from approximately 25 infants are discussed.