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The
ANS2000 System records heart rate variation with
respiration. The Respiration Pacer/ECG Monitor
and ANS Reader Program are useful for studies of
patients in which it is important to know the
interval between heartbeats and also to
synchronize the data analysis with the patient's
breathing. The Analysis software is used to
evaluate the degree of heart rate variation.
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The typical
ANS test runs for five minutes, and is
recorded for six minutes. During the
test, the subject holds the Respiration
Pacer/ECG Monitor and breathes in
synchrony a bar graph of lights on the
face of the hand-held unit. Disposable
electrodes are connected to the subject
in a standard 3-lead configuration and
the ECG waveform is obtained. The
waveform is displayed on the computer
monitor via the ECG Reader Program. A
triangle wave shows the Respiration
Pacer on-screen along with the subject’s
heart rate. The two waves help the
operator ensure the subject is breathing
in synchrony with the Respiration Pacer. |
Another standard test involves having the
subject perform a Valsalva manoeuvre. In this
case the, user indicates the start and stop of
the manoeuvre on the computer. This test uses
the ECG Monitor only; it does not use the
Respiration Pacer.
After recording ECG data from either test, the
user can view the ECG wave and selectively edit
the data, adding or deleting R-wave marks while
viewing the actual recorded ECG wave. A series
of standard analyses are presented, indicating
the degree of heart rate variation. Several
versions of the edited data can be saved for the
purpose of comparing operators, while leaving
the original data unaltered.
The ANS Reader Program prints reports of the
analysed data. Reports include patient
demographics, standard radial plots, R-bar
statistics for each minute and cumulative for
the complete test, max/min heart intervals, and
a listing of all R-R intervals.
The Respiration Pacer/ECG Monitor unit is
powered by a nine-Volt alkaline battery and
connects to the serial port of an IBM compatible
PC. An optical interface couples and ANS2000 to
the computer to ensure electrical safety for the
subject.
 
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