Design of a microcomputer-based open heart surgery patient monitor

A patient monitor device for use during open heart surgery has been designed and constructed. The device uses a VIC 20 microcomputer along with some additional circuitry to monitor 3 separate functions. The first patient variable monitored is the blood flow rate through the extracorporeal blood circuit during surgery. The device also continuously monitors and displays 6 separate temperatures. Finally, 3 individual timers are monitored and displayed with the device. Both the hardware and the software used in the design are fully described.