The use of a microcomputer in collecting data from cardiovascular experiments on muscle relaxants

The possible association of cardiovascular side-effects from potentially, clinically useful non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs has been studied with the aid of a micro- computer. The maximal changes in heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial ressure and pulse pressure were recorded in the onset maximal effect and recovery phase of relaxant activity in dogs anesthetized with isoflurane. The data collection system employed a Gould 2800S polygraph, an Apple II Plus microcomputer, a Cyborg Corp. 'Issac' 12 bit analog to digital converter, two 5 1/4" flogy disk drives a 'Videoterm' 80 column display board and a 12" green phosphor monitor. Prior to development of the computer system, direct analysis of polygraph records required more than three times more time than the actual experiment. With the aid of the computer, analysis of data, tabular and graphic presentation and narrative reports were completed within 15 minutes after the end of the experiment.