Virtual instrumentation for frequency analysis of carotid sinus responses.

An advanced microcomputer based process control and instrumentation system was developed for real time frequency analysis of the viscoelastic relationships between the carotid sinus wall and indwelling baroreceptors. A 486 based AT bus microprocessor running data acquisition and visualization software was customized providing a virtual instrument for data collection, display, and recording. A full complement of signal processing algorithms was developed for the collection of large time sampled data sets and their conversion to the frequency domain for analysis. Polynomial curve fitting procedures were used for transfer function estimation of wall viscoelastic properties. Simulated in situ sinus data was collected and analysis was used to test the methodology.