Fluke Biomedical VT Mobile - Manual (Page 90)

VT MOBILE
Operators Manual
A-24
Serial Communications
Selecting the COM Port
The Analyzer communicates with your PC through a serial (COM) port. With the
Analyzer connected to your computer and turned on when the software starts, the
software automatically detects which COM port the Analyzer is on and then initiates
communications between the Analyzer and your PC.
While running VT for Windows you may select Comm Port from the Communications
menu to change the port selection.
Selecting the Serial Communications Mode
The Analyzer allows for four modes for data transmission via the serial port. These are
available from the Communications menu. The currently selected mode shows a check
mark next to its name.
• Both
This selection starts the automatic transmission of both waveform data and parameter
data, as described above.
• Wave Form
This selection starts the continuous transmission of waveform data from the
Analyzer. The software receives flow, volume, airway pressure, auxiliary pressure,
and differential pressure data at a 50 Hz rate.
• Parameters
Start the automatic transmission of parameters calculated at the end of a breath.
These parameters update on a breath-to-breath basis. Please note that no parameters
update for a breath if a zero occurs during that breath.
• None
Use this selection to set no data transmission. This stops all automatic data
transmissions from the Analyzer.
Data and File Handling
File Structure
VT for Windows files handle three kinds of data: Signals, Parameters, and Events.
Signals are the raw flow, pressure, and volume time-series waveforms. Parameters are the
breath-by-breath ventilator parameters calculated by the Analyzer device. Events are
information placed into the data files by you. VT for Windows provides an interface for
you to mark events during data collection.
VT for Windows can generate three different file types:
• *.vtp
The software generates .vtp files when you select to save data to a file. These files
contain signal, parameters, and event information.
• *.sig
Signal file of raw waveforms. The software generates the .sig files from the .vtp files
using a file conversion program. Do this by selecting Extract Signal File from the VT
for Windows File menu. Close all files to enable this option. The .sig files are in
ASCII format; you can easily import them into your favorite spreadsheet.
• *.par
Breath-by-breath calculated ventilator parameters. The software generates the .par
files from the .vtp files using a file conversion program. Do this by selecting Extract