Computer-assisted medical instrumentation systems (MDCS) are one of the most common types of basic level medical information systems. Modern medical devices have switched from analogue measuring and recording equipment to digital devices based on computer technology. Medical devices and systems incorporate microprocessors or microcomputers, most commonly laptops. The use of digital technology made it possible to increase the measurement accuracy, to create electronic archives of research results, to transmit information to remote users, as well as to carry out data processing using special programs for medical research analysis. All this has allowed elevating medical equipment to a new level, increasing efficiency of instrumental methods of diagnostics, prediction, treatment and controlling condition of patients with severe diseases.
MDCS consist of electronic medical devices, microprocessors or PCs and software. Microprocessors are usually integrated into mobile devices and perform data processing and device management following a specific program embedded in the ROM. The PC-based devices offer greater functionality and more flexible software because they use external memory to store large amounts of information and allow to change the data processing program easily.
The MDCS can be classified into the following groups:
• functional diagnostics systems;
• on-line patient monitoring systems (monitoring systems);
• medical images processing systems;
• laboratory diagnostic systems;
• therapeutic intervention systems;
• biotechnical systems for substitution of vital body functions and pros-thetics.
7.1. FUNCTIONAL DIAGNOSTICS COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Functional diagnostics computer systems (FDCS) significantly improve the accuracy and speed of processing information about the patient?s condition. The most common are FDCS for the analysis of electrocardiograms