Real-time digital processing of blood pressure and heart rate data of tethered nonhuman primates

To facilitate data analysis, we developed a computerized system for collecting and screening systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure, and heart rate data. Each value is tested for acceptability (filtered), in real-time, by a computer algorithm. Level one, spike detection, is performed by independently comparing each datum to specified upper and lower limits. Level two, damping detection, is applied to data which passed level one and is categorized as mild, severe, or none. We monitored 69 tethered conscious baboons for approximately eight 12-hour overnight periods to obtain 23,433,000 one-second data points per variable. The computerized system eliminated approximately 65% of unacceptable data and highlighted problems, thus reducing the time required to inspect digital files or analog hard-copy recordings. No acceptable data were rejected by the filter and all data rejected by the filter also were unacceptable by data inspection.