High resolution on-line analysis of cardiac action potentials using a Motorola 68000 microcomputer

We have developed a microcomputer system for the instantaneous on-line analysis of cardiac action potentials (APs) based on a Motorola 68000 microprocessor and 50 kHz A/D converter. This system can accurately analyze APs from all parts of the heart, including the extremely fast upstrokes of APs from Purkinje fibers. Facilities for tabulation of results, production of hard-copy plots of APs, pooling of experimental data, and statistical analyses are available off-line. The routine use of this system in our laboratory has greatly increased the accuracy and throughput of these time-consuming experiments.