On-line four channel measurements of colonic myoelectrical activity in humans using a compact portable microcomputer...

This paper describes a rapid, inexpensive method for a quantitative analysis of colonic myoelectrical analysis using a simple low-cost portable, battery-powered microcomputer EPSON HX20, including a printer and microcassette units. The EMG signals from the right to the left colon were obtained using an intraluminal probe supporting 8 groups of electrodes, placed by endoscopy and connected to an 8-channel amplifiers. The EMG signals were continuously and successively amplified, filtered, rectified, integrated for the computerized analysis consisting of the recognition of the different kinds of spike bursts and their separate measurement during successive 30 min intervals over the entire (24-36 h) period of EMG recordings. For each channel, the printing program shows each 30 min interval, total duration and number of each kind of spike bursts. An histogram of the total values for 4 channels was printed at 12-h intervals and stored in the microcassette unit. This microcomputerized system was successfully used in 4 healthy volunteers during 36 h recording sessions performed to analyze the influence of feeding and sleep of colonic myoelectrical activity.