Other: IT
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TMS
Computer Architecture Cont.
for that matter, are not as common. The Harvard architecture, utilizes a physically separate memory, for data and program memory, and separate buses, that allow it to both fetch and execute in
one clock cycle. There are even newer modern architectures know as Cell architecture. Many readers of this journal probably have a unit connected to their TV that has been utilizing this architecture
type. Do you know what that is? For the sake of this overview (part 1), we will not dive into too much
detail on microprocessors, but leave it for a future article. Modified versions of both the Von Neumann and Harvard architecture are used today. New strategic design modifications have allowed
them to evolve and be used in our modern devices.
We want to find out what makes a medical device more like a computer, than an instrument. We
could make the same analogy of a medical instrument being like a piece of test equipment, i.e DMM,
Oscilloscope. However, rather than just capturing a measurand, providing circuit level signal conditioning and display, with a computerized medical device, some form of computation, either through
digital logic programming or firmware programming is done, and even some software (applications
programming). Reusing our ECG example, newer models perform many functions other than capturing an ECG measurand, and displaying it. Newer devices utilize algorithms to capture, store, analyze, and recommend diagnosis to the physician; all of which can not be done without some form of
processing. To continue, medical devices interface not only with the operator, the patient, but with
other systems through WiFi, LAN, and Bluetooth connectivity. These familiar computer connectitivies
are also not possible with out a familiar computer architecture. Finally, what we will look at is medical
device operating systems. Microprocessors, can run their own RT-OS’s, real-time operating systems. However, with the many available OS’s available, the OS can be a major decision on the
medical device design.
Review: Part 1- Overview
A mouse, keyboard, and printer are an example of _______.
A ECG cable, is an example of an _______.
A computer and a medical device can be broken down into its ____________& ____________.
In physiology, what is an example of a measurand?
A computer architect overlaps both _____________ & ____________designs.
Name 4 hardware components found in both computer and electronic medical devices.
The two early microprocessor architectures where called____________& ______________.
An example of a late model microprocessor architecture is known as ___________________.
Utilizing separate program/data memory and buses is a feature on which microprocessor architecture?
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