AUTOMATING THE SLEEP LABORATORY - IMPLEMENTATION AND VALIDATION OF DIGITAL RECORDING AND ANALYSIS

Objectives: We report on the implementation of digital processing in a large clinical and research sleep laboratory. The system includes the digital collection, display, analysis, and repository of physiologica l signals collected during sleep. Methods: After describing the origin al analog system, the computer equipment and software necessary for th e digital implementation are presented and we explain our algorithms f or rapid eye movement (REM) and delta-wave detection. Finally, we desc ribe an experiment validating the digital system of display and analys es. Conclusions: The digital processing of sleep signals saves compute r operator, polysomnographic technologist, and computer time. It also saves resources such as polysomnographic paper and FM tape. The digita l signals lend themselves to a large array of analysis techniques and result in improved signal quality. Automated REM and delta-wave detect ion via digital processing correlate highly with visual counts of rapi d eye movements and delta waves.