Serial Interface to an Agilent CMS monitor (using the MECIF protocol)

[josborne]

Hi.

I'm trying to decipher Agilent's MECIF protocol so that I can use my PC to acquire data from a CMS montitoring machine.

I have an Agilent CMS monitor and have configured the serial port and am trying to use LabVIEW to communicate with it. Its turning out to be a LOT harder than I thought.

Has anyone out there communicated with a CMS monitor using the serial MECIF protocol?

Does anyone have any tips, documents, software or links that could be of help?

Regards,

John Osborne
CARDIAC
www.cardiac.no

[josborne]

Well, its now a few years later and I thought I update my own posting:

After many weeks of struggling, I was finally able to build a functional LabVIEW communications driver for an Agilent (HP) CMS while I was employed at CARDIAC (

www.cardiac.no).  The app came out great and now I've become somewhat of an expert at using the MECIF protocol to communicate with a CMS.  CARDIAC is now using the app as part of their IMATIS Medical product line at various hospitals around Norway. In fact, I believe it is the only commercially viable LV driver that exists for the CMS (there are other software apps out there, but they weren't written in LV).

If anyone else out there is attempting to build a driver for the CMS, have a look at my website (

www.jpotech.com). You can download a "Getting Started" document and example VI that'll get you going. Contact me if you need help. I might be willing to sell my skills as a consultant.

Good luck!

[dhruvs1]

Hello,

This is Dhruti. i am trying to build up an interface between my PC and the Agilent CMS monitor using RS232 protocol. this monitor supports MECIF protocol, and i am having problems buiding up  a labview code for this interface. i want to retrieve the vital parameter information from the monitor onto my PC.

does anyone have any idea about this, please let me know.

thanks,

dhruti.

[Meghan R]

Hello dhruti,

Have you looked at the information in John's previous post?  You may not be able to click the link to get to his website, but, if you navigate to the site www.jpotech.com, you will find some very helpful information and demo VIs to help get you started. 

Thanks!

Meghan
Applications Engineer

[dhruvs1]

Hi Meghan,

Thanks for your quick reply.

yes i did go through his website, and have actually downloaded the software that he has uploaded in 2006 for agilent CMS monitor, but somehow it dosent talk anything about the monitor or the VI's for this interfacing.

instead, there is a pdf, which talks about localising vi's and there are few sample vi's, but it dosent seem to resemble to what i am referring too. unless, i am missing something very crucial.

if you could guide me, where and what for should i look exactly in his website, which might help me with my problem.

thanks in anticipation.

Dhruti.

Message Edited by dhruvs1 on 11-14-2006 11:03 PM

[josborne]

Hi Dhruti,

Sorry I haven't had time to reply to your questions yet.  As Meghan mentioned, the best way to get started is to download the articles and software from my website at www.jpotech.com:

- Click on "downloads" and then click on the icon next to the first download in the list:  "Getting Started Building a LabVIEW CMS Driver".

If you are still having trouble, use this direct link:  http://www.jpotech.com/downloads/CMS.zip

I'll send an e-mail with more info as soon as my workload lightens up a bit.  I'm swamped right now.

- John

[dhruvs1]

Hey John,

thanks for the link. i guess this is good enough for me to get a headstart. i shall be going through the files, and follow as mentioned.

hope to not bother you more with this, since you are already loaded with a lot of work, but incase of anything, i shall write to you again.

 appreciate your help.

Thank You,

Dhruti.

[josborne]

Its been a while since my original post.  Years have past, and I have become somewhat of a MECIF expert.  So I thought I'd update this thread because many people end up here looking for info on the MECIF protocol.

After doing lots and lots of MECIF programming, I keep getting questions from people who are looking for help.  So I decided to release a commercial product to fill this need.  If you are looking to get data from a MECIF-compatible patient monitor (like a CMS, Merlin, Intellivue, etc), please go to www.mecifview.com to download an application that will do it all for you.  No need to spend months trying to decipher the MECIF protocol yourself.

Enjoy!