Digitised ICP over three decades.

ABSTRACT

I describe a personal journey of experience in applying computer technology to the intracranial pressure signal for the 30 years from 1968 to 1998. After experimenting with off-line applications, I used a desk-top computer to automate infusion tests for the measurement of outflow resistance. For 10 years from 1975, we programmed a minicomputer to control ICP automatically with mannitol infusion and integrate nursing data from a dedicated bedside terminal. In 1986, we were introduced to and subsequently used PC software, which was developed in Warsaw. I briefly review the trends in the applications of computers during that period as recorded in the first ten ICP conference books.