A framework for the online analysis of multi-electrode gastric slow wave recordings

High resolution mapping of electrical activity is becoming an important technique for analysing normal and dysrhythmic gastrointestinal (GI) slow wave activity. Several methods are used to extract meaningful information from the large quantities of data obtained, however, at present these methods can only be used offline. Thus, all analysis currently performed is retrospective and done after the recordings have finished. Limited information about the quality or characteristics of the data is therefore known while the experiments take place. Building on these offline analysis methods, an online implementation has been developed that identifies and displays slow wave activations working alongside an existing recording system. This online system was developed by adapting existing and novel signal processing techniques and linking these to a new user interface to present the extracted information. The system was tested using high resolution porcine data, and will be applied in future high resolution mapping studies allowing researchers to respond in real time to experimental observations.