9. Settings for the stress test

Menu: Setup / Ergometry

In the main category (Ergometry) the device can be selected, while in the following two subcategories the workload parameters can be set. In the third subcategory the blood pressure device can be selected and enabled.

9.1 Ergometer/bicycle, blood pressure measurement and RS232 control

Before beginning the stress test, select the serial port (Port item) and the type (name) of the connected device. If the type of bicycle or treadmill used for the stress test is not listed, or if it cannot be controlled by a computer, then choose Ergometer or Treadmill . When using the Treadmill you have the option to choose the units of speed measurement: km/h or mph.

Use the Check selection to test the connection. If successfully connected, then a 'RS232 control' message appears. If the program is unable to control the device, the warning message 'No RS232 control!' appears. There are several possible reasons for this warning message:

• the device is not connected properly
• the device is turned off
• the selected device is not identical with the connected device
• the appropriate COM port has not been chosen
• the COM port is not set up correctly
• the serial cable is not appropriate or it is broken

With the Command test button the individual control commands can be tested.

9.2 Load program

The workload scheduling can be given here.

When using a cycle ergometer/bicycle, you can set and use up to 10 different programs, numbered 0 through 9.

Workload parameters:

• Beginning of load - workload in the first phase [Watt];
• Increase of load - increase of workload by stage [Watt];
• Continous increasing of load – by selecting this option, the load will increase linearly during the given intervall, not abruptly at the end of each;
• Load/BPM interval - duration of workload stages. This also applies to blood pressure measurement frequency if no extra BP is given. This duration cannot be shorter than 60 sec;
• Relax intervall is set independently;
• Extra BP measurements - number of additional blood pressure measurements during the workload stage;

Test endpoint parameters (the program gives a warning whenever they are reached):

• Max. heart rate [1/min],
• Max. workload [Watt],
• Max. systole and diastole values [mmHg].

  Workload parameters:

• Duration of each workload stage [sec] (last phase = 999);
• Speed of the treadmill [km/h or mph];
• Rise (grade) of the treadmill (%);
• Duration of the recovery phases [sec];

  Test breakpoint parameters (the program gives a warning whenever they are reached):

• Max. heart rate [1/min],
• Max. systole and diastole values [mmHg].