A distributed computer network using microcomputers for on-line data processing in clinical monitoring and medical research.

Microelectronic technology has made possible a rapid expansion in the exploitation of the digital computer in medicine, but software development remains an increasingly significant problem. This paper describes a distributed computer network which combines the low cost computing power of the microcomputer with the highly developed features of a minicomputer. Powerful data processing facilities are provided through centralization of major resources on the minicomputer. Parallel real-time computing is assigned to microcomputers which have access to the minicomputer filestore, and to its comprehensive software development aids.