Fluke Biomedical ProSim 6 - Manual (Page 95)

A-1
Appendix A
Glossary
Introduction
The words in this glossary are common words used in this manual that may need further
explanation. Words in italics are words that are defined in this glossary.
AAMI
Acronym for the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. A group
of physicians, biomedical and clinical engineers, nurses, manufacturers, and government
representatives who set industry guidelines for the performance and safety of biomedical
instrumentation.
AC component
The pulse factors of the blood measured by oximetry.
Ampere
A unit of steady electrical current which, when flowing in straight parallel wires of
infinite length and negligible cross section, separated by a distance of one meter in free
space, produces a force between the wires of 2 × 10 -7 newtons per meter of length.
Aorta
The main trunk of the systemic arteries, carrying blood from the left side of the heart to
the arteries of all limbs and organs except the lungs.
Apnea
Apnea is described as the cessation of breathing. In general there are three types of apnea:
central (often seen in infants, when there is no diaphragm movement and no air flow);
obstructive (where an object, such as food, is lodged in the trachea); and mixed (where
central apnea is followed immediately by obstructive apnea).
Artery
Any of a branching system of muscular tubes that carry blood away from the heart.
Artifact
An abnormal signal or structure produced by an external medium, such as a muscle or
electrical wiring. Artifacts are sometimes referred to as noise.
An ECG artifact can be caused by depolarization or contraction of the muscle which
depends on an electrical charge. These electrical charges can be detected by an
electrocardiogram. The electrical charges associated with the contractions of the heart
will be clear only if there is not interference by auxiliary signals from other muscle
movement. Electrical signals from power lines or local (in-wall) circuitry represent