ASTM E1467-94

Standard Specification for Transferring Digital Neurophysiological Data Between Independent Computer Systems

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers transmission of digitally recorded electrophysiologic waveform data and related textual annotations between laboratories or clinics, or between computer systems in a given laboratory or clinic. This includes all electroneurophysiology (EN) studies such as electroencephalograms (EEG) and magnetoencephalograms (MEG), polysomnograms (PSG) and multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT), evoked potentials (EP) and evoked magnetic fields (EMF), event-related potentials (ERP), electromyograms (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS), and many others in either a clinical or research environment. Although this specification is concerned primarily with electroneurophysiology, the methods used for encoding waveform and related data would be suitable for other tests involving waveforms, such as electrocardiograms (EKG), vascular/intracranial pressure monitoring, oximetry, or gastrointestinal motility studies.
1.2 This specification defines a format for waveform data based on Specification E 1238 (developed in cooperation with HL7 (Health Industry Level 7)), with extensions to support the transmission of multichannel time-series waveforms.
1.3 This specification may be applied either to two-way transmission of data over medium- to high-speed data communication networks, or one-way transmission of data by recording on and later playback from magnetic or optical digital storage media. It defines the blocked stream of data, called a message, which is transmitted over a network connection or recorded on a storage medium. It does not define the hardware or software network protocols or storage media formats needed for message transmission (for example, see ISO 8072), or the formats used to store data internally by the sender or receiver.
1.4 Recognizing, however, that some standardization in storage media format and network protocols would help to promote exchange of data between computer systems with diverse hardware and software, it is suggested that readily available universal media and formats be used, when possible, for data exchange. An example suitable for transmission of large amounts of digital waveform data would be the use of industry-standard magnetic tape or digital audio tape (DAT), with ANSI standard tape labels, employing variable length blocked records (lines) with a maximum block size of 4092 bytes. Individual lines within the blocks would be terminated by carriage return characters, Code 13 in the American Standard Codes for Information Interchange (ASCII). As another example, for the transmission of moderate amounts of digital waveform data, floppy disks written in MS-DOS (1) format (or another commonly used directory and file structure) would be appropriate; the data would be contained within a single sequential file on the disk, with lines within the file delimited by carriage return (ASCII 13) or carriage return followed by linefeed (ASCII 10) characters. An example of network hardware and software suitable for transmission of waveform data would be Ethernet (2)and the TCP/IP (3)protocol.
NOTE: This page does not contain the complete scope (section 1.5). To see scope in it's entirety please refer to the standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-1999
• Technical Committee: E31 - Healthcare Informatics

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 1467 – 94 An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
Transferring Digital Neurophysiological Data Between
Independent Computer Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1467; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope industry-standard magnetic tape or digital audio tape (DAT),
with ANSI standard tape labels, employing variable length
1.1 This specification covers transmission of digitally re-
blocked records (lines) with a maximum block size of 4092
corded electrophysiologic waveform data and related textual
bytes. Individual lines within the blocks would be terminated
annotations between laboratories or clinics, or between com-
by carriage return characters, Code 13 in the American
puter systems in a given laboratory or clinic. This includes all
Standard Codes for Information Interchange (ASCII). As
electroneurophysiology (EN) studies such as electroencepha-
another example, for the transmission of moderate amounts of
lograms (EEG) and magnetoencephalograms (MEG), poly-
digital waveform data, floppy disks written in MS-DOS (1)
somnograms (PSG) and multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT),
format (or another commonly used directory and file structure)
evoked potentials (EP) and evoked magnetic fields (EMF),
would be appropriate; the data would be contained within a
event-related potentials (ERP), electromyograms (EMG) and
single sequential file on the disk, with lines within the file
nerve conduction studies (NCS), and many others in either a
delimited by carriage return (ASCII 13) or carriage return
clinical or research environment. Although this specification is
followed by linefeed (ASCII 10) characters. An example of
concerned primarily with electroneurophysiology, the methods
network hardware and software suitable for transmission of
used for encoding waveform and related data would be suitable
waveform data would be Ethernet (2) and the TCP/IP (3)
for other tests involving waveforms, such as electrocardio-
protocol.
grams (EKG), vascular/intracranial pressure monitoring, oxim-
1.5 The major topics can be found in the following sections.
etry, or gastrointestinal motility studies.
Section
1.2 This specification defines a format for waveform data
based on Specification E 1238 (developed in cooperation with
Significance and Use 3
HL7 (Health Industry Level 7)), with extensions to support the
General Approach 3.1
Levels of Implementation 3.2
transmission of multichannel time-series waveforms.
Direction of Information Exchange 3.3
1.3 This specification may be applied either to two-way
Types of Communication Supported 3.4
transmission of data over medium- to high-speed data commu- Description of Implementation 3.5
Message General Content Considerations 4
nication networks, or one-way transmission of data by record-
Relation to Specification E 1238 and HL7 Standards 4.1
ing on and later playback from magnetic or optical digital
Extensions to Specification E 1238 and HL7 Standard Formats 4.2
storage media. It defines the blocked stream of data, called a Specifying Information Categories in OBR and Q Segments 4.2.1
Specific Code Table Identifiers in Coded Entries 4.2.2
message, which is transmitted over a network connection or
Maximum Field Lengths in OBX Segments 4.2.3
recorded on a storage medium. It does not define the hardware
Message Acknowledgment (MSA) Segment 4.2.4
or software network protocols or storage media formats needed
Subject Filter and Qualifiers Field in Q Segments 4.2.5
Message Characteristics and Terminology 4.3
for message transmission (for example, see ISO 8072), or the
Characters 4.3.1
formats used to store data internally by the sender or receiver.
Segments 4.3.2
1.4 Recognizing, however, that some standardization in Fields 4.3.3
Delimiters 4.3.4
storage media format and network protocols would help to
Case Sensitivity 4.3.5
promote exchange of data between computer systems with
Field Lengths 4.3.6
diverse hardware and software, it is suggested that readily Maximum Line Length 4.3.7
Not Present and Null Values 4.3.8
available universal media and formats be used, when possible,
Units of Measure 4.3.9
for data exchange. An example suitable for transmission of
Data Types 4.4
Address Data (AD) 4.4.1
large amounts of digital waveform data would be the use of
Coded Entry Data (CE) 4.4.2
Composite ID with Check Digit Data (CK) 4.4.3
Composite Miscellaneous Data (CM) 4.4.4
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-31 on
Healthcare Informatics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E31.16 on
Interchange of Electrophysiologic Waveforms and Signals.
Current edition approved July 15, 1994. Published December 1994. Originally The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
published as E 1467 – 92. Last previous edition E 1467 – 92. this specification.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 1467
Composite ID and Name Data (CNA) 4.4.5 Identification of Epochs Selected for Averaging 6.5.11
Composite Quantity and Units Data (CQ) 4.4.6 Number of Epochs Averaged 6.5.12
Identification String Data (ID) 4.4.7 Number of Epochs Rejected 6.5.13
Money Data (MO) 4.4.8 WAV Category 6.6
Numeric Data (NM) 4.4.9 Channel-Multiplexed Decimal Waveform Data Formats 6.6.1
Person Name Data (PN) 4.4.10 Channel Block Decimal Waveform Data Format 6.6.2
Reference Pointer Data (RP) 4.4.11 Nonstandard Formats for Waveform Data 6.6.3
String Data (ST) 4.4.12 Waveform Data Acquired at Differing Sampling Frequencies 6.7
Telephone Number Data (TN) 4.4.13 Highest Sampling Frequency Method 6.7.1
Time Stamp Data (TS) 4.4.14 Multiple Montage Method 6.7.2
Text Data (TX) 4.4.15 Result Segments Used for Annotation of the Waveform Data 7
Segment Types 4.5 DST Category 7.2
Message Header Segment (H) 4.5.1 First Location Identifier 7.2.1
Message Acknowledgment Segment (MSA) 4.5.2 Second Location Identifier 7.2.2
Test/Observation Master Segments (OM1–OM6) 4.5.3 Distance Value 7.2.3
Patient Identifying Segment (P) 4.5.4 STM Category 7.3
Billing Segments (GT1 and IN1) 4.5.5 Stimulus Status 7.3.1
Order Segment (OBR) 4.5.6 Stimulus Type and Electrode Names 7.3.2
Result Segment (OBX) 4.5.7 Stimulus Location Identifier 7.3.3
Error Checking Segment (E) 4.5.8 Stimulus Rate 7.3.4
Comment Segment (C) 4.5.9 Stimulus Duration 7.3.5
Request Results Segment (Q) 4.5.10 Stimulus Intensity 7.3.6
Scientific Segment (S) 4.5.11 Stimulus Intensity Units 7.3.7
Message Terminator Segment (L) 4.5.12 Stimulus Frequency or Color 7.3.8
Overall Message Logical Structure 4.6 Visual Stimulus Contrast 7.3.9
Test/Observation Identifiers 4.7
Visual Stimulus Pattern Type 7.3.10
Descriptions of Fields in Result Segments 5 Visual Stimulus Pattern Element Size or Spatial Period 7.3.11
Segment Type ID 5.2 Size of Visual Field Stimulated 7.3.12
Result Segment Sequence Number 5.3 TCM Category 7.4
Value Type 5.4 MED Category 7.5
Test/Observation ID 5.5 DEV Category 7.6
Observation SubID 5.6 SER Category 7.7
Observation Value (Result) 5.7 CNP Category 7.8
Units of Measure 5.8 ANA Category 7.9
Reference Range 5.9 Analysis Identification 7.9.4
Abnormal/Change Flags 5.10 Analysis Parameters 7.9.5
Probability 5.11 SEL Category 7.10
Nature of Abnormality Testing 5.12 Montage Number 7.10.3
Observation Result Status 5.13 Montage Function 7.10.4
Date/Time of Last Change in Normals/Units 5.14 Result Segments Used to Transmit Reports and Interpretation 8
User-Defined Access Checks 5.15 Null Category 8.2
Physiologic Observation Date/Time 5.16 ANT Category 8.3
Producer ID 5.17 IMP Category 8.4
Responsible Observer 5.18 GDT Category 8.5
Result Segments Needed for Waveform Transmission/Display 6 MDT Category 8.6
ELC Category 6.2 ADT Category 8.7
Defining Actual Electrodes/Transducers 6.2.1 REC Category 8.8
Electrode Number and Name 6.2.2 Two-way Communication Between Systems 9
Electrode Location 6.2.3 Communication Capabilities 9.1
Electrode/Transducer Attributes 6.2.4 Communication Channels 9.2
Electrode Coordinate Number 1 6.2.5 Electronic Ordering of Tests 9.3
Additional Electrode Coordinates 6.2.6 Downloading of Equipment Settings 9.4
Standard Electrode Names 6.2.7 Request (Query) Functions 9.5
Defining Derived Electrodes 6.2.8 System Status, Configuration, and Capability Queries 9.5.10
Electrode Number and Name 6.2.9 Master Database Search Requests 9.5.12
Electrode Location 6.2.10 Requests for Orders 9.5.14
Derived Electrode/Transducer Type 6.2.11 Requests for Equipment Settings 9.5.16
Electrode 1 Multiplier and Name 6.2.12 Requests for Results 9.5.18
Additional Multipliers and Names 6.2.13 Remote Control and Status Requests 9.5.20
MTG Category 6.3 Error Reporting in Two-Way Communication 9.6
Montage Number and Name 6.3.1
Maximum Number of Channels 6.3.2
2. Referenced Documents
CHN Category 6.4
Channel Number and Name 6.4.1 2.1 ASTM Standards:
Electrode 1 and 2 Names 6.4.2
E 1238 Specification for Transferring Clinical Observations
Channel Sensitivity and Units 6.4.3
Between Independent Computer Systems
Channel Calibration Parameters 6.4.4
Channel Sampling Frequency 6.4.5 2.2 ANSI Standards:
Minimum and Maximum Data Values 6.4.6
X3.4-1986 Coded Character Sets—American National
Filter 1 6.4.7
Standard Code for Information Interchange (7-Bit ASCII)
Additional Filters 6.4.8
TIM Category 6.5 X3.50-1986 Representations for U.S. Customary, SI, and
Time at Start of Epoch 6.5.5
Sampling Interval 6.5.6
Duration of Epoch 6.5.7
Transmitted Data Format 6.5.8
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.01.
Time from Reference Mark to Start of Epoch 6.5.9 4
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 11 West 42nd
Averaging Method 6.5.10
St., 13th floor, New York, NY 10036.
E 1467
Other Units to be Used in Systems with Limited Character text reports, interpretations, diagnoses, and recommendations
Sets which are sent back to the ordering physician.
2.3 ISO Standards:
3.1.4 This specification further defines how the general
ISO 2022-1986 Information Processing—ISO 7-Bit and
mechanisms for formatting and transmitting these data are to
8-Bit Coded Character Sets—Code Extension Tech-
be applied specifically for electroneurophysiologic study data.
niques
Applications for EKG and other electrophysiologic studies can
ISO 2955-1983 Information Processing—Representation of
be developed using the same general mechanisms.
SI and Other Units in Systems with Limited Character
3.2 Levels of Implementation:
Sets, 2nd Edition
3.2.1 In order to facilitate the use of this specification over
ISO 4217-1990 Codes for the Representation of Currencies
a wide range of applications, various levels of implementation
and Funds
are defined. Applications of this specification may range from
ISO 8072-1986 Network Standards
simple embedded controllers in instrumentation at the most
ISO 8859-1988 Information Processing—8-Bit Single-Byte
basic level, to integrated laboratory information systems at the
Coded Graphic Character Sets
higher levels. Simple implementations may evolve into more
ISO 10646-1993 Information Technology—Universal
fully featured systems as needs arise. Three levels are defined,
Multiple-Octet Coded Character Sets (UCS)—Part I: Ar-
according to the scope and nature of data to be transmitted, as
chitecture and Basic Multilingual Plane
follows:
2.4 Other Standard:
3.2.1.1 Level I–Waveforms Only—This most basic level of
Health Industry Level 7 Interface Standards
implementation specifies the mechanism for transmission of
digitized, multichannel, time-series waveforms. A Level I
3. Significance and Use
transmission includes the information required for proper
3.1 General Approach:
decoding of the digital waveform data and labeling of chan-
3.1.1 This specification defines a general and flexible
nels. It further includes an envelope, formatted in accordance
mechanism for the formatting and transmission of digitized
with Specification E 1238 (or, alternatively, HL7) standard
waveforms in order to facilitate portable exchange between
message structure, which provides the information required by
dissimilar computer systems. This mechanism can serve for
a deformatting program in a system receiving the transmission.
many different types of physiological signals. This specifica-
A Level I implementation of a receiving system would only
tion also defines how associated identifying and other annota-
need to recognize those types of data defined as required in
tive textual data can be incorporated into the data stream. Such
Level I, but it must be designed to accept, without generating
information in digital form provides the complete context
an error condition, any additional data included in a transmis-
necessary for interpretation of a test or study performed for
sion produced by a higher level system; the additional infor-
clinical diagnosis or for basic or clinical research purposes.
mation which is irrelevant to the Level I receiving system may
3.1.2 Both primary and derived data comprising an electro-
be ignored or merely logged without interpretation.
physiologic study may be transmitted using this specification.
3.2.1.2 Level II–Waveforms or Procedure Annotations, or
Primary data includes digitized waveforms for multiple chan-
Both—This level may include waveform data, but in addition
nels; channel identifications, sensitivities, filter settings, and
it specifies the mechanism for embedding in the data transmis-
sampling frequency; averaging parameters (for averaged data);
sion various identifying, annotative, and interpretive informa-
date and time-of-day labels; electrode or transducer locations
tion associated with the study. This information constitutes a
and attributes; measured distances; stimulation parameters
digital representation of the entire study. Level II defines the
(when visual, auditory, electrical, or other stimulation is
required data elements and their format, as well as optional
performed); calibration data; technical comments before or
data elements (with provision for site-specific data). Much of
during the study; medications administered; special procedures
the data consists of free format text, such as labels and
performed; and instrument(s) used. This primary data repre-
annotations which may be displayed on a screen (usually in
sents everything that would be traditionally written on paper
association with the waveforms) or printed on a report form. A
along with the waveforms at the time the study was performed.
L
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