Abstract:
An oximeter that measures both the total hemoglobin concentration in whole, undiluted blood and the percentage of the hemoglobin saturated with oxygen. The oximeter uses red and infrared light-emitting diodes to illuminate a capillary tube filled with a sample of whole, undiluted blood. Light scattered by the blood travels a short distance down the length of the capillary tube and reaches a photodetector, the output of which is amplified, digitized, and fed to a microprocessor. The microprocessor computes the total hemoglobin concentration as a nonlinear monotonic function of the infrared light intensity. Oxyhemoglobin saturation is computed from the ratio of the logarithms of the intensities of red and infrared light. The invention provides a measurement of oxygen saturation without calibration shifts present in other oximeters due to fluctuations in total hemoglobin concentration. In addition, the present invention is accurate over a wide range of oxygen saturation, and the blood samples are not diluted or hemolyzed and can thus be preserved for further analysis.

Description:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to the measurement of total hemoglobin concentration and percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen in whole, undiluted blood. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Oximeters provide useful measurements of oxyhemoglobin saturation for clinical purposes and for physiological studies of oxygen transport. Unfortunately, presently available oximeters suffer from several serious disadvantages. They are often bulky, expensive instruments designed primarily for hospital use, and they can be particularly inaccurate in the low oxygen saturation range. In addition, known oximeters typically destroy the blood sample by diluting or hemolyzing it before measurement thereby rendering the blood sample useless for further study. Those oximeters that use whole, undiluted blood must be recalibrated if the total hemoglobin concentration changes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention avoids the disadvantages of prior art oximeters by first measuring the total hemoglobin concentration of a whole, undiluted blood sample, and then using the measured total hemoglobin concentration in computing the percent oxyhemoglobin. Thus, the present invention automatically compensates for any change in the total hemoglobin concentration, and remains calibrated despite fluctuations in the hematocrit or total hemoglobin content. 
     The oximeter of the present invention employs a unique optical design including a capillary tube holder which includes infrared and red light emitting diodes positioned relative to a photodetector so that the intensity of detected infrared light rises monotonically as total hemoglobin concentration decreases. The total hemoglobin concentration of a blood sample within the capillary tube is then calculated from infrared intensity. Then, using the measured value of total hemoglobin concentration, the percent oxyhemoglobin is calculated from the ratio of the logarithm of red light intensity to the logarithm of infrared light intensity. Additional nonlinearities are then corrected by applying a function which expresses actual percent oxyhemoglobin in terms of predicted percent oxyhemoglobin. 
     Measurements are preferably performed directly on a capillary tube commonly used to collect blood samples in many clinical settings. 
     Thus, the invention selectively illuminates an undiluted sample of whole blood contained in a capillary tube cuvette with infrared and red light, and detects the infrared and red light at a predetermiend measuring location along an axis of the cuvette. Then, total hemoglobin concentration is calculated as a first calibrated function of infrared intensity and percent oxyhemoglobin is calculated as a second calibrated function of the ratio of the logarithm of red light intensity to the logarithm of infrared light intensity, the second calibrated function being related to the calculated total hemoglobin concentration. 
     In addition, if dissolved oxygenis ignored, the invention can also accurately calculate total blood oxygen content as a function of total hemoglobin concentration and percent oxyhemoglobin. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is the capillary tube holder of the present invention showing the relative positions of the light emitters and detector. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken through the capillary holder of FIG. 1. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are a detailed electrical schematic of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a graph showing the ratio of the logarithms of the intensity of red to infrared light for various hemoglobin concentrations as a function of oxyhemoglobin saturation. 
     FIG. 7 is a graph of total hemoglobin concentration as a function of infrared light intensity. 
     FIG. 8 is a graph showing the ratio of the logarithms of red to infrared light intensity for oxygenated and deoxygenated blood as functions of total hemoglobin concentration. 
     FIG. 9 is a graph of actual percent oxyhemoglobin versus percent oxyhemoglobin using the present invention after calibration but before linearization. 
     FIG. 10 is a graph showing percent oxyhemoglobin measured by the present invention after linearization as a function of actual percent oxygen saturation. 
     FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the processing steps of the microprocessor of FIG. 5, according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the optical configuration of the present invention is presented. Cylinder 20, preferably made of black phenolic, includes bore 21 drilled along the longitudinal axis of cylinder 20. Bore 21 accommodates glass capillary tube 22 which holds a whole, undiluted blood sample. Capillary tube 22 may be of the kind commonly used for microhematocrit determinations, for example, a Fisher Scientific type 02-668-66 capillary tube. Bore 21 has a diameter sufficient to accommodate capillary tube 22. Capillary tube 22 serves as an inexpensive, widely available cuvette. Holes 23 and 24 are drilled in cylinder 20 perpendicular to bore 21. Holes 23 and 24 guide light from light-emitting diodes D4 and D2, respectively, to illuminate blood cells contained within tube 22, positioned within bore 21. Light-emitting diode D2 preferably emits infrared light having a wavelength of approximately 800 nanometers, and light-emitting diode D4 preferably emits red light having a wavelength of approximately 660 nanometers. Hole 26 is also drilled in cylinder 20 perpendicular to bore 21 and directs light from bore 21 to photodetector D5. The diameter of each of holes 23, 24 and 26 is preferably one millimeter. 
     Distance L1 between the center of hole 26 and the center of hole 23 measured along the longitudinal axis of cylinder 20 is preferably two millimeters. Distance L2 between the center of hole 26 and the center of hole 24 measured along the longitudinal axis of cylinder 20 is also preferably two millimeters. Angle A1 between light-emitting diode D2 and photodetector D5 is preferably 60°, and angle A2 measured between light-emitting diode D4 and photodetector D5 is also preferably 60°. 
     These dimensions for the optical configuration of the present invention result in the intensity of infrared light being a monotonic function of total hemoglobin concentration of a whole undiluted blood sample contained within capillary tube 22, and avoids the parabolic functional dependence of known optical configurations. 
     Other optical configurations may be used in accordance with the present invention, so long as the detected intensity of infrared light is a monotonic function of total hemoglobin concentration of a whole blood sample contained within capillary tube 22. 
     Although FIGS. 1-3 show diodes D2 and D4 and photodetector D5 mounted directly within cavities in cylinder 20, diodes D2 and D4 and photodetector D5 may be coupled to cylinder 20 through fiber-opic light guides used to guide light to and from tube 22 within bore 21 of cylinder 20. 
     In operation, once capillary tube 22 is filled with a 25-70 microliter sample of whole, undiluted blood, one end of capillary tube 22 is sealed with a cap or clay, and tube 22 is inserted into bore 21 of cylinder 20 as shown in FIG. 1. 
     The blood in capillary tube 22 is then illuminated alternately with infrared and red light from light-emitting diodes D2 and D4, respectively. When either light-emitting diode is energized, light scattered by red blood cells in the blood sample travels two millimeters along the axis of capillary tube 22 where the light escapes through hole 26 and reaches photodetector D5. The timing and intensity of the energization of light-emitting diodes D2 and D4, and the calculations of total hemoglobin concentration and percent oxyhemoglobin are performed by the microprocessor-based circuitry shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the electrical circuitry of the present invention is disclosed. The numbers adjacent the pins of integrated circuits U1-14 are the pin numbers of the preferred integrated circuits, listed in Table I. 
     Light-emitting diodes D2 and D4 are alternately energized under control of microprocessor U11. Specifically, switchable reference U1 is adjusted by microprocessor U11 using control line P1.3, connected through resistors R1, R2 and transistor Q1. The output of switchable reference U1 is applied to operational amplifiers U2 and U3 which control current applied to light-emitting diodes D2 and D4, respectively. The output of switchable reference U1 is connected to the noninverting input of operational amplifier U2 through resistive divider R3, R4. Operational amplifier U2 applies a constant current to light-emitting diode D2 through resistor R5, diode D1, and transistors Q3 and Q4. Negative feedback is provided to operational amplifier U2 by current-sensing resistor R8. 
     Similarly, the output of switchable reference U1 is connected to the noninverting input of operational amplifier U3. Operational amplifier U3 applies a constant current to light-emitting diode D4 through resistor R9, diode D3, and transistors Q6 and Q7. Negative feedback is provided to operational amplifier U3 by current-sensing resistor R12. 
     Light-emitting diodes D2 and D4 are alternatively energized under control of microprocessor U11 via control lines P1.4 and P1.5. Light-emitting diode D2 is turned on and off by microprocessor U11 through control line P1.4, resistors R6, R7 and transistor Q2. Light-emitting diode D4 is turned on and off by microprocessor U11 through control line P1.5, resistors R10, R11 and transistor Q5. 
     Thus, by varying the voltage supplied by switchable reference U1 through use of control line P1.3, and by alternately energizing light-emitting diodes D2 and D4 through control lines P1.4 and P1.5, microprocessor U11 controls the intensity and the timing of energization of light-emitting diodes D2 and D4. 
     Photodetector D5 is connected to current-voltage converter U4, including feedback resistor R13. The output of current-voltage converter U4 is connected to operational amplifier U5 configured as an inverting amplifier including resistors R14, R15 and capacitor C1. In the preferred embodiment, operational amplifier U15 provides a gain of 50. The output of operational amplifier U5 is provided as one of three inputs to analog multiplexer U8. The outputs of operational amplifiers U6 and U7 are also provided as inputs to analog multiplexer U8. Operational amplifier U6 is configured with resistor R16 and potentiometer RV2 to allow calibration of total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb), by adjustment of potentiometer RV2, as described in more detail below. Similarly, operational amplifier U7 is configured with resistor R17 and potentiometer RV3 to allow calibration of percent oxyhemoglobin (SO2) with adjustment of potentiometer RV3, as discussed in more detail below. 
     Analog multiplexer U8 is controlled by microprocessor U11 through control lines P1.0, P1.1 and P1.2 to select one of the three inputs for application to analog-to-digital (A-D) converter U9. A-D converter U9 is operated under the control of microprocessor U11 through read control line, RD, write control line WR, enable A-D control line, EN --  AD, and address line A0. The output of A-D converter U9 is applied to 8-bit data bus, DBUS, which is connected to microprocessor U11. In the preferred embodiment, analog values sampled by A-D converter U9 are converted to a 12-bit digital number which is applied to 8-bit data bus, DBUS, over two clock cycles. Resistor R18, capacitors C3 and C4, and diodes D6 and D7 form an RC timing circuit for the clock circuit within A-D converter U9. 
     Also connected to microprocessor U11 are crystal, XTAL, with capacitors C5 and C6, which provide a 4 megaHertz clock for microprocessor U11, and address bus, ABUS. Data latch U12 is configured so as to allow the same outputs from microprocessor U11 to carry either data or address information. Read only memory (ROM) U13 stores a computer program for controlling the operation of the hardware of the present invention. The program is described in detail in connection with the flow chart of FIG. 11, which is a brief flow chart representation of the source code computer program included as a part of this specification. Address converter U14 converts addresses provided by microprocessor U11 into the enable ROM signal, EN --  ROM, enable A-D signal, EN --  AD, and along with NOR gate U15, generates write display signal, WR --  DSP. 
     Display U10 is provided to display various measured blood parameters, including total hemoglobin and percent oxyhemoglobin. The contrast of display U10 is controlled by potentiometer RV1. 
     The particular components used in the present invention as disclosed in FIGS. 4 and 5 are listed in Table I, along with sources for such components, where appropriate. It should be noted that although the preferred infrared wavelength is 800 nm, readily available light-emitting diodes emit infrared at 813 nm, which has proven acceptable. The listing of these components should not be considered to be a limitation of the present invention but is offered for the purpose of illustration only. 
     
                       TABLE I______________________________________Designator    Component Type or Value                     Source______________________________________U1       AD584            Analog DevicesU2, U3   TL072A Op Amp    Motorola                     SemiconductorU4       AD547 Op Amp     Analog DevicesU5, U6, U7    ADOP-07 Op Amp   Analog DevicesU8       AD7501 Multiplexer                     Analog DevicesU9       AD7578 A-D Converter                     Analog DevicesU10      LM2020 LCD       Densitron Corp.U11      8031 Microprocessor                     Intel Corp.U12      74LS373 Data Latch                     Texas InstrumentsU13      27C648K EPROM    Intel Corp.U14      74LS138 Decoder  Texas InstrumentsU15      74LS02 NOR       Texas InstrumentsQ1-7     2N3904 Transistor                     Motorola                     SemiconductorD1, D3, D6    1N4148 Diode     General ElectricD7D2       MFOE1200, or MLED 76                     Motorola    LED (813 nm, IR) SemiconductorD4       F511 LED (660 nm, R),                     AC Interface, Inc.    or MLED 76 (660 nm, R)                     Motorola                     SemiconductorD5       PIN-3DP Photodiode                     United Detector                     TechnologyRV1      50K PotentiometerRV2, RV3 10K PotentiometerR1, R2, R6,    10K OhmsR7, R10, R11,R16, R17R3, R4   11.5K OhmsR5, R9   100K OhmsR8, R12  50 OhmsR13      1M OhmsR14      1K OhmsR15      50K OhmsR18      56K OhmsC1       2 nFC2       2.2 nFC3       3.9 nFC4       560 pFC5, C6   22 pFXTAL     4 MHz Crystal______________________________________ 
    
     In order to develop and evaluate the present invention, whole, undiluted blood was centrifuged and the red blood cells and plasma were combined into various known proportions to produce a range of total hemoglobin concentrations, (Hb). To measure total hemoglobin concentration independently, the hemoglobin concentrations of hemolyzed, oxygenated aliquots were measured on a refractometer or on an Instrumentation Laboratories Model 482 oximeter. To study the relationships between percent oxyhemoglobin saturation, SO2, and the transmitted light intensities, blood of a fixed hemoglobin concentration was tonometered with mixtures of 5% CO 2  and various proportions of oxygen. The oxygen contents of aliquots of the blood were analyzed using an Instrumentation Laboratories Model 482 oximeter, and the optical transmittance of the aliquots of the blood were measured using the red and infrared wavelengths of the present invention. Percent oxyhemoglobin saturation, SO2, was determined with the Instrumentation Laboratories Model 482 oximeter. 
     In terms of raw data, a calibration curve of an oximeter includes the relationship between percent oxyhemoglobin saturation, SO2 and the ratio of optical reflectances or absorbances at two appropriate light wavelengths, for example, red and infrared. FIG. 6 shows this relationship for the wavelengths used in the present invention (660 and 800nm), and demonstrates the known dependence of the calibration curves on total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb). Blood with three different hemoglobin concentrations yields three distinct curves relating the logarithm ratios of red and infrared intensity to oxyhemoglobin saturation, SO2. According to the present invention, this dependence is corrected for by correcting for changes in total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb). 
     Total hemoglobin concentration is determined, according to the present invention, by using the above-described unique optical geometry (FIGS. 1-3) to cause the intensity of infrared light to rise monotonically as total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb), decreases. FIG. 7 is a graph of this monotonic relationship. Total hemoglobin concentration is plotted on the Y-axis, and infrared intensity is plotted on the X-axis. The units of infrared intensity are in terms of the output of A-D converter U9 which linearly converts a voltage signal of from 0-5 Volts into a 12-bit binary number of from 0-4095 (in decimal). The monotonic relationship existing between total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb), and infrared light intensity, IR, can generally be represented as a polynomial function of the form: 
     
         (Hb)=A.sub.0 +A.sub.1 IR+... +A.sub.n IR.sup.n             (1 ) 
    
     where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and A 0 , A 1 , ..., A n  are calibration constants determined to fit the monotonic curve of FIG. 7. In the preferred embodiment, n=3, A 0  =39.935, A 1  =-3.5255×10 -2 , A 2  =1.4398×10 -5 , and A 3  =-2.2244×10 -9 . 
     With this mathematical relationship relating total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb), to infrared intensity, IR, the calculation of oxyhemoglobin saturation, SO2, is then computed. To accomplish this, curves were fit to data to obtain empirical equations describing the LogR/LogIR ratios for oxygenated and deoxygenated blood as functions of the total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb). In FIG. 8, curve A is the curve for deoxygenated blood, and relates the LogR/LogIR ratio to total hemoglobin concentration for deoxygenated blood, and curve B in FIG. 8 relates the LogR/LogIR ratio to total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb), for fully oxygenated blood. In the preferred embodiment, the polynomial equation relating LogR/LogIR ratio to total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb), for deoxygenated blood can generally be represented as a polynomial function of the form: 
     
         (LogR/LogIR).sub. 0% =C.sub.0 +C.sub.l (Hb)+... +C.sub.n (Hb).sup.n (2) 
    
     where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and C 0 , C 1 , ..., C n  are calibration constants determined to fit the deoxygenated curve of FIG. 8. In the preferred embodiment, n=3, C 0  =0.83862, C 1  =-1.68×10 -2 , C 2  =1.0658×10 -4  and C  3  =-3.8543×10 -6 . 
     Curve B which relates the LogR/LogIR ratio to total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb), for oxygenated blood can also generally be represented as a polynomial function of the form: 
     
         (LogR/LogIR).sub.100% =D.sub.0 +D.sub.1 (Hb) +... +D.sub.n (Hb).sup.n (3) 
    
     where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2 and D 0 , D 1 , ., D n  are calibration constants determined to fit the oxygenated curve of FIG. 8. In the preferred embodiment, n=3, D 0  =0.91001, D 1  =1.0913×10 -2 , D 2  =-5.4506×10 -5  and D 3  =-1.5164×10 -6 . 
     The polynomial functions describing deoxygenated curve A and oxygenated curve B are then used in combination with the total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb), calculated from equation (1), to compute the appropriate oximeter curve end-points. A first estimate of oxyhemoglobin saturation is then calculated using the linear equation: ##EQU1## where (LogR/LogIR) 0%  is the ratio of the logarithm of red light intensity to the logarithm of infrared light intensity for 0% saturated blood (deoxygenated) at the calculated (Hb), and (LogR/LogIR) 100%  is the logarithm of red light intensity divided by the logarithm of infrared light intensity for 100% oxygen saturated blood (oxygenated) at the calculated (Hb). 
     Using this method, predicted percent oxyhemoglobin, SO2, was calculated and was compared with independently measured oxyhemoglobin saturation using an Instrumentation Laboratories Model 482 oximeter, and is plotted in FIG. 9. As can be seen, although there is complete correction for varying total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb), there exists a slight nonlinearity in the predicted oxyhemoglobin calculations versus the independently measured oxyhemoglobin calculations. 
     Therefore, the last step according to the present invention is to linearize the instrument&#39;s calculation by using a function which expresses the independently measured percent oxyhemoglobin saturation as a function of the uncorrected measured percent oxyhemoglobin saturation. Once again, this equation is a polynomial of the form: 
     
         (SO2).sub.corrected =B.sub.0 +B.sub.1 (SO2) +... +B.sub.n (SO2).sup.n (5) 
    
     where (SO2) corrected  is the corrected percent oxygen saturation, n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and B 0 , B 1 , ..., B n  are calibration constants determined by curve fitting. In the preferred embodiment, n=3, B 0  =6.3825, B 1  =1.3877, B 2  =-5.0275×10 -3  and B 3  =9.0821×10 -6 . 
     FIG. 10 shows the percent oxyhemoglobin saturation measured by the oximeter of the present invention when properly calibrated and corrected, versus percent oxyhemoglobin saturation measured independently using an Instrumentation Laboratories Model 482 oximeter. FIG. 10 illustrates percent oxyhemoglobin saturation measurements for both high and low hemoglobin concentrations. 
     If dissolved oxygen is ignored, the present invention can also be used to calculate total blood oxygen content, O 2 , from the equation: 
     
         O.sub.2 =(Hb)×1.34×(SO2/100) 
    
     where 1.34 is the number of milliliters of oxygen carried by one gram of hemoglobin. 
     The accuracy of the present invention compared with known hemoglobinometers and oximeters is summarized in Table II. 
     
                       TABLE II______________________________________Measured Quantity         Units      Range   Accuracy______________________________________(Hb)          g Hb/dl    5-30    0.63SO2           %           0-100  2.35O.sub.2       ml O.sub.2 /dl                    0-40    0.79______________________________________ 
    
     The accuracies of percent oxyhemoglobin concentration and blood oxygen content are RMS errors when compared with an Instrumentation Laboratories Model 482 oximeter over 13 measurements. The accuracy of total hemoglobin concentration is an RMS error when compared with an Instrumentation Laboratories Model 482 oximeter over 8 measurements. 
     Referring to FIG. 11, the flow of control of microprocessor U11 of FIG. 5 is described in order to accomplish the above operation. Before cyclic processing is begun, the present invention is calibrated by adjustment of potentiometers RV2 and RV3 (FIG. 4) while measuring a blood sample of known hemoglobin concentration and percent oxygen saturation. Potentiometers RV2 and RV3 are adjusted to produce analog voltages which are converted into 12-bit digital numbers by A-D converter U9 and applied to microprocessor U11 for application to display U10. The digitized calibration quantities are then used to calculate hemoglobin concentration calibration parameter, HbCAL, and percent oxygen saturation calibration constant, SO2CAL, using the following equations: 
     
         HbCAL=0.5+(digitized RV2 voltage)/3920 
    
     
         SO2CAL=-0.5+(digitized RV3 voltage) /3800 
    
     It should be emphasized that once calibrated, the present invention need not be recalibrated to accommodate changing hemoglobin concentrations or percent oxygen saturation. Calibration need be performed only periodically in order to accommodate instrument changes unrelated to the sample, for example, changing light intensity, dust accumulation, and the like. 
     Referring to the flow chart of FIG. 11, after calibration the program is initialized in block 30 including declaring the initial states of variables and the coefficients of equations 1-5. Next, in block 31, the hardware is initialized. For example, the display is cleared, and A-D converter U9 is initialized. 
     Control then passes to block 32 which begins cyclic operation. In block 32, the infrared LED D2 is turned on. Then, in block 33, 16 samples are taken from photodetector D5, and are averaged to produce unscaled infrared intensity, IR&#39;. In block 34, infrared diode D2 is turned off. Similarly, in block 36, red LED D4 is turned on, unscaled red intensity value, R&#39;, is calculated in block 37 as an average of 16 samples from photodetector D5 and in block 38, red LED D4 is turned off. 
     Control then passes to blocks 39 and 40 wherein hemoglobin calibration parameter, HbCAL, and percent oxygen saturation calibration parameter, SO2CAL set by potentiometers RV2 and RV3, respectively, are read and stored. 
     Then, in block 41, unscaled infrared intensity, IR&#39;, is scaled by multiplying by hemoglobin concentration calibration parameter, HbCAL, to produce scaled infrared intensity, IR. In block 42, total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb), is calculated from scaled infrared intensity, IR, using equation (1) above. 
     Control then passes to block 43 where the logarithm of unscaled red intensity, LogR&#39;, is calibrated by adding to percent oxygen saturation calibration parameter, SO2CAL, to produce the logarithm of scaled red intensity, LogR. 
     Then, in blocks 44 and 45, equations (2) and (3) are used to calculate the ratio of the logarithm of scaled red intensity to the logarithm of infrared intensity for 0% oxygen saturation and for 100% oxygen saturation, respectively. In block 46, initial percent oxygen saturation is calculated using equation (4), and in bock 47, corrected percent oxygen saturation is calculated using equation (5). 
     Finally, in block 48, total hemoglobin concentration, (Hb), and corrected percent oxygen saturation, SO2, are displayed. Control then returns to block 32 where processing continues in a cyclic manner. 
     The following is a source code listing of the computer program used in the present invention written in the assembly language of the preferred 8031 microprocessor. The flow chart of FIG. 11 summarizes this computer program. ##SPC1## 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications to this embodiment may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.