NICO1.1.0400

NICO turns readings from a non-invasive blood-pressure (NIBP) channel into real-time estimates of cardiac output, giving physiological measurement workflows derived cardiovascular data as it is collected. It also calculates stroke volume and total peripheral resistance, so one blood-pressure input yields separate cardiac and vascular measures. ADInstruments publishes NICO as a Windows add-on for users who need these specific hemodynamic calculations rather than a standalone blood-pressure monitor.

Its algorithms are based on published, widely accepted methods, and the results are intended for experiments or monitoring sessions built around compatible NIBP hardware. The add-on requires an ADInstruments or FMS NIBP device, including the INL382 Human NIBP Nano System as one example, making it suited to laboratories and other device-connected physiological measurement setups.

Version 1.1.0400 adds an Apply finger pulse correction setup option: a low-pass filter attempts to compensate for peak-pressure amplification as the pulse travels down the brachial artery to the finger, while other algorithm changes produce significantly larger estimated cardiac-output values. NICO remains best used for comparing relative cardiac-output changes within the same subject, not for absolute comparisons between subjects. The release removes Find from ECG Signal beat detection because timing delays between ECG events and NIBP signals can alter results.

It also fixes invalid Total Peripheral Resistance output and corrects Liljestrand and Estimated Flow calculations for files sampled at different rates. NICO runs on x86 Windows systems and is most appropriate when compatible NIBP acquisition hardware supplies the input.