Disclaimer: This document is for reference only. Our team is not responsible for connection errors. If discrepancies exist between this document and the device manufacturer's manual, always follow the manufacturer's manual.
This guide covers Vital Recorder hardware setup for 44 medical devices across 6 categories. Use the Quick Reference tables below to identify your cable type, then click the device name to open its full setup instructions.
Table of Contents
Quick Reference — All Devices
Find your device below and identify the cable type before connecting. Click the device name to open its full setup instructions.
Patient Monitors
| Device | Cable | Adapter | Port | VR Device Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE CARESCAPE B850 / B650 / B450 | ATEN UC-232A only | Null Modem F/F | USB port | Bx50 |
| GE S/5 AM | Direct Serial | Null Modem F/F | Port X8 | Bx50 |
| GE B40 / B20 | 9-pin serial (pin 4 removed) | None | 9-pin | Bx50 |
| GE B105M / B125M / B155M | Direct Serial | None | Red-marked serial | B1x5M |
| GE Solar 8000m / 8000i | Direct Serial | None | RS-232 1 | Solar8000 |
| GE Dash 2000 / 3000 / 4000 | Custom DB-9F ↔ RJ-45 | None | RJ-45 AUX | Dashx000 |
| GE Dash 2500 | Direct Serial | None | Host Comm Port | Dash2500 |
| GE TRAM-RAC 4A | ADC required (analog) | — | 15-pin ANALOG OUT | (per ADC type) |
| GE Defib Connectors | 7-pin DIN → ADC | — | Defib.Sync | (per ADC type) |
| Philips Intellivue MP / MX | Custom RJ-45 ↔ DB-9F | None | MIB port | Intellivue |
| Drager Infinity Kappa | Mini-D cable (part #5206421) | None | X5 or X3 docking | Infinity |
| Drager Infinity C500 / C700 | Custom RJ10 ↔ DB-9F | None | P2500 RJ10 port | Infinity |
| MEKICS MP1300 | Wireless (Wi-Fi) | — | LAN port | MEKICS |
| Nihon Kohden BSM | Direct Serial | Null Modem M/F | RS-232C on QI-373P board | BSM |
| GE Corometrics 170 | Direct Serial | None | RS232 Port 1 or 2 | Coro |
Anesthesia Machines
| Device | Cable | Adapter | Port | VR Device Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drager Apollo / Cicero EM Color / Julian / Primus / Vamos | Direct Serial | None | COM1 | Primus |
| Drager Fabius / Zeus / Infinity | Direct Serial | Null Modem (cross gender) | Serial port | MedibusX |
| Drager Perseus | Direct Serial | Null Modem F/F | COM1 or COM2 | MedibusX |
| GE Datex-Ohmeda | Custom 9-pin ↔ 15-pin | None | 15-pin (under cover) | Datex-Ohmeda |
| Maquet Flow-i | Direct Serial | Null Modem M/F | Serial port | Flow-i |
| Maquet Servo-i Ventilator | Direct Serial | Null Modem M/F | BOTTOM RS-232 port | Servo-i |
| Hamilton G5 Ventilator | Direct Serial | Null Modem M/F | Monitoring Interface 1 or 2 | Hamilton |
Hemodynamic Monitors
| Device | Cable | Adapter | Port | VR Device Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edwards EV-1000 (old model) | Direct Serial | Null Modem F/F | 2nd port from right | EV1000 |
| Edwards EV-1000A (new model) | Direct Serial | Null Modem M/F | Serial port | EV1000 |
| Edwards Vigilance | Direct Serial | Null Modem M/F | COM1 (or COM2) | Vigilance |
| Edwards Vigilance II | Direct Serial | Null Modem M/F | Port 1 (top) | Vigilance |
| Edwards Vigileo | Direct Serial | Null Modem M/F | Serial port | Vigileo |
| Edwards Hemosphere | Direct Serial | Null Modem M/F | Serial port | Hemosphere |
| Deltex CardioQ | Direct Serial | Null Modem F/F | Male serial port | CardioQ |
| LiDCO | Direct Serial | Null Modem M/F | Serial port | LiDCO |
Syringe Pumps
| Device | Cable | Adapter | Port | VR Device Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresenius Vial Orchestra | Direct Serial | Null Modem M/F | RS 232-3 (rightmost) | Orchestra |
| Fresenius Kabi Agilia | Proprietary Fresenius cable | None | Device-specific | Agilia |
| Fresenius Kabi Link+ Agilia | USB 2.0 AM-Mini 5-pin | None | USB-B (side, bottom) | Link+ |
| BBraun SpaceCom | Custom Mini-DIN ↔ DB-9F | None | Mini-DIN port | SpaceCom |
| Bionet Pion TCI | Direct Serial | None | 9-pin port | Pion |
| Belmont FMS (RI-2) | Direct Serial | Null Modem F/F | Serial port (behind vent panel) | FMS |
Brain Monitors
| Device | Cable | Adapter | Port | VR Device Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medtronic BIS VISTA | Direct Serial | None ⚠️ cross cable causes error | Serial port | VISTA |
| Medtronic BIS A2000 | Direct Serial | None | 9-pin port | A2000 |
| Medtronic INVOS Cerebral/Somatic Oximetry | Direct Serial | Null Modem F/F | \|O\|O\| port (male connector) | Invos |
Others
| Device | Cable | Adapter | Port | VR Device Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masimo Radical7 | Direct Serial | None | P1 RS-232 (Docking Station) | Radical7 |
| Masimo ROOT | Masimo USB data cable (preferred) | None | USB1 or USB2 | Root |
| Sentec SDM | USB-Serial Converter | None | Serial port | SDM |
| MDMS ANI Monitor V2 | NEXT USB-Serial [NEXT-RS232U20] | None | Serial port (right side) | ANIMonitor2 |
| BlinkDC TwitchView | Custom RJ45 (special wiring) | None | RJ45 (bottom, when docked) | TwitchView |
| IDMed TOFscan | TOF-RS1 cable (from IDMed) | None | Device-specific | TOFScan |
Getting Started
Requirements
Computer
Vital Recorder runs on Windows (Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 — 32-bit and 64-bit).
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum CPU | Intel Atom N330 (up to 30% CPU at full-screen recording) |
| Recommended CPU | Intel i3 or higher (<5% CPU utilization) |
| USB Ports | Multiple full-size ports recommended; USB hub supported |
Tip: A laptop or low-cost Windows tablet works well. Use a powered USB hub when connecting more than 2 devices.
Serial Cables
There are two types of serial cable. They are physically identical in appearance — the difference is in the internal wiring.
| Type | Wiring | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Cable | Pin 2 ↔ Pin 2 (Rx), Pin 3 ↔ Pin 3 (Tx) | Most devices |
| Cross Cable (Null Modem) | Pin 2 ↔ Pin 3 (crossed) | Some devices (Fresenius Orchestra, Edwards) |
⚠️ WARNING: Using a cross cable where a direct cable is required (or vice versa) can cause electrical shorts, device malfunction, or fire. Always verify the cable type before connecting.
Recommended approach: Use only direct cables for all runs. If a cross connection is required, attach a Null Modem cross gender adapter at the device port.
Cable Types
The images below show the cables and adapters referenced throughout this guide.
Direct Serial Cable
Null Modem Adapter — F/F (Female / Female)
| Adapter | Description | Purchase (Korea) |
|---|---|---|
| Null Modem M/F | Male on one side, Female on the other | cableguy.com |
| Null Modem F/F | Female on both sides | cableguy.com |
Null Modem Adapter — M/F (Male / Female)
USB-Serial Converter
Laptops and tablets typically lack a built-in serial port. A USB-Serial converter creates a virtual COM port and acts as a direct cable. Devices that require a cross connection still need a cross gender adapter.
Recommended: Netmate 4-port Serial-to-USB Converter (Kangwon Electronics) — creates four COM ports from one USB connection. Purchase link (Korea)
USB Hub
Use a powered USB hub (with its own external power adapter) to prevent power shortage — the most common cause of intermittent data loss.
Purchase — ORICO 4-port Powered USB Hub (Korea)
USB Extension Cable
Cables under 10 meters do not risk signal degradation. Use shielded cables in OR environments.
Troubleshooting
Common problems and fixes are documented in troubleshooting.
Quick reference:
| Problem | Likely Cause |
|---|---|
| Device not detected | Wrong COM port / driver not installed |
| Data shows but wrong values | Cross cable used instead of direct (or vice versa) |
| Intermittent data loss | Unpowered USB hub / insufficient USB power |
| No data after correct setup | Device config not saved / baud rate mismatch |
| Device disconnects randomly | USB extension cable too long (>10m) or poor contact |
⚠️ Always complete device configuration before connecting to a patient.