2
Future Anesthetist May Use Own Invention
(Continued from page 1)
And he adds, 'The principles
behind it are all accepted by the
medical community."
So far, he has completed the main
circuit board — the “brain" of the
system — and has done some
experimenting with individual
components.
"The pieces do work," Tacchi said.
A Young Disk Jockey
Tacchi "was going to be an
electrician" like his father and older
brother, "but ended up as an RN,"
he said. Over the past few years, he
seems to have combined the fields.
He first began delving into
electronics in the fourth or fifth
grade when h and a friend pooled
their money, checked out some
library books and built a radio
station from scratch.
They broadcast over a two-block
radius on weekends and summer
days.
Nursing and Electronics
Tacchi's professional interest
turned toward the health field in
high school, during which he
worked as an orderly. He decided
electronics would remain a hobby
Health Care System
Dr. E. Harvey Estes, chairman of
the Department of Community
Health Sciences, will speak on
"Anatomy and Physiology of the
Health Care System" on Tuesday,
Feb. 15, at 3:30 p.m. in 224 Social
Sciences.
All faculty, students and others
interested are invited to attend.
Estes' talk is part of the
continuing Duke Colloquia on
Health Policy sponsored by the
Institute of Policy Sciences and
Public Affairs.
and began aiming for a career as an
anesthetist.
A few weeks ago, he entered the
nurse anesthesia program here.
Nursing school in St. Louis, his
hometown, included a jaunt to
Cincinnati for pediatrics affiliation.
In his dorm room there one
afternoon, the idea for the
Stress-Sonic came to him. When he
returned to St. Louis, he built it.
The Stress-Sonic
He designed the Stress-Sonic to
provide continual monitoring of the
surgical patient.
And, unlike most such
instruments, it can be attached
quickly and easily. It simply slides
onto two fingers.
The Stress-Sonic computes stress
by measuring galvanic skin
resistance, stimulation of skin
muscles and heartrate.
Why not just use a lie detector
then?
"It does work similar to a lie
detector," Tacchi explained. "But a
lie detector is much more trouble to
attach, and then you have to be able
to interpret the readings. The
Stress-Sonic interprets its own
readings."
The instrument is set so that a
patient's "normal" level registers a
particular number. Fluctuations
show as increases or decreases in the
scale, and an alarm goes off if
"stress" rises above a predetermined
level.
Worked 'Well Enough'
"We got approval to test it on
patients in St. Louis, and it worked
pretty well," Tacchi said. "But we
had to recalibrate it when, say,
various sympathetic nerv'ous system
stimulating drugs were given to the
patient."
It worked well enough to attract
some investors. Tacchi's family and
his wife's family are backing the new
machine.
"Cindy, my wife, keeps the books
for Cardio-Scan," Tacchi said. Also
an RN, she works on Cabell Ward,
where her husband worked until he
entered the anesthesia program.
Limited Time
Tacchi was working as much as 40
hours per week on his invention this
faU.
"I wanted to finish the control unit
so I would have something to show
the investors when we went home at
Christmas," he said.
His studies prevent him from
devoting that much time to it now,
which accounts for the two to
three-year projection.
Built Other Gadgets
Tacchi has built other electronic
devices for friends, for the home
and to aid in constructing the
Cardio-Scan.
His regulated power supply is
used for experimenting with printed
circuits. "Regulation of current is
very important," he explained.
A simple and efficient pneumatic
switch, one which cuts on and off by
pressure, will be a part of the
Cardio-Scan, but also has potential
for other uses.
If There's a Better Way
Some things he's built have been
"a combination of copy and
creation," Tacchi said. Efficiency is a
standard feature.
He built one friend an electronic
stethoscope for $19.95, comparable to
some that can cost $150-200.
"And little things for around the
house, like lighting controls," Tacchi
said. "You know, if there's a better
way to do it..."
That seems to reflect his attitude
about his profession as well.
He was attracted to the role of a
nurse anesthetist because of the
responsibility of the job, he said,
"knowing you have to be the best
you can be at what you do."
LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE TALKING—Ernie Tacchi's Stress-Sonic instrument
calculates a person's level of stress by taking readings trom a couple ot lingers. This
invention led to a more intricate one which Tacchi is in the process of building.
(Photo by John Becton)
Trading Post
FOR SALE—Girls' bicycle. Western
Flyer, three-speed, hand brakes,
reflector, basket, tires, all in in excellent
condition, $40; evetung dress, size 16-18,
white nylon chiffon with scarf, excellent
for fraternal or lodge organizational use
or party wear, worn once, $20. Call
489-9537.
FOR SALE—Collector's item, child's
white bone china tea set, pink rose
design, a rare find, $225. For
appointment, call 489-9537,7 a.m.-9 p.m.
FOR SALE-Andirons, $7.50; 40"
electric baseboard heater, $10. Call
383-2848, after 5:30 p.m.
Intercom
is published weekly for Duke Uni
versity Medical Center employees,
faculty, staff, students and friends by
the medical center's Office of Public
Relatioiu, Joe Sigler, director; David
Williamson; medical writer; William
Erwin, Comprehensive Cancer Center
medical writeq Miss Annie Kittrell,
secretary.
Editor
Mrs. Ina Fried
Public Relations Assistant
John Becton
FOR SALE-75 CJ5 Jeep, six cylinder,
AM-FM radio and cassette, headers,
white spokes, big tires, swing gate tire
carrier. Call 383-4230, nights or
weekends.
FOR SALE —Bedroom suite;
headboard, rught stand, triple dresser,
double mirrors, chest of drawers;
Mediterranean design, dark finish, all
wood; three years old, excellent
condition; $350 or best offer. Call
477-6992, after 5 p.m.
FOR SALE—AKC registered
Norwegian elkhounds, whelped Jan. 10,
1977; will be ready for new homes on
Feb. 21. These dogs make great family
pets, yet provide a great deal of
protection for you and yours. Call
493-2306, after 5:30 p.m.
FOR SALE-1971 Mustang, V-8, AC,
PS, good condition; $1,700 or best offer.
Call 489-8876.
FOR SALE—Pioneer 4141A cassette
deck, $250 new price; asking $150. Call
383-1006.
WANTED-Ride to UNC-CH campus;
leave DUMC alx>ut 8:30 a.m., return to
Durham about 6-6:30 p.m., M-F; will
share gas and parking exp>ense, or
possibly car pool. Call 682-7476, after 6:30
p.m.
FOR SALE —Men's Lange ski boots,
size 9 1/2, $45; Ladies' Le Trappeur ski
boots, size 7-7 1/2, $25; fireplace screen,
$12.50; two-drawer table top style desk,
$14. CaU 489-0482.
The Week on Campus
February 11-18,1977
Event and Time Place
PERFORMING ARTS (684-4059):
Fri. (2/11), Sat. and Fri. (2/18), 8:15 p.m. Baldwin Aud.
Synergic Theatre; exhibit opens at 7 p.m. (Admission Charge)
Fri. (2/11), Sat., Sun., Thurs. and Fri. (2/18), & 15 p.m. Branson
Duke Players: "Marat Sade" (Admission Charge)
Thurs., 8:15 p.m. Dance Black Recital Pag®
Fri. (2/18), 8:15 p.m. Duke Artists Series: Page
Canadian Opera, "La Traviata" (Admission Charge)
Fri. (2/18), 8 p.m. Durham Theatre Guild: Durham Arts Council
"Raza Suite" (Admission Charge)
MUSIC (684-4059):
Fri. (2/11), 9 p.m. Duke Wind Symphony; Viennese Ball Down Under,
Gill>ert-Addoms Dorms
Sat., 8:15 p.m. Chamber Arts Society: Warszw Quintet E. Duke Music Rm.
(Admission Charge)
Sun., 8 p.m. D.U. Major Attractions: Boston (Admission Charge) Indoor Stadium
Mon., 8:15 p.m. N.C. Symphony; Daniel Shafran, cello Page
RELIGIOUS (684-2572):
Sun., 11 a.m. Worship service: Rev. James H. Cone, professor Chapel
of theology. Union Theological Seminary, New YoA City
ATHLETICS (684-3212);
Sat., Men's wrestling vs. Citadel
Sal., 7:30 p.m. Men's l>asketl>all vs. St. Joseph's Indoor Stadium
Tues., Men's wrestling vs. Catawba
Wed., Women's l>asketbal] vs. NCCU
OTHER;
Mon., 8 p.m. Continuing Education Workshop, "Careers to Consider Edticational and
Employment Outlooks," call 6S4-62S9 (Admission Charge)
Wed., 7 p.m. Jogging Oinic Indoor Stadium, Rm. 119
FILMS: Fri. (2/11), 7, 9:30 and midnight "Sunday Bloody Sunday," Bio. Sd. Aud.; Sat. and
Sun., 7 and 9:15 p.m. "Family Ploi,” Page; Tues., 7 and 9:30 p.m. "BeUe De Jotir," Bio. Sci.
Aud.; Fri. (2/18), 7, 9:30 and midnight "Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie." Bio. Sci. Aud.