Method and system for archiving biomedical data generated by a data collection device

1. A method for archiving biomedical data generated by a data collection device, comprising:

at a computer, reading a file containing the biomedical data from a computer-readable storage medium, wherein a data format of the file, as stored on the storage medium, has not been identified to the computer;

at a processor of the computer, analyzing the file to determine the data format of the file, wherein the analyzing includes obtaining, from the file, at least one of a manufacturer of the collection device and a model number of the collection device and determining the data format as a function of the at least one of a manufacturer of the collection device and a model number of the collection device;

based on the data format, locating and extracting the biomedical data from within the file;

prior to transmitting, removing any identifying information associated with an individual from whom the biomedical data was collected; and

transmitting the extracted data to a database in which the extracted data is archived.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of a manufacturer of the collection device and a model number of the collection device is obtained from a content of the biomedical data, as stored on the storage medium.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

archiving the extracted data together with an additional data record associated with the same individual.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

associating the extracted data with the additional data record by assigning a research identifier to the extracted data, resulting in a sharing of the research identifier by the extracted data and the additional data record.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting the extracted data to the database via one of a local client application and a Web application.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomedical data includes one of statistical data, device information and abnormal clinical events.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the biomedical data includes electrocardio data and the clinical events are one of atrial events and ventricular events.

8. A data extraction device for archiving biomedical data generated by a data collection device, the extraction device being constructed and arranged to:

read a file containing the biomedical data from a computer-readable storage medium, wherein a data format of the file, as stored on the storage medium, has not been identified to the extraction device;

analyze the file to determine a data format of the file, wherein the extraction device performs the analyzing by obtaining, from the file, at least one of a manufacturer of the collection device and a model number of the collection device and determining the data format as a function of the at least one of a manufacturer of the collection device and a model number of the collection device;

based on the data format, locate and extract the biomedical data from within the file;

prior to transmission, remove any identifying information associated with an individual from whom the biomedical data was collected; and

transmit the extracted data to a data processing device configured to transmit the extracted data to a database in which the extracted data is archived.

9. The extraction device of claim 8 , wherein the extraction device is configured to obtain the at least one of a manufacturer of the collection device and a model number of the collection device from a content of the biomedical data, as stored on the storage medium.

10. The extraction device of claim 8 , wherein the extracted data is archived together with an additional data record associated with the same individual.

11. The extraction device of claim 10 , wherein the extracted data is associated with the additional data record by assigning a research identifier to the extracted data, resulting in a sharing of the research identifier by the extracted data and the additional data record.

12. The extraction device of claim 8 , wherein the extracted data is transmitted to the database via one of a local client application and a Web application.

13. The extraction device of claim 8 , wherein the biomedical data includes one of statistical data, device information and abnormal clinical events.

14. The extraction device of claim 13 , wherein the biomedical data includes electrocardio data and the clinical events are one of atrial events and ventricular events.

15. A system for archiving biomedical data, comprising:

a data collection device configured to collect and store biomedical data onto a computer-readable storage medium in the form of a file having a predetermined data format;

a data extraction device configured to:

read the file from the computer-readable storage medium, wherein the data format of the file has not been identified to the extraction device;

analyze the file to determine the data format of the file, wherein the extraction device performs the analyzing by obtaining, from the file, at least one of a manufacturer of the collection device and a model number of the collection device and determining the data format as a function of the at least one of a manufacturer of the collection device and a model number of the collection device; and

based on the data format, locate and extract the biomedical data from within the file; and

a data processing device configured to:

receive the extracted data,

remove any identifying information associated with an individual from whom the extracted data was collected, to generate a de-identified data record, and

transmit the de-identified data record to a database in which the data record is archived.

16. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions executable by a processor of a computer for archiving biomedical data generated by a data collection device, the instructions configured to cause the processor to perform the steps of:

reading a file containing the biomedical data from a computer-readable storage medium, wherein a data format of the file, as stored on the storage medium, has not been identified to the computer;

at the processor, analyzing the file to determine the data format of the file, wherein the analyzing includes obtaining, from the file, at least one of a manufacturer of the collection device and a model number of the collection device and determining the data format as a function of the at least one of a manufacturer of the collection device and a model number of the collection device;

based on the data format, locating and extracting the biomedical data from within the file;

prior to transmitting, removing any identifying information associated with an individual from whom the biomedical data was collected; and

transmitting the extracted data for archiving in a database.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the file is a binary file having a data format specific to a manufacturer of the data collection device.