European Data Format

European Data Format

The European Data Format (EDF) is a simple and flexible format for exchange and storage of multichannel biological and physical signals. It is widely used in EEG, PSG, and ECG.

File:European Data Format.png

An example of a European Data Format file

History

The European Data Format was first published in 1992 by Bob Kemp and his team at the Sleep Disorders Centre of the Slotervaart Hospital in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The aim was to create a standard file format for exchange and storage of physiological signals, that is easy to use and flexible enough to accommodate different types of signals and analyses.

Structure

An EDF file consists of a header record followed by data records. The header record contains general information about the patient and the recording, as well as specific information about each signal. The data records contain the digitized signals.

Header Record

The header record is divided into two parts: the administrative part and the technical part. The administrative part contains information about the patient and the recording, such as the patient's name, sex, birthdate, and the start date and time of the recording. The technical part contains information about each signal, such as the type of signal, the number of samples in each data record, and the physical and digital minimum and maximum.

Data Record

The data records contain the digitized signals. Each signal is represented by a sequence of samples, which are stored consecutively in the data record. The number of samples for each signal is specified in the header record.

Applications

The European Data Format is widely used in EEG, PSG, and ECG. It is also used in other fields of research and clinical practice, such as neurology, psychiatry, and sleep medicine.

See also

• DICOM
• HL7
• MINC

References

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