Technical Details

1.You can enter the variables and the probability of survival or mortality will be updated immediately. The middle portion is for the baseline variables, and the lower portion is for the interventions.
2.Numeric variables can either be typed directly in the field, or modified by clicking on the up and down arrows on the associated spinner. Note that to update a numeric field after typing a value, you must press Return or Enter when you are done changing the number.
3.Note that the ICD, BiV pacer, BiV pacer/ICD and LVAD fields are disabled if the patient criteria do not meet CMS criteria. The criteria for the devices are below;

BiV pacer
CHF Class >= 3
EF <= 35%
QRS duration >120 msec

ICD
CHF Class 2-3B
EF <= 35%

BiV Pacer/ICD
Same as BiV pacer

LVAD
CHF Class 4
EF <= 25%
Mean survival <= 2 years

4. If you want to see the effect in the model anyway, make the patient characteristics match the criteria, then click on the device you want, then set the patient criteria back to the original values. In this case, the device will still be selected, even though it is disabled.
5. The calculator is written in Java. It was compiled using the Sun Microsystems java compiler, javac. The Swing interface was designed using the layout editor Foam, from Computers In Motion.