1. A method for converting a graphical trace of acquired patient data into digital data suitable for digital signal processing, comprising the steps of: receiving data representative of an image including said graphical trace of acquired patient data; analyzing said received data to identify individual pixels comprising said graphical trace in said image representative data; generating a plurality of pixel representative data elements in a desired data format identifying the relative location of said individual pixels in relation to a reference point; generating said desired data format by identifying the relative location of said individual pixels and identifying at least one of, (a) color of said individual pixels and (b) luminance amplitude of said individual pixels; and storing said generated pixel representative data elements in a file.