Computer-Assisted Measurement and Classification of Strip-Chart Electrocardiograms.

Abstract A minicomputer-based system was designed to assist technicians in the measurement and coding of electrocardiographic data from strip-chart ECGs using a manually operated “tablet-digitizer” equipped with a magnifying reticle. This system allows digitizer/coders to cause transmission to the minicomputer of individual X, Y coordinate pairs each describing a successive point of inflection within a single ECG complex. Program segments use these coordinate pairs to calculate wave amplitudes, wave and interval durations, basic wave shape characteristics and, additionally, to code an ECG according to the “Minnesota Code” of Blackburn.