A real-time personal computer based system for analysis of electrocardiograms

The authors have developed a real-time personal-computer-based system for analysis of single-lead electrocardiograms running on an IBM PC/AT personal computer or compatibles. It converts an analog ECG (electrocardiographic) signal coming from the ECG acquisition unit into digital form, monitors it on a video display, detects each incoming beat, displays heart rate, and recognizes some simple rhythm disorders (arrest, bradycardia, tachycardia). Each beat is classified into one of three different categories: normal, supraventricular (SVC), or ventricular ectopic (VEC). The system also computes average beats and from them determines some diagnostic parameters (R-wave amplitude, R/R1 ratio, J point level, ST slope, and ST integral). The results of the analysis are displayed and periodically updated. At the end of the analysis, histograms which show trends of global changes for heart rate, VECs/min, SVCs/min, R-wave amplitude, R/R1 ratio, J point level, ST slope, and ST integral can be viewed. >