AUTOMATED-SYSTEM FOR ECG MONITORING

To relieve the staff in the coronary care unit of visual arrhythmia observation, a computerized system for ECG monitoring was developed. The classification of QRST complexes is based on a scheme for feature extraction, approximating each waveform from a number of orthogonal basis signals. Ventricular and supraventricular ectopic beats are separated from normal complexes by a set of linear discriminant functions. For recognition of ventricular fibrillation the power spectrum of the ECG is utilized. When an alarm condition has been recognized, the nurse is alerted through a wireless alarm-transmitting system activated by the computer. Simultaneously, the cause of the alarm is displayed on video screens in the monitoring station and at the bedside. Since 1976 the system has been in continuous routine use in an 8 patient ward. A low rate of false alarms has contributed to the clinical acceptance of the system.