Microcomputer based arrhythmia analyser

The authors have proposed an analysis of the electrocardiogram for the detection of arrhythmias, with the help of microcomputers. The electrocardiogram (ECG) has become an indispensable part of a hospital's intensive and coronary care units (ICU/CCU). Computerised monitoring and diagnostic systems are used to automatically classify and record ECG signal patterns, heart rate as well as life threatening and premonitory arrhythmias and alarm conditions. The project has been an attempt to develop the necessary software to achieve this goal. A microcomputer based system has been developed for monitoring and detection of arrhythmias. The design is made so as to be adaptable for the incorporation of the analysis of remote signals and alarm systems. Interpretation of ECG involves analysis of both the cardiac rhythm and morphology of the complexes. The system captures the heart signals from a standard 12-lead configuration, sequencing the lead selector to capture four groups of three lead signals and switching groups every few second. The signals are then given to an analog to digital converter for digitisation of the signal and digitised signals are stored in a RAM. The analysis program is written in TURBO-C.