Diagnostic errors in automatic ECG analysis of signals reconstructed by irreversible compressors

Data compression techniques are mostly applied to electrocardiogram (ECG) digital transmission over a low-capacity channel. The authors consider irreversible compressors that are more efficient than reversible compressors. Many effective compression techniques have been studied and described in the literature. In the past few years the SCP/AIM project set up an ad hoc commission that prepared an analysis of some popular methods. The purpose is to evaluate some compression methods already studied by the SCP/AIM project. An evaluation is given of the errors on the wave measurements and on the diagnostic stability in the reconstruction of the ECG signal using an irreversible compression technique.<>