Microprocessor-based ambulatory ecg monitoring system

Ambulatory monitoring of electrocardiograms (FCGs) was facilitated by the introduction of Holter method in the early '60s. Since this time, many researchs have been undertaken in order to improve the overall performances of the recorder and analyser, two unseparated parts of this method. The principal drawbacks of Holter method are well known : Recording of ECG is based on the assumption that the arrhythrnia of interest will be occurred in monitoring period. Analysis and arrhythmia detection could be processed only after the monitoring period. This is a time consuming and tedious job, and subjected to human error. Process "Recording-Play-back - Analysis - Diagnosis" takes usually many days. In this paper, the design of a microprocessor - based portable recorder will be described. The analysis and classification of arrhythmia are processed immediately upon their occurrence according to a look-up table, which could be programmed to suit a particular need.