Automated Analysis of Rodent Three-Channel Electrocardiograms and Vectorcardiograms

Exposure to toxic substances often produces alterations in heart rhythm and electrocardiographic waveform parameters such as PR interval, ST, etc. Analysis of such physiological changes is believed to provide sensitive indicators for revealing the degree of toxicity sustained. The purpose of this paper is to describe a system for automated analysis of electro-and vectorcardiograms in cardiotoxicity studies on rats. A selection of the best-suited methods of digital signal processing is also described.