Abstract:
A heartbeat analyzer includes and ambulatory unit (10) carried by the subject and having a microprocessor (24) controlling flow of data from the pickup leads (16, 18, 20) to the storage means (26) for up to 72 hours accumulation of data and analyzes the data with respect to rate rhythm and shape. An interface circuit (28) is provided to read out the stored data at a later time. A second unit (30), to which the first unit is connected (84) for data transfer, provides for display of the stored data (display) and for entering (keyboard) data corresponding to normal conditions of a heartbeat for use as a standard of comparison by the ambulatory unit (10).
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for declaring the presence of ventricular fibrillation from an incoming electrocardiographic signal (12) includes sampling (14, 16) at a first frequency and filtering (18) the same to produce a second frequency lower than the first frequency. This filtered signal is passed to a linear predictor (20) which fits a model signal spectrum to the actual signal spectrum and computes (60 d-e, 62 a-c, 64 a-b) coefficients representative of bandwidth and mean frequency of the signal over a short time interval. Then the coefficient of bandwidth (A2) is compared (68, 69) with a threshold value to determine whether or not it exceeds same, and if so the mean frequency coefficient (A1) is compared (71-76) with a range of values to determine whether it falls within a range corresponding to ventricular fibrillation; if it does, ventricular fibrillation is then declared (70) to be present.