DEVELOPING A COMPUTER ECG RESEARCH STATION

Abstract

The hardware, software and systems components of a Clinical Research ECG Station using an IBM‐1800 computer under the Multi‐Programming Executive System (MPX) is described. The twelve classic leads and the three Frank leads of the patient‐acquired ECG are sent in analog form over telephone lines via Marquette Electronics' carts and receiving interface, which modulate and demodulate the signal for computer acquisition, subsequent analog to digital conversion, and analysis. The Smith‐Mayo program (on the Frank leads) initially used, has been augmented by a Hahnemann‐developed, twelve‐lead analysis program to improve the interpretive portion of the program in the areas of LVH, Infarctious, Bundle Blocks, etc. A truly innovative portion of the system is the creation of a computer‐driven microfilm system which produces aperture cards. These contain all the graphical input on microfilm, plus graphs of the two‐dimensional vector curves and the appropriate patient identification information. Archive tapes of the digitized ECG are kept as a data repository for (1) the constant reworking of the analysis program, (2) the development of proper comparison programs, and (3) the research potential of using existing Probabilistic‐Statistical Differential Diagnosis methods to quest the nature of what symptomatic information is necessary to optimize the diagnostic process in the ECG area.