Model based signal characterisation for long-term personal monitoring

This paper presents a prototype of a portable unit for automatic on-line monitoring and analysis of the ECG, used as a pilot study of a wider, advanced project, whose rational has the following guidelines. According to the largely recognised trend toward the achievement of a tight physician to patient co-operation, this project has been conceived both to alleviate physician from visits due to false alarms and to allow the educated patient to report accurately his symptoms. Such a piece of equipment should perform accurate analysis of on-line signals and generate dependable alarms. It is based on a pocket-size (PC-104) computer, running full Windows95 OS, and three subsystems carried out in our lab (AID converter, LCD with control buttons, smart card for system personalization). This choice has the unique advantage of compatibility with available algorithms and portability of standard applications. Moreover the number of active system channels will be easy to expand or reduce according to patient needs