Application of impedance cardiography ambulatory monitoring system for analysis of central hemodynamics in healthy man and arrhythmia patients

The authors constructed the ambulatory monitoring, 4-channel recorder enabling simultaneous collection of ECG and ICG signals from a built-in miniaturised ICG device on 20 MB PCMCIA Flash Memory Card. The system allows for off-line, beat-to-beat automatic evaluation of cardiac output, stroke volume, ejection time, pre-ejection period and heart rate. The system was checked in more than 40 healthy subjects in ambulatory conditions and in 10 patients showing the hemodynamic effects of arrhythmia. The patients of ICG signal during atrial fibrillation, supraventricular and ventricular ectopy were recorded. The device could record signals with acceptable quality during sleep time, static and moderate dynamic exercise on cycloergometer, tilt test and Valsalva manoeuvre. The system has been continuously testing and improving.