Clinical experience with a new dynamic display system for ambulatory ECG recordings

Summary The authors present the results of clinical experience with a new display for ECG signal presentation in ambulatory ECG monitoring. The new method has been devised by adding to contourography the dynamic effect produced by image movement and the perspective effect produced by pseudo-tridimensional presentation. The system has been developed using a microprocessor, a dynamic memory and an arithmetic unit which sends the signal on a CRT screen. Clinical experience, based upon 150 analyses, demonstrates the new method's marked efficiency in presenting rhythm disturbances and particularly ST-T segment alterations. Clinical validation has been performed comparing the results of 50 tapes analysed both with the new method and with different commercial systems. The new method provides useful information as to ST-T segment in 98% of cases and as to rhythm disturbances in 90%, while commercial systems reveal ST-T alterations in 84% and arrhythmias in 70% This method, being devoid of automaticity, does not yield false positives; dynamic and pseudo-tridimensional visualization of ECG signal allow the operator to perceive with high sensitivity alterations of the observed tracing.