1055-1 A Program for Digitization of ECG Tracings on Paper and Accurate Interactive Measurement of QT Intervals and ECG Parameters of Dispersion of Ventricular Repolarization

QT dispersion from the 12 lead ECG has been extensively evaluated as a risk parameter in pts prone to arrhythmias. Usually, this parameter is assessed directly from the ECG tracing by means of a magnifying glass and a digitizing pad with reproducibility and accuracy not being optimal.We therefore developed a software program with a graphical interface permitting conversion of a scanned image of the ECG on paper to a digital ECG function (sampling rate 500 or 1000 Hz) which can then be analyzed by a second interactive computer program for standard ECG intervals, QT dispersion and other repolarization parameters (JTpeak, T areas, T peak to T end interval). Digitally available ECGs can also be converted to a format analyzable by the program.The respective signals are processed channel-by-channel with enlarged high resolution display on a 20″ computer screen. The computer program uses customized algorithms to detect important features of the ECG waveforms (Q onset, J point, T peak, and T end for ECG signals) and then displays colored vertical spikes superimposed on the signal marking these points with high resolution for confirmation or manual correction by the observer. The processed data are automatically written to a spreadsheet for further processing.With this methodology accuracy and reproducibility of QT intervals and ECG parameters of dispersion of repolarization can be increased and parameters not easily measurable on paper can be determined (T wave areas)