Abstract: A portable apparatus having electronic circuitry for selectively monitoring and recording a user's electrocardiographic (ECG) data signals, wherein a first conductive electrode is disposed on a first surface of the apparatus casing for contact with an ECG lead position on the user's body and second and third paste-on electrodes are attached on the user's chest in positions which form the second and third electrodes in the standard Eindhoven triangle formation. A wristband is provided for securing the apparatus to the user's wrist and a microprocessor controls the electronic circuitry such that the user's ECG signal is monitored/recorded from six standard input channels. A modem device is attachable to the apparatus for effecting burst mode transmission of data to an external receiver.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a continuous sequence of horizontal vectorcardiograms from an ambulatory patient throughout a 24-hour period. A simplified five-electrode ECG lead system is affixed to the patient and the ECG signals are recorded on a portable magnetic tape recorder attached to the patient. Thereafter, the tape is removed from the recorder and taken to a processing station for playback, display, and analysis. The tape is played back at high speed to permit rapid scanning of the tape for anomalies in the vectorcardiograph. Anomalies can then be studied in detail by playing back the tape at a reduced speed. The vectorcardiographs exhibit high correlation with those obtained by use of the more common, but more complex, Frank lead system.