Signal processing for ICDs; recognition of normal and abnormal rhythms

A problem that has emerged with the wider use of an implantable defibrillator is that the device may deliver an inappropriate discharge because it has failed to discriminate between ventricular and nonventricular arrhythmics at a heart rate that is deemed to be dangerous. Automatic rhythm diagnosis by implantable devices is not a simple problem. The development of an automatic method of tachycardia diagnosis and its potential success are discussed