System and method for developing a database of body surface ECG flutter wave data maps for classification of atrial flutter

A method for developing a database of body surface ECG flutter wave data for classification of atrial flutter wherein said database is derived from data of two or more subjects comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving atrial wave flutter data from the subjects;
• b) classifying the data as typical counterclockwise (CCW) or clockwise (CW) and atypical atrial flutter;
• c) averaging the classified data;
• and
• d) storing and accessing the averaged data in the database.

An apparatus for classifying typical or isthmus-dependent and atypical atrial flutter, comprising:

• a) a signal processor means for receiving electrical signals indicative of a heart's electrical activity from a plurality of torso sites;
• b) a QRST subtraction means for removing ventricular activity superimposed on the atrial activity from said electrical signals, and for outputting an atrial flutter baseline signal;
• c) a means for receiving said baseline signal to classify said atrial flutter as CCW typical, CW typical or atypical atrial flutter, wherein the atrial flutter is classified based on a comparison of said baseline signal to a database of mean CCW typical, CW typical or atypical body surface ECG flutter wave data map patterns;
• and
• d) transformation means for graphically representing averaged atrial flutter data obtained from said baseline signal, on a torso representation of a subject.

A system for developing an arrhythmia database from a plurality of subjects, the system comprising:

• a) at least one sensor array coupleable to the subject, said at least one sensor array transmitting atrial flutter data in response to an atrial flutter of the subject;
• b) a processor receiving said atrial flutter data from said sensor array;
• c) a classification module reciving said atrial flutter data from said processor, the classification module classifying said atrial flutter as typical counterclockwise, typical clockwise, or atypical;
• and
• d) a combining module that combines said atrial flutter data with said database according to the classification of said atrial flutter data.