Transmission of cardiac electrograms by Internet for computer-assisted signal processing

A special worldwide network has been established that integrates advanced pacemaker technology within modern communication technology and utilizes sophisticated signal processing for parameter extraction from intramyocardial electrograms. The first employment of this network has been the noninvasive rejection monitoring in transplanted hearts. Till now, 5 centers from different countries and continents have joined this network. More than 12.000 electrograms from more than 120 patients have been transmitted via Internet to the central processing station in Graz during the last 4 years. Neither failures of the communication network nor data safety problems have been observed. The main problem is the still decreasing data transmission rate on the Internet.