Patent ID: 8060190

Claim:
An alarm apparatus for predicting a rapid blood pressure decrease in a patient undergoing hemodialysis treatment, comprising: an input interface adapted to receive an electrocardiogram signal (H ECG ) of the patient; a primary analysis unit adapted to produce a heart-rate-variability signal (p HRV ) based on the electrocardiogram signal (H ECG ); a secondary analysis unit adapted to determine an intensity of ectopic beats (p EBC )based on the electrocardiogram signal (H ECG ); an alarm generating unit adapted to investigate whether the intensity of ectopic beats (p EBC ) is relatively low or relatively high, said alarm generating unit being configured to trigger an alarm signal (âˆ€) indicative of an estimated rapid blood pressure decrease if the heart-rate-variability signal (p HRV ) fulfills a first alarm criterion, when said intensity of ectopic beats is relatively low, and said alarm generating unit being further configured to trigger said alarm signal (âˆ€) indicative of an estimated rapid blood pressure increase if the heartrate variability signal (P HRV ) fulfills a second alarm criterion, when said intensity of ectopic beats is relatively high.