Arrhythmia Alarms ECG – Arrhythmia
9 - 26 V Series Operating Instructions
9.7 Arrhythmia Alarms
Arrhythmia alarms are activated based on the patterns in the patient ECG waveform rhythms. Beat 
detection for a 5 or 12-lead wire set is determined by using a combination of leads II and V. When 
using a 3-lead wire set, beat detection is determined by using the lead being viewed.
The following lethal and non-lethal arrhythmia alarms may be detected by the arrhythmia algorithm.
NOTE: Arrhythmia alarms are not available for the Neonate patient size.
9.7.1 Lethal Arrhythmia Alarms
A lethal arrhythmia is an arrhythmia that can be life threatening to a patient if left untreated. 
Ventricular Tachycardia (V-Tach), Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib), and Asystole alarms are classified as 
lethal arrhythmia alarms. These alarms automatically default to a High alarm level.
NOTE: Lethal arrhythmia alarms are latched alarms. Latching indicates that 
even after resolving the alarming condition, the alarm continues until it 
is acknowledged by pressing the ALARM ACKNOWLEDGE or AUDIO 
PAUSE key on the Navigator Area. If the alarm is acknowledged while 
the lethal condition still exists, the audio portion of the alarm is 
silenced for the configured duration, but the alarm message remains in 
message area. If a new lethal condition occurs while the initial lethal 
alarm is silenced, the new lethal alarm breaks through if the ALARM 
ACKNOWLEDGE button was selected. If the AUDIO PAUSE button was 
selected, the lethal alarm will not break through until the configured 
duration is expired. If the lethal condition is resolved while the alarm is 
silenced, the alarm terminates.
9.7.1.1 Asystole Alarm
An Asystole alarm is activated when no QRS complexes are detected for the configured time period 
in the absence of Ventricular Fibrillation.
The time period range for an Asystole alarm is user selectable from 3 to 10 seconds.
The Asystole alarm is a High level alarm that produces:
• High level visual and audio alarm indicators.
• An Asystole text message above the primary waveform area. 
9.7.1.2 Ventricular-Fibrillation (V-Fib) Alarm
A V-Fib alarm is activated when a fibrillated waveform (P, QRS or T waves can no longer be identified) 
is detected. V-Fib is defined as “irregular, disorganized electrical activity of the heart”. The V-Fib 
detection algorithm runs in parallel to the beat detection algorithm and continuously examines the 
incoming data.
The V-Fib alarm is a high level alarm that produces:
• High level visual and audio alarm indicators.
• A Ventricular Fibrillation message above the primary waveform area.