The STAFF III ECG database and its significance for methodological development and evaluation

The development of new techniques for detection and characterization of transient myocardial ischemia has benefited considerably from the STAFF III database, acquired in patients receiving elective prolonged percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography. The present article reviews a range of techniques developed and/or evaluated on the ECG signals of this database, including techniques for exploring abnormal intra-QRS potentials, QRS slopes, QRS angles, T wave morphology, T wave alternans, spatiotemporal ECG information, as well as heart rate dynamics. The detection of changes in body position is also briefly reviewed as it is intimately related to ischemia detection.