Adaptive ECG Analyzer for Motion Artifact Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrocardiogram analyzers face challenges in accurately distinguishing between arrhythmia and artifacts caused by patient movement, leading to false alarms and potential delays in responding to serious arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest.
Innovation Solution
An electrocardiogram analyzer that incorporates both an electrocardiogram measuring unit and a motion measuring unit, using sensor data to adjust the arrhythmia detection criterion based on the subject's motion, thereby improving detection sensitivity while reducing false positives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an artifact removal filter is applied to prevent artifacts from being erroneously analyzed as arrhythmia, then false detection is reduced, but detection sensitivity decreases and true arrhythmia may be overlooked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the artifact removal filter adaptive rather than static. The filter characteristics (cutoff frequency, order) are dynamically adjusted based on the detected artifact level in the electrocardiogram signal. When artifact levels are low, the filter is less aggressive to preserve true arrhythmia detections. When artifact levels are high, the filter becomes more aggressive to reduce false alarms. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between reducing false detection and maintaining detection sensitivity.
2Measurement precision
If the determination criterion for arrhythmia is made more sensitive to detect all potential cases, then detection sensitivity improves, but false alarm rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the arrhythmia determination criterion based on the motion state of the subject. When the subject is detected to be in motion (through accelerometer data or other motion sensors), the arrhythmia detection threshold is raised to reduce false alarms caused by motion artifacts. When the subject is at rest, the threshold is lowered to maximize detection sensitivity. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between detection sensitivity and false alarm rate.
3Reliability
If artifact removal is excessively applied to eliminate all noise, then false detection is reduced, but true arrhythmia signals may be removed along with the artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using the output of the artifact removal filter as feedback to adjust the filter's own characteristics. The system continuously monitors the electrocardiogram signal before and after filtering, compares the artifact levels, and adjusts the filter parameters accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the filter removes artifacts effectively while preserving true arrhythmia signals, resolving the contradiction between reducing false detection and preventing signal loss.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrocardiogram analyzer includes: an electrocardiogram measuring unit configured to measure an electrocardiogram based on an electrocardiographic signal of an electrode attached to a subject; a motion measuring unit configured to measure motion based on motion information of a sensor attached to the subject; and an analyzer configured to analyze occurrence of serious arrhythmia based on the electrocardiogram measured by the electrocardiogram measuring unit and the motion measured by the motion measuring unit.