Baroreflex Sensitivity Measurement Using ECG and Pulse Wave Transit Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring baroreflex sensitivity are invasive, require continuous blood pressure measurement, and are prone to noise and discomfort, leading to long measurement times and unreliable results.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that record ECG signals and pulse wave curves to determine heart rate intervals and pulse wave transit times, using anchor points to generate sequences for averaging and calculating baroreflex sensitivity without the need for cuff-based blood pressure measurement, employing bivariate phase-rectified signal averaging to suppress noise and provide calibration-free results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous blood pressure measurement is used to measure baroreflex sensitivity, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement time and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential information needed for baroreflex sensitivity measurement from continuous blood pressure monitoring. Instead of requiring continuous invasive blood pressure measurement, the system uses intermittent cuff-based measurements combined with continuous ECG monitoring to derive the necessary blood pressure variations and heart rate responses, thereby reducing measurement time while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The blood pressure cuff serves multiple functions: it performs both traditional oscillometric blood pressure measurement and provides blood pressure variation data for baroreflex sensitivity calculation. The ECG system similarly serves dual purposes by monitoring heart rate continuously and providing R-R interval data for baroreflex analysis, eliminating the need for separate dedicated measurement systems
2Measurement precision
If invasive medication bolus injection is used to activate baroreflex, then baroreflex sensitivity can be measured, but patient comfort and safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts naturally occurring physiological blood pressure variations (which were previously considered noise or irrelevant fluctuations) into useful signals for baroreflex sensitivity measurement. By detecting and analyzing spontaneous blood pressure changes and their corresponding heart rate responses, the system eliminates the need for invasive pharmacological activation while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patient's own physiological system serves as the measurement source. The body's natural baroreflex responses to spontaneous blood pressure variations are captured and analyzed, eliminating the need for external invasive intervention. The system uses the patient's inherent cardiovascular dynamics to provide the measurement data
3Quantity of substance
If cuff-based continuous blood pressure measurement is used, then blood pressure data is obtained, but patient comfort and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous cuff inflation and measurement, the system uses periodic intermittent cuff measurements at predetermined time intervals. This periodic approach maintains sufficient blood pressure data availability for baroreflex sensitivity calculation while significantly reducing patient discomfort and improving ease of operation during the measurement period
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for a simple, fast, and robust measurement of baroreflex activity, reducing measurement time and discomfort, while providing accurate baroreflex sensitivity indicators without the need for continuous blood pressure monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
determination of a pulse wave transit time for each heart rate interval from the ECG signal and the pulse wave curve
Implementation Method 2
employing bivariate phase-rectified signal averaging to suppress noise and provide calibration-free results
Data Source
AI summary
A method of monitoring and/or diagnosing an autoregulation mechanism of blood pressure of a living being using an ECG signal includes recording the ECG signal of the living being, and the recording a pulse wave curve synchronously with the recording of the ECG signal. Heart rate intervals are determined from the ECG signal. A pulse wave transit time is determined for each heart rate interval from the pulse wave curve. A plurality of significant changes in the pulse wave transit times are determined according to a specified criterion. One respective heart rate interval correlated in time with each significant change in the pulse wave transit times is selected as an anchor point. A determined limited number of temporally successive heart rate intervals temporally before and/or after each anchor point are selected to thus generate a limited sequence of heart rate intervals for each anchor point. The method further includes averaging the corresponding heart rate intervals of each sequence of a respective anchor point over all sequences of the anchor points.