Broadband ECG Frequency Analysis for Ventricular Activation Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultra-high-frequency electrocardiography (UHF-ECG) methods cannot distinguish between nearby and distant sources of ventricular electrical activation, limiting the precision in diagnosing heart abnormalities and determining electrical dyssynchrony in both ventricles.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for processing broad-band multi-channel electrocardiograms, utilizing at least two sensors with a transmission bandwidth of 0.2 kHz, select non-overlapping frequency ranges, calculate amplitude envelopes, perform baseline correction and normalization, and compute differences between these ranges to identify ventricular electrical activation of nearby and distant regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If UHF-ECG methods are used to measure ventricular electrical activation, then the measurement precision of electrical activation timing is improved, but the ability to distinguish nearby and distant sources of activation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the broad-band ECG signal into multiple frequency bands (e.g., low-frequency band 100-300 Hz and high-frequency band 300-1000 Hz). Each frequency band is processed separately to extract envelope signals, which are then combined to provide both timing and spatial information. This segmentation allows the system to preserve spatial discrimination capability while maintaining high timing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a frequency dimension to the analysis by utilizing multiple frequency bands. By analyzing the signal in both time domain (for timing precision) and frequency domain (for spatial discrimination), the system gains additional information dimensions that resolve the contradiction between timing precision and spatial location capability.
2Device complexity
If standard ECG frequency range (up to 100 Hz) is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of ventricular electrical activation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively extending the frequency bandwidth only to the extent necessary for improved measurement precision. Instead of requiring full ultra-high-frequency capability across all ECG parameters, the method focuses enhanced frequency response specifically on ventricular activation detection, achieving better precision without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If broad-band ultra-high-frequency signal processing is implemented, then the measurement precision of electrical activation location is improved, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential spatial and timing information from the broad-band signal by computing envelopes in different frequency bands and comparing them. Rather than processing the entire high-frequency signal in detail, the method extracts only the necessary envelope characteristics that contain spatial location information, significantly reducing processing complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces envelope signals as intermediary representations between the raw high-frequency ECG signal and the final spatial-temporal analysis. These envelopes serve as simplified intermediaries that retain the essential spatial discrimination capability while being computationally much less demanding to process than the full high-frequency signal.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a method of processing an electrocardiogram, which allows to localize ventricular electrical activation, and in preferred embodiments to determine a relative distance of the heart ventricles from the body surface.