Cardiac Signal Validity Detection via Derivative Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical devices for sensing and analyzing cardiac signals face challenges in accurately detecting the onset of cardiac depolarization waves due to artifacts and ambiguous signals, which can lead to incorrect therapy delivery and inefficiencies in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize a computing apparatus to determine the validity of cardiac signals by calculating the first derivative, identifying minimum and maximum derivatives, and displaying the signal's validity, thereby eliminating artifacts and ensuring accurate detection of cardiac depolarization onsets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional signal detection methods are used to detect cardiac depolarization waves, then the detection process is simple, but the accuracy is reduced due to artifacts and ambiguous signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation of cardiac signals by calculating the first derivative and analyzing minimum and maximum derivatives before final detection. This preliminary action filters out artifacts and ambiguous signals in advance, ensuring that only valid signals proceed to depolarization onset detection, thereby improving accuracy without adding complex post-processing steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The first derivative calculation serves as an intermediary step between raw signal acquisition and depolarization detection. By introducing this intermediate processing layer, the system can identify signal validity through derivative analysis (comparing minimum and maximum derivative values) before making the final detection decision, effectively separating valid cardiac signals from artifacts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple signal validation steps are implemented to filter artifacts, then the accuracy of depolarization detection is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal validity accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial validation by focusing derivative analysis only on critical signal portions that contain depolarization information. Rather than validating entire signal waveforms, the method calculates derivatives and compares minimum and maximum values only where depolarization onset is expected, achieving sufficient accuracy with reduced processing effort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms the validation approach by changing from amplitude-based detection to derivative-based detection. By calculating the first derivative and analyzing its minimum and maximum values, the system creates a new parameter space for validation that is more sensitive to signal validity while requiring less processing time than comprehensive waveform analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3328485B1Detection of valid signals versus artifacts in a multichannel mapping system
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 MEDTRONIC INC
  • EP3328485B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3328485B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3328485B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and associated method is disclosed that comprises an electrode apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to be located proximate tissue of a patient. A display apparatus comprising a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to present information to a user. A computing apparatus coupled to the electrode apparatus and display apparatus, wherein the computing apparatus is configured to determine whether a signal acquired from a channel associated with an electrode from the plurality of electrodes is valid and sufficiently strong by i) calculating a first derivative of the signal; ii) determining a minimum and maximum derivative from the first derivative; iii) determining whether signs of the minimum and maximum derivative are different; and in response to determining whether the signs of the minimum and maximum derivative are different, displaying on a display apparatus whether the signal is valid.