Composite Phonocardiogram Generation via ECG Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing cardiac pathologies through cardiac auscultation require extensive training and are challenging due to the need to distinguish between normal and abnormal heart sounds, often leading to reliance on more expensive diagnostic techniques.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes an acoustic sensor and electrodes to detect heart sounds and electrical signals, synchronizing these signals to generate a composite phonocardiogram (PCG) that reinforces heart sounds, reduces noise, and presents them visually or audibly, facilitating the identification of cardiac pathologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If clinicians use traditional auscultation methods with stethoscopes, then diagnostic capability is maintained, but extensive training is required and abnormal sounds are difficult to distinguish from normal heart sounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines acoustic signal detection with electrical signal detection (ECG) into a single integrated system. The acoustic sensor detects heart sounds while electrodes simultaneously detect electrical cardiac activity, allowing synchronization and composite analysis of both signal types to enhance diagnostic precision without requiring separate diagnostic tools
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that uses electrical signals as a reference to synchronize and composite multiple acoustic cycles. This intermediary approach allows abnormal heart sounds to be distinguished from normal sounds through computational analysis rather than relying solely on clinician expertise
2Reliability
If multiple cardiac cycles are synchronized and composited to reinforce heart sounds, then signal quality and abnormal sound detection are improved, but processing time and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary synchronization of acoustic cycles based on electrical signal triggers before composite analysis. By using the ECG as a timing reference, the system pre-aligns multiple cardiac cycles, making the subsequent compositing process more efficient and reducing overall processing time while maintaining diagnostic reliability
3Measurement precision
If acoustic signals from multiple cardiac cycles are synchronized using electrical signals, then heart sounds are reinforced and noise is reduced, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the detection system multi-functional by using the same hardware platform to perform both acoustic signal detection and electrical signal detection. This universal approach allows the system to gather multiple types of cardiac data simultaneously, enabling signal reinforcement and noise reduction through composite analysis without requiring entirely separate diagnostic equipment
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
The system simplifies the diagnosis of cardiac pathologies by generating a composite phonocardiogram that enhances and clarifies heart sounds, reducing the need for extensive training and enabling more accurate identification of abnormalities.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic sensor configured to detect an acoustic signal from a heart of a patient
Implementation Method 2
a sensing module configured to detect an electrical signal from the heart of the patient via two or more electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
In general, techniques and systems for detecting acoustic signals and generating phonocardiograms are described. In one example, a system may include an acoustic sensor configured to detect an acoustic signal from a heart of a patient. The system may also include a sensing module configured to detect an electrical signal from the heart of the patient via two or more electrodes and at least one processor configured to generate a composite phonocardiogram based the acoustic signal and the electrical signal detected over a plurality of cardiac cycles of the heart, wherein the composite phonocardiogram is generated for a representative cardiac cycle. The system may be provided in a single device or multiple devices configured to transmit information between the devices.