Diagnostic ECG Signal Representation to Reduce Network Congestion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ECG signal analysis in clinical settings is hindered by noise contamination from artifact signals, leading to precision and accuracy issues, and the transmission of both Diagnostic Quality and Monitor Quality signals congests computing networks, limiting device functionality and requiring increased computational capacity.

Innovation Solution

The technique involves autoblocking Diagnostic Quality ECG signals at the point of acquisition and consumption, using a high-pass filter to correct baseline wander, allowing retrospective analysis and display of Monitor Quality waveforms from the same data, thereby reducing network congestion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If both Diagnostic Quality and Monitor Quality ECG signals are transmitted over the computing network, then real-time monitoring and historical analysis capabilities are maintained, but network congestion increases and device functionality is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveECG signal analysis accuracyVSAvoidnetwork congestion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments ECG signal transmission by sending only diagnostic quality signals at the provider device, while locally generating monitor quality signals at the consumer device through filtering and resampling. This division eliminates the need to transmit both signal types simultaneously, reducing network congestion while maintaining both diagnostic and monitoring functionalities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a local copy of the diagnostic quality ECG signals at the consumer device by applying filtering and resampling operations. This local copying process generates monitor quality signals on-demand, eliminating the need to transmit separate monitor quality signals over the network while preserving real-time monitoring capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If both Diagnostic Quality and Monitor Quality signals are transmitted, then complete signal quality requirements are met, but increased computational capacity is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidcomputational capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary filtering and resampling operations at the consumer device to generate monitor quality signals from diagnostic quality signals. By preparing the monitor quality signals locally through pre-computed filtering operations rather than transmitting them from the provider, the system reduces the computational burden at the provider device while maintaining signal quality requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If artifact signals are present in ECG data, then noise contamination occurs, but transmitting filtered signals may introduce undesirable artifacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise contaminationVSAvoidsignal accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different processing qualities to different signal types: diagnostic quality signals undergo minimal filtering to preserve accuracy for historical analysis, while monitor quality signals generated locally at the consumer device apply appropriate filtering for real-time monitoring. This localized quality differentiation eliminates the need to choose between noise reduction and artifact introduction in transmitted signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 enables efficient transmission and analysis of Diagnostic Quality ECG signals without introducing undesirable artifacts, facilitating historical analyses like 12-lead rest ECG reports and S-T segment analysis while maintaining real-time monitoring capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

using a high-pass filter to correct baseline wander

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh-pass filtering: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentEP4623806A1Network representation of diagnostic ECG signals
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 DRAEGER MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC
  • EP4623806A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4623806A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4623806A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A technique described herein reduces congestion and traffic on the computing system of a clinical care system, thereby easing problems created by such congestion and traffic. Diagnostic Quality ECG signals are transmitted over a computer system by a provider device. Monitor Quality signals consumed by consumer devices of the clinical care system may be derived from the Diagnostic Quality signals on the consumer side. Thus, only the Diagnostic Quality signals need be transmitted over the computing system. (In some embodiments the Monitor Quality signals may nevertheless be transmitted over the computing network should this be desired.) The bandwidth of the computing system therefore need only accommodate the Diagnostic Quality signals. Autoblocking on both the provider and consumer sides of the clinical care system prevents, or at least inhibits, the introduction of undesirable artifacts in the transmitted Diagnostic Quality signals that would otherwise be present due to the transmission.