Anaerobic Threshold Estimation via ECG Inflection Point

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for measuring anaerobic threshold (AT) are cumbersome, requiring blood collection and large-scale devices, making it difficult to easily estimate AT, especially for ventilatory threshold (VT) measurements.

Innovation Solution

An anaerobic threshold estimation method and device that extracts an inflection point from the relationship between a predetermined feature amount in the electrocardiographic waveform, specifically the product of T-wave height and heart rate, to calculate AT, eliminating the need for blood collection and large-scale devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional blood collection method is used to measure LT, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult blood collection and small collection amount requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLT measurement precisionVSAvoidEase of LT measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical blood collection system with an electrocardiographic waveform analysis system. Instead of physically collecting blood samples, the system uses ECG waveforms (specifically T-wave height) combined with heart rate data to estimate anaerobic threshold, eliminating the need for blood collection while maintaining measurement capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the physiological state through electrocardiographic waveforms. By measuring T-wave height and heart rate, the system generates a proxy representation of anaerobic threshold that correlates with blood-based measurements, allowing indirect assessment without actual blood collection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If conventional ventilatory threshold measurement method is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to large-scale devices and masks for collecting expired gas

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVT measurement precisionVSAvoidDevice complexity for VT measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential measurement function from the complex ventilatory threshold measurement system. Instead of using large-scale devices with masks for collecting expired gas, the system extracts and uses only the electrocardiographic waveform data (T-wave height) and heart rate information to estimate anaerobic threshold, significantly simplifying the required equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, complex ventilatory measurement equipment with simple, inexpensive electrocardiographic monitoring. The system uses standard ECG leads and waveform analysis algorithms, eliminating the need for costly expired gas collection apparatus while maintaining estimation accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Measurement precision

If conventional AT measurement methods are used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in measuring AT easily

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAT measurement precisionVSAvoidEase of AT measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with electronic waveform analysis. By using electrocardiographic T-wave height and heart rate data processed through algorithms, the system estimates anaerobic threshold without requiring complex mechanical equipment or invasive procedures, making the measurement process simple and easy to perform

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3777669B1Anaerobic threshold estimation method and device
Publication Date: 2023.07.26 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP
  • EP3777669B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3777669B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3777669B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An anaerobic threshold estimation method includes a first acquisition step of acquiring exercise intensity of exercise done by a target person, a second acquisition step of acquiring an electrocardiographic waveform of the target person who does the exercise, a third acquisition step of acquiring a predetermined feature amount from the acquired electrocardiographic waveform, and an estimation step of estimating an AT of the target person based on a relationship between the predetermined feature amount and the acquired exercise intensity, wherein the estimation step includes a step of estimating the AT of the target person based on exercise intensity corresponding to an inflection point in a change of the predetermined feature amount with respect to the acquired exercise intensity.