Continuous ECG Analysis for Defibrillation During CPR

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing defibrillation devices struggle to accurately assess shockable heart rhythms during cardiopulmonary resuscitation due to chest compression artifacts, leading to potential delays in administering life-saving treatments.

Innovation Solution

A medical device that continuously or repeatedly analyzes ECG signals, filters out chest compression artifacts, and provides on-demand recommendations for defibrillation, updating in real-time to ensure timely treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If continuous ECG analysis is performed during CPR, then the accuracy of shockable rhythm detection is improved, but the device complexity increases due to artifact filtering requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshockable rhythm detection accuracyVSAvoidartifact filtering system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes chest compression artifacts from the ECG signal through digital filtering techniques. The system separates the harmful artifact components from the useful ECG information, allowing accurate detection of shockable rhythms despite ongoing CPR compressions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary continuous analysis of ECG segments during CPR, preparing and pre-processing the signals in real-time. This allows the device to have shockability assessments ready when clinicians request recommendations, reducing decision delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If real-time ECG analysis is performed during chest compressions, then the time to administer defibrillation is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to chest compression artifacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime to administer defibrillationVSAvoidECG signal quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful chest compression artifacts into beneficial timing references. By detecting the periodic nature of compression artifacts, the system uses them to guide the filtering process and identify periods when artifacts are minimal, thereby improving signal quality during real-time analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The filtering algorithm dynamically adjusts its parameters based on the detected compression rate and artifact characteristics. This adaptive approach allows the system to maintain measurement precision across varying CPR conditions while continuing real-time analysis without interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If multiple ECG segments are analyzed continuously, then the productivity of rhythm assessment is improved, but the device complexity increases due to continuous processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverhythm assessment speedVSAvoidcontinuous processing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the continuous ECG signal into discrete segments for individual analysis. Each segment is independently evaluated for shockability, allowing the system to process information in manageable units while maintaining continuous monitoring capability. This segmentation approach improves productivity by enabling parallel processing of multiple segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system analyzes more ECG segments than the minimum single assessment would require, continuously evaluating multiple segments in advance. This excessive action ensures that when a clinician requests a recommendation, the system can immediately provide the most current assessment without requiring additional processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Reduces the time to administer defibrillation by providing immediate and accurate recommendations, thereby improving health outcomes for individuals in cardiac arrest.

Implementation Method 1

a detection circuit configured to detect an electrocardiogram (ECG) of an individual receiving chest compressions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical activity detection: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250360326A1Up-to-date defibrillation recommendations based on continuous ECG analysis during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

Systems, devices, and methods provide up-to-date defibrillation shock recommendations. In an example method, multiple segments of an electrocardiogram (ECG) of an individual are detected from an individual receiving chest compressions. The multiple segments are evaluated to determine whether the individual is exhibiting a shockable heart rhythm. A medical device outputs a recommendation indicating whether a defibrillation shock is advised based on the most recent determination of the individual's heart rhythm. For example, the medical device outputs an up-to-date recommendation on-demand in response to an input signal from a user. In some examples, the medical device updates the recommendation based on ongoing analysis of the ECG.