ECG Denoising via Stimulation Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient monitors face challenges in accurately displaying ECG waveforms due to electromagnetic noise interference from electrical stimulation systems, leading to misalignment and false alarms, which can compromise patient safety and diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A denoising system that uses synchronization signals from electrical stimulation systems to identify and remove noise artifacts from ECG signals, employing filtering and interpolation techniques to maintain waveform fidelity and accuracy, even during electrical stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If additional filtering is applied to ECG signals to remove stimulation artifacts, then noise interference is reduced, but time delay increases causing ECG misalignment with other physiological signals
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering process is segmented into two distinct stages: pre-filtering applied only to ECG signals to remove stimulation artifacts, and post-filtering applied to all physiological signals to maintain alignment. This segmentation allows aggressive artifact removal in ECG without introducing time delay that would misalign ECG with other signals displayed on the monitor
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies pre-filtering to ECG signals before they enter the main processing pipeline, removing stimulation artifacts in advance. This preliminary action eliminates the need for extensive post-filtering that would cause time delay, thereby maintaining accurate real-time display of ECG waveforms during electrical stimulation
2Reliability
If extensive filtering is applied to remove stimulation artifacts, then artifact attenuation improves, but signal latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering operation is divided into pre-filtering (ECG only) and post-filtering (all signals) stages. This segmentation enables effective artifact attenuation in ECG signals without requiring extensive filtering that would introduce signal latency, thereby maintaining real-time accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
Different filtering characteristics are applied to different signals based on their specific needs. ECG signals receive pre-filtering tailored to remove stimulation artifacts, while other physiological signals receive post-filtering to maintain their timing accuracy. This local quality approach optimizes artifact attenuation without uniformly increasing latency across all signals
3Object-affected harmful factors
If filtering is applied to ECG signals during electrical stimulation, then noise reduction improves, but waveform fidelity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies pre-filtering to ECG signals before electrical stimulation artifacts are introduced, removing 50Hz/60Hz noise in advance. This preliminary action preserves waveform fidelity during stimulation by eliminating noise before it can corrupt the ECG waveform, rather than attempting to filter artifacts after they are introduced
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary approach by applying different filtering stages: pre-filtering for ECG signals to remove baseline noise, and post-filtering for all signals to maintain alignment. This intermediary filtering strategy removes noise without over-processing the ECG waveform, thereby preserving its fidelity during electrical stimulation
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for denoising, or filtering out, unwanted noise or interference, from biological or physiological parameter signals or waveforms such as ECG signals caused by application of electromagnetic energy (e.g., electrical stimulation) in a vicinity of sensors configured to obtain the biological or physiological parameter signals.