ECG Electrode Noise Reduction via Signal Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ECG monitoring systems face challenges in reducing noise levels associated with sensed ECG signals, particularly due to muscular activity, which distorts the cardiac irregularity monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising multiple electrodes arranged in a circular configuration around a reference electrode, with a processor that estimates noise levels and selects the pair of electrodes with the smallest noise difference to store and export clean ECG signals, effectively mitigating noise from muscular activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple electrodes are used to sense ECG signals, then the ability to reduce noise levels is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensing system into multiple electrode pairs (first pair and second pair) that can be independently evaluated. Each pair senses ECG signals separately, allowing the processor to compare noise levels between pairs and select the cleaner signal, thereby reducing overall noise while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor dynamically changes the selection parameter by evaluating noise levels of different electrode pairs and selecting the pair with the lowest noise. This parameter-based selection approach allows the system to adapt to changing noise conditions without requiring complex hardware reconfiguration, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction capability and device complexity.
2Duration of action of moving object
If ECG signals are monitored continuously for prolonged periods, then the monitoring duration is improved, but the memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential ECG signal data from the continuous monitoring stream, storing selectively rather than saving all raw data. By processing and identifying key cardiac events, the system extends monitoring duration while minimizing memory consumption by storing only the most relevant extracted information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards redundant or low-quality ECG signal data that does not contribute to diagnostic value, while recovering and storing only the meaningful cardiac events. This selective discarding approach enables prolonged monitoring periods without proportionally increasing memory usage, as irrelevant data is discarded rather than stored.
Data Source
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AI summary
A medical device includes multiple electrodes and a processor. The multiple electrodes are coupled to a substrate attached externally to a patient and are configured to sense multiple respective electrical signals from an organ of the patient. The processor is configured to estimate two or more noise levels associated with the electrical signals sensed by two or more respective pairs of the electrodes, to select the electrical signals having a smallest noise level from among the two or more noise levels, and to provide only the selected electrical signals for analysis.