Pulse Wave Velocity Estimation Using ECG-Gated Single-Sensor Artery Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for estimating cardiovascular health, such as carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), require complex systems with multiple sensors and trained operators, and do not accurately account for isovolumetric contraction (IVC) delays, leading to incomplete pulse wave velocity measurements.
Innovation Solution
A method using a single sensor to detect pressure pulse wave propagation in an artery, combined with an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, to determine vascular transit time and pulse wave velocity, thereby avoiding the influence of IVC delays by identifying a fiducial point in the ECG signal and a pre-systolic pressure pulse arrival point in the artery signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If carotid-to-femoral PWV measurement using multiple anatomic landmarks is used, then measurement accuracy is improved by canceling out IVC delay, but device complexity increases requiring multiple sensors and specially trained operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful IVC delay component from the PWV measurement by using a single anatomic landmark combined with ECG timing. Instead of using multiple landmarks to mathematically cancel out the delay, the invention directly measures the time from aortic valve opening (detected via ECG) to pulse arrival at the single landmark, thereby extracting only the relevant transit time without the confounding IVC delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the ECG signal measurement with the pulse wave detection at a single anatomic landmark. By combining these two measurement modalities, the system achieves accurate PWV measurement without requiring multiple sensors, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If carotid-to-femoral PWV measurement with multiple sensors is used, then PWV estimation accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates requiring specially trained operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service measurement system where the device automatically performs PWV calculation without requiring operator expertise in identifying multiple anatomic landmarks or performing complex differential time interval measurements. The single-landmark approach with automated ECG gating enables laypersons to perform accurate measurements independently.
3Device complexity
If single sensor location is used for artery signal detection, then device complexity is reduced to a compact system, but measurement precision may be compromised due to IVC delay influence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using the ECG signal to detect aortic valve opening timing before the pulse wave actually arrives at the measurement landmark. This preliminary timing reference allows the system to accurately measure only the true pulse transit time from the aortic valve to the single sensor location, eliminating the IVC delay from the measurement even though only one sensor is used.
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 allows for a simple, robust estimation of cardiovascular health using a compact system, enabling continuous monitoring with minimal impact on daily life and providing accurate pulse wave velocity measurements without the need for additional measurements or analysis.
Implementation Method 1
receiving an electrocardiogram, ECG, signal of the subject; determining a fiducial point in time based on the ECG signal, said fiducial point in time providing an indication of onset of isovolumetric contraction of the subject's heart
Implementation Method 2
receiving an artery signal representative of pressure pulse wave propagation at a location in an artery of the subject; determining a pre-systolic pressure pulse arrival point in time based on the artery signal
Data Source
AI summary
A method for estimating a measure of cardiovascular health of a subject (102) comprises: receiving (302) an electrocardiogram, ECG, signal (202); receiving (304) an artery signal (210) representative of pressure pulse wave propagation at a location in an artery; determining (306) a fiducial point in time based on the ECG signal (202) providing an indication of onset of isovolumetric contraction; determining (308) a pre-systolic pressure pulse arrival point in time (212) based on the artery signal (210) to correspond to the onset of the isovolumetric contraction being reflected in the artery signal (210), determining (310) a time period between the onset of the isovolumetric contraction and the pre-systolic pressure pulse arrival point in time, said time period representing a vascular transit time; and determining (312) a pulse wave velocity of the subject (102) based on a physical distance between an aortic valve and the location in the artery and on the vascular transit time.