ECG Analog Front-End Pace Pulse Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient monitoring systems face challenges in efficiently detecting pace pulses in cardiac signals, leading to increased processing power and cost, as well as false detection issues due to glitches, which can result in missed real events.
Innovation Solution
An electrocardiogram (ECG) analog front-end (AFE) with an integrated pace pulse detector that identifies leading and trailing edges of pulses, validates them based on amplitude and width, and uses notch filters to prevent false detections, while a ringing window helps differentiate between actual pulses and artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current patient monitoring systems analyze cardiac data to detect pace pulses, then detection capability is achieved, but processing power requirements increase and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pace pulse detection function is segmented from the main downstream processing system and integrated into the AFE device. This separates the detection task from general cardiac analysis, allowing dedicated optimization of detection algorithms and hardware resources in the AFE while reducing the processing burden on downstream systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The AFE device performs self-service by detecting pace pulses internally using its own processing resources rather than relying entirely on downstream systems. This self-detection capability reduces the processing power requirements of external monitoring systems while maintaining reliable detection.
2Reliability
If current patient monitoring systems analyze cardiac data to detect pace pulses, then detection capability is achieved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pace pulse detection functionality is merged with the AFE device, combining two separate functions (signal acquisition and pace pulse detection) into a single integrated device. This reduces overall system complexity and cost by eliminating the need for separate detection hardware and reducing inter-component communication overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The AFE device is enhanced with multi-functionality by incorporating pace pulse detection capabilities alongside its primary signal acquisition function. This universal design allows a single device to perform multiple tasks, reducing the need for additional specialized components and lowering overall system cost.
3Speed
If threshold-based detection is used to identify pace pulses, then detection speed is improved, but false detections increase due to glitches
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing multiple validation criteria (amplitude threshold, width threshold, morphology matching) before confirming a pace pulse detection. This preliminary verification process filters out false detections from glitches while maintaining fast detection speed through efficient algorithmic implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system uses feedback mechanisms where detected pulses are validated against multiple criteria and the results feed back into the detection process. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust detection parameters dynamically and reject false positives while maintaining high detection speed through optimized validation sequences.
4Reliability
If multiple validation criteria are applied to reduce false detections, then detection accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system manages processing complexity by optimizing the parameters of validation criteria (amplitude thresholds, width thresholds, morphology parameters) rather than increasing the number of criteria. This allows high detection accuracy through carefully tuned parameters while maintaining relatively simple processing logic.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed to detect a pace pulse in an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. An example apparatus includes programmable circuitry configured to execute instructions to: identify a leading edge of a pulse in an input signal based on an amplitude change; identify a transition time of the leading edge of the pulse; validate the leading edge of the pulse based on the amplitude change and transition time; identify a trailing edge of the pulse; determine a width of the pulse between the leading edge and the trailing edge; and validate the pulse based on the width.