ECG Signal Pacing Artifact Cancellation via Digital Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ECG systems fail to accurately compensate for interfering pacing signals, leading to skewed ECG readings due to low and high frequency components from electronic pacing pulses.
Innovation Solution
A digital to analog compensation method is implemented to cancel out pacing charges by adding a cancellation signal to the Wilson Central Terminal (WCT) signal, processed through an analog to digital converter and a digital processor, which produces a more accurate ECG by removing pacing signal contributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ECG systems are used to record biometric cardiogram signals, then the system structure is simple, but the ECG readings are skewed due to low and high frequency components from electronic pacing pulses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ECG signal processing into multiple frequency components using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The signal is divided into low frequency components (containing ECG information) and high frequency components (containing pacing artifacts). This segmentation allows selective filtering of harmful high frequency pacing components while preserving the diagnostically important low frequency ECG signal, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing stage between signal acquisition and ECG display. This intermediary includes FFT-based frequency analysis, identification of pacing artifact frequencies, and selective attenuation of high frequency components. This intermediary layer acts as a mediator that removes harmful pacing signal contributions while preserving the underlying ECG morphology, resolving the contradiction between simple system structure and accurate ECG readings.
2Reliability
If pacing signals are present in the biometric cardiogram signal, then the ECG system can monitor cardiac activity, but the pacing signal contributions skew the ECG readings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful pacing signal interference into a beneficial diagnostic tool. By using FFT to identify the specific frequency components of pacing artifacts, the system can selectively attenuate only those high frequency components while preserving the low frequency ECG information. The pacing signal, originally a harmful interference, becomes a identifiable frequency pattern that can be targeted and removed, improving ECG monitoring reliability without eliminating the pacing function itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the processed ECG signal is continuously analyzed to identify pacing artifact frequencies through FFT. The system uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust the filtering parameters, selectively attenuating high frequency pacing components while preserving low frequency ECG signal. This closed-loop feedback approach ensures reliable ECG monitoring even in the presence of ongoing pacing signals.
3Loss of information
If high frequency components are preserved in the biometric cardiogram signal, then the signal contains complete information, but the low response to high frequency spikes causes inaccurate ECG representation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality filtering by treating different frequency components of the signal differently. Low frequency components (0.05-15 Hz) which contain the diagnostically important ECG morphology are preserved with minimal filtering. High frequency components (>15 Hz) which contain pacing artifacts are selectively attenuated. This local quality approach ensures that information completeness is maintained for diagnostically relevant frequencies while removing inaccurate high frequency noise, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Fast recovery electrocardiogram (ECG) signal method and apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, an ECG apparatus includes an input for receiving a biometric cardiogram signal, such as a Wilson Central Terminal (WCT) signal, and a combiner, such as an adder, for producing a compensated signal. Processing circuitry produces an ECG reflective of the compensated signal and also outputs a signal corresponding to high frequency response of the compensated signal to compensate for low response of the biometric cardiogram signal to high frequency spikes. A resultant ECG is produced by the processing circuitry having pacing signal contribution within the biometric cardiogram signal cancelled.