ECG Pacing Signal Processing via Segmented High-Rate Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ECG monitoring systems struggle to accurately distinguish and process pacing signals from pacemakers, leading to interference issues and incomplete or excessive smoothing, which affects the accuracy of pacemaker status evaluation and ECG analysis.
Innovation Solution
A pacing signal processing method and system that samples ECG signals at a high sampling rate, recognizes pacing signals, acquires position information, and performs morphology analysis to obtain parameter information, allowing for adaptive smoothing to remove pacing signals effectively while preserving ECG signal components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional low-pass filtering is applied to remove pacing signals, then the ECG signal can be obtained, but the pacing signal width broadens and amplitude attenuates, affecting ECG analysis accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ECG signal processing into two distinct paths: one path processes the original high-frequency signal to extract pacing signal parameters (width, amplitude, position) without filtering, while another path applies low-pass filtering to obtain the ECG signal. This segmentation allows both pacing signal characteristics and ECG morphology to be preserved independently, resolving the contradiction between removing pacing interference and preserving ECG accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step where pacing signal parameters are extracted from the original signal before filtering, then used to guide the filtering process. The detected pacing signal positions and characteristics act as an intermediary to control how the low-pass filter operates, ensuring that ECG analysis is performed on filtered signal while pacing signal morphology is preserved in the original signal path.
2Measurement precision
If high sampling rate is used to capture pacing signal morphology, then pacing signal parameters can be accurately obtained, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sampled data into two separate processing streams: one stream processes the high-resolution sampled data to extract pacing signal parameters (width, amplitude, position, morphology), while the other stream processes the same data through low-pass filtering to obtain ECG waveforms. This segmentation allows high sampling rate benefits to be utilized only where needed for pacing parameter measurement, rather than requiring complex processing of all data at high resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts pacing signal parameters (position, width, amplitude, morphology) from the high-frequency sampled signal before the main ECG processing pipeline. By taking out these critical parameters early in the processing chain, the system can use them to guide subsequent filtering and analysis operations, reducing the overall processing complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
3Loss of information
If conventional pacing detection is used, then pacemaker trigger status can be detected, but detailed pacing signal information (morphology, width, height, polarity) cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from simple binary detection (triggered/not triggered) to multi-parameter measurement including pacing signal width, amplitude, position, polarity, and morphology. By applying high-pass filtering and analyzing the frequency characteristics of the detected signals, the system transforms the detection capability to capture comprehensive pacing signal parameters, resolving the information loss problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the high-frequency vibratory characteristics of pacing signals (which are rich in high-frequency components compared to natural ECG signals) to distinguish and characterize them. By analyzing the frequency domain properties and temporal morphology of these rapid signal changes, the system can extract detailed pacing parameters that conventional low-frequency detection methods cannot capture.
4Adaptability or versatility
If pacemaker models from different manufacturers are used, then various pacemaker types can be supported, but a single programmer cannot detect all models, requiring multiple specialized programmers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal detection approach that measures fundamental pacing signal parameters (morphology, width, amplitude, position, polarity) that are common to all pacemaker types regardless of manufacturer. By focusing on universal electrical characteristics rather than manufacturer-specific protocols, the system achieves multi-functionality that can detect and characterize diverse pacemaker models through a single integrated approach, reducing the need for multiple specialized programmers.
Data Source
AI summary
A pacing signal processing method, a system and an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor, the method includes collecting at a high sampling rate the original ECG signal from a surface, obtaining the parameter and position information of a pacing signal according to the sampling points, and displaying the pacing signal morphology and/or parameter information of the pacing signal.