ECG Analysis Polar Coordinate Display for Anatomical ST Level Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrocardiogram analysis reports are difficult to interpret, as they do not clearly indicate the location of heart issues, such as ST increases, and do not align with the viewing directions of diagnostic imaging apparatuses like CT or MRI, making it hard for medical staff to correlate electrocardiogram waveforms with heart anatomy.

Innovation Solution

The electrocardiogram analysis apparatus displays measurement values with different marks for positive and negative values, shows normal and alarm ranges, and includes additional chest leads, with waveforms and measurement values displayed in a superimposed manner to highlight changes, and positions information on the report to match the heart's anatomy, allowing for easier interpretation and alignment with diagnostic imaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an ST level is output in a bar graph, then the electrocardiogram analysis report can be generated, but it is difficult to know in which part of a heart an electrocardiogram trouble such as an ST increase has occurred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of understanding electrocardiogram analysis reportVSAvoidlocation information of heart trouble
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the one-dimensional bar graph representation of ST levels into a two-dimensional polar coordinate system where the angle represents the lead axis direction and the radius represents the ST level magnitude. This dimensional transformation allows simultaneous display of both the location (angle) and magnitude (radius) of ST changes, resolving the contradiction between ease of understanding and preservation of location information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If an electrocardiogram waveform of a chest lead is arranged in the direction from the head side to the heart side, then the waveform can be displayed, but it is difficult to know the correspondence relation between the arrangement of an electrocardiogram waveform and the arrangement of a part of a heart in a diagnostic imaging apparatus

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaveform display arrangementVSAvoidcorrespondence relation information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a polar coordinate system that maps chest lead waveforms onto a circular arrangement corresponding to the horizontal plane of the heart. This allows the waveform arrangement to visually correspond with diagnostic imaging orientations, preserving the spatial relationship information while maintaining clear waveform display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of information

If electrocardiogram waveforms and information about measurement values at different times are simultaneously displayed, then it is possible to comparatively evaluate changes, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemporal change informationVSAvoidoutput part complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple time-point electrocardiogram waveforms and their corresponding measurement values into a single polar coordinate display system. Different time points are represented by different radial distances or angular positions, allowing temporal comparison while using a unified visualization framework, thus reducing the apparent complexity of the output system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2633809B1Electrocardiogram analysis apparatus, and electrocardiogram analysis program
Publication Date: 2017.07.05 NIHON KOHDEN CORP
  • EP2633809B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2633809B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2633809B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An electrocardiogram analysis report simultaneously displays an electrocardiogram waveform and information about a measurement value calculated from the electrocardiogram waveform, such as an STJ level. The report includes a frontal plane display region (4) configured to display a limb leads waveform and information about a measurement value calculated from the limb leads waveform, and a horizontal plane display region (5) configured to display a chest lead waveform and information about a measurement value calculated from the chest lead waveform, wherein the information about the measurement value is displayed at a position spaced apart by a distance corresponding to a size of the measurement value in a direction from a predetermined center point to the relevant lead waveform in both the frontal and the horizontal plane display regions. An arc may be drawn by connecting the points at which the measurement value has a reference value (e.g. the STJ level is zero), and a normal range may be output in band shape along the arc.