Wireless ECG Sensor Data Rate Adaptation for MRI Gradient Artifacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems face challenges in monitoring physiological signals like ECG due to high power gradient signals causing artifacts, leading to increased data rate requirements and power consumption, which is costly and inefficient for battery-powered sensors.
Innovation Solution
A wireless ECG signal unit with a processor that dynamically adjusts the data transfer rate based on gradient signal activity, reducing power consumption by maximizing the transfer rate during gradient signal presence and minimizing it during absence, using digital signal processing to optimize the effective number of bits needed for communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high dynamic range receiver and high data rate communication links are used to preserve ECG information content during gradient signals, then ECG signal quality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the data transfer rate based on the presence or absence of gradient signals. During gradient signals, the system uses a higher data transfer rate to preserve ECG information content, and during quiet periods, it reduces the data transfer rate to minimize power consumption. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system's performance characteristics variable rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the data transfer rate parameter according to the operational phase of the MRI system. By monitoring gradient signal activity and adjusting the effective number of bits and corresponding data transfer rate, the system optimizes the balance between ECG signal quality and power consumption across different operating conditions.
2Reliability
If high data rate communication links are used during gradient signals, then ECG data integrity is preserved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic high data transfer rates synchronized with the periodic nature of MRI gradient signals. High data rate transmission occurs only during gradient signal periods when ECG information content requires preservation, and low data rate transmission occurs during quiet periods. This periodic modulation of data transfer rate maintains ECG data integrity when needed while extending battery life through reduced power consumption during non-critical periods.
3Reliability
If additional sensors, chargers, or batteries are incorporated to handle increased power consumption, then ECG monitoring reliability is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors its own operational context (gradient signal presence) and autonomously adjusts its data transfer rate accordingly. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external intervention or additional components to manage power consumption, as the system automatically optimizes its own performance based on real-time conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from gradient signal activity detection to control data transfer rate adjustments. By continuously monitoring the presence of gradient signals and using this information to modulate the data transfer rate, the system creates a closed-loop control mechanism that maintains ECG monitoring reliability while minimizing power consumption without requiring additional hardware components.
Data Source
AI summary
A system (400) for monitoring a physiological parameter of a patient including a wireless signal unit (60, 500) having a transceiver (515) configured to transmit, by a communication link (CL), wireless data associated with the physiological parameter of the patient at a default transfer rate; a patient monitor (70) configured to receive the wireless data transmitted from the transceiver at the default transfer rate; and a processor (64, 505, 535) communicably coupled with the wireless signal unit. The processor is configured to: (i) receive and preprocess (650) an input signal comprising a signal corresponding to the physiological parameter of the patient and transient gradient signals from a gradient system; (ii) determine (650) a gradient signal activity value of the gradient system; and (iii) dynamically adjust (670) the default transfer rate of the wireless data transmitted from the transceiver to an adjusted transfer rate based on the gradient signal activity value.