Heartbeat Data Alignment via Cross-Correlation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring heart rate variability often rely on either direct or indirect heartbeat data, but they may not accurately align or synchronize, leading to incomplete or inaccurate analysis, especially in cases of abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmias.
Innovation Solution
A method that receives both direct and indirect heartbeat data, aligns them using cross-correlation, and calculates variability by selecting the better signal for analysis, compensating for periodicity variations, and performing spectral analysis to display heart rate variability effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only direct heartbeat data from ECG is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines direct ECG heartbeat data with indirect pulse oximeter heartbeat data into a unified analysis system. The system merges these two data sources, aligns them through cross-correlation, and integrates their strengths to achieve more comprehensive heart rate variability measurement while reducing overall system complexity compared to using ECG alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses cross-correlation analysis as an intermediary mechanism to align and synchronize the direct ECG data with indirect pulse oximeter data. This intermediary process enables the system to reconcile differences between direct and indirect measurements, creating a coherent combined dataset that improves measurement accuracy without requiring complex synchronization hardware.
2Device complexity
If only indirect heartbeat data from pulse oximeter is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges indirect pulse oximeter data with direct ECG data to enhance measurement precision. By combining the simplicity of indirect measurement with the accuracy of direct measurement, the system achieves superior heart rate variability analysis while maintaining lower device complexity than ECG-only systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cross-correlation as an intermediary alignment mechanism that enables the system to synchronize indirect pulse oximeter heartbeat data with direct ECG data. This intermediary process allows the system to leverage the simplicity of indirect measurement while compensating for its limitations through alignment with direct measurement data.
3Adaptability or versatility
If direct and indirect heartbeat data are combined without alignment, then comprehensive analysis is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cross-correlation analysis as an intermediary alignment process that synchronizes direct and indirect heartbeat data before combined analysis. This intermediary alignment step ensures that corresponding heartbeat events from both data sources are properly matched in time, enabling comprehensive analysis while maintaining measurement precision through accurate data registration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary alignment of direct and indirect heartbeat data through cross-correlation before conducting the combined heart rate variability analysis. This preliminary action of aligning and synchronizing the data ensures that subsequent comprehensive analysis maintains high measurement precision by working with properly registered data pairs.
Data Source
AI summary
One method for measuring variability between direct heartbeat data and indirect heartbeat data includes: receiving first heartbeat data from an electrocardiogram over a period of time; receiving second heartbeat data from an indirect measure of heartbeat data over at least a portion of the period of time; calculating, by a computing device, a difference between the first heartbeat data and the second heartbeat data; and comparing the difference to determine a variation.