Heartbeat Detection Using FIFO Buffer Minimum Value Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heartbeat detection methods based on time difference values in ECG waveforms often miss heartbeats with small amplitudes and erroneously detect noise as heartbeats due to amplitude fluctuations and noise superimposition.
Innovation Solution
A method involving FIFO buffers to calculate and process time difference values, detecting the minimum value and determining heartbeat times based on a threshold difference, ensuring accurate detection of R-wave peaks amidst amplitude fluctuations and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple threshold-based detection method is used for heartbeat detection, then the device complexity is reduced and processing speed is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates causing small amplitude heartbeats to be missed and noise to be erroneously detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing baseline removal and preprocessing of the ECG waveform before threshold-based detection. The baseline fluctuation is removed in advance using a moving average filter, which prepares the signal for more accurate heartbeat detection. This preliminary processing step prevents small amplitude heartbeats from being missed and reduces false detection of noise, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism by using a dynamically adjusted threshold value instead of a fixed threshold. The threshold is adjusted based on the local characteristics of the ECG waveform, acting as an intermediary between the raw signal and the detection decision. This adaptive thresholding mechanism improves detection precision by accounting for amplitude variations and noise while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed threshold is used for detecting R-wave peaks, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates when amplitude fluctuations or noise are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the detection threshold adaptive rather than fixed. The threshold value dynamically adjusts based on the local signal characteristics, including the baseline level and amplitude variations. This dynamic thresholding maintains ease of operation since the system automatically adapts without user intervention, while simultaneously improving reliability by responding to actual signal conditions rather than relying on a static threshold that may be inappropriate for varying amplitude conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the detected waveform characteristics to continuously adjust the detection threshold. The system monitors the ECG signal properties and feeds this information back to modify the threshold level, creating a closed-loop detection mechanism. This feedback approach ensures reliable detection across varying amplitude conditions and noise levels while keeping the operation simple, as the system self-regulates based on real-time signal analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a heartbeat detection device. The heartbeat detection device includes a time difference value calculation unit (3) configured to calculate a time difference value of sampling data of an electrocardiographic waveform, FIFO buffers (4-1, 4-2) configured to receive the time difference value, a FIFO buffer (4-3) configured to receive an output from the FIFO buffer (4-2), a FIFO buffer (4-4) configured to receive an output from the FIFO buffer (4-3), a minimum value detection unit (5) configured to detect, for each sampling time, a minimum value M out of the time difference value stored in the FIFO buffer (4-2) and the time difference value stored in the FIFO buffer (4-4), and a heartbeat time determination unit (6) configured to set, when a difference value M−a between the minimum value M and an output value a of the FIFO buffer (4-1) is equal to or greater than a threshold, sampling time of the output value a as heartbeat time.