Mechanocardiography Feature Point Identification Using Gravity Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing heart valve issues, such as ECG, phonocardiogram, and echocardiography, are limited in their ability to accurately and conveniently monitor heart valve operations and blood flow, particularly in detecting abnormalities like valvular stenosis and regurgitation, and require professional personnel and bulky equipment.
Innovation Solution
A method using a device with gravity sensors and ECG sensing modules to measure cardiac vibrations on the body surface, identifying feature points like transmitral atrial contraction maximal flow, lateral wall contraction maximal velocity, transaortic maximal flow, transpulmonary maximal flow, and septal wall contraction maximal velocity, which are correlated with ECG peaks and valleys to improve monitoring and assessment of heart valve function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If echocardiography is used to evaluate cardiac contraction and valvular function, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to bulky equipment and requirement of professional personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical echocardiography system with a simplified sensor-based system. Accelerometers and other sensors directly measure cardiac vibrations and motions, converting mechanical measurements into electrical signals that can be processed by simple electronics, thereby eliminating the need for bulky ultrasound equipment while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses sensors to create copies of cardiac mechanical signals (vibrations, motions) that can be transmitted and analyzed remotely. Instead of requiring direct visualization through complex imaging equipment, the system captures mechanical signal copies that preserve essential diagnostic information in a simplified format
2Measurement precision
If echocardiography is used to evaluate cardiac contraction and valvular function, then measurement accuracy is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to requirement of professional personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical echocardiography system with a simplified sensor-based system. Accelerometers and other sensors directly measure cardiac vibrations and motions, converting mechanical measurements into electrical signals that can be processed by simple electronics, thereby eliminating the need for bulky ultrasound equipment while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-monitoring capabilities where patients can perform measurements themselves using portable sensors. The automated signal processing and analysis algorithms allow non-experts to obtain diagnostic information without requiring professional echocardiography operators, making the system accessible for continuous home monitoring
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If phonocardiography is used to record heart sound, then detection capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to time delay between heart valves closing and signal captured on body surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cardiac signal detection into multiple components measured simultaneously: direct mechanical vibrations from valve closure, body surface accelerations, and electrical signals. By measuring these segmented components concurrently with synchronized timing, the system eliminates the time delay problem inherent in phonocardiography where sound travels from the heart to the body surface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple measurement modalities (accelerometry, phonocardiography, ECG) into a single integrated system with synchronized timing. This combination allows cross-validation and precise temporal correlation of different cardiac events, improving timing accuracy by combining the advantages of each modality while compensating for their individual limitations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for more convenient and accurate long-term monitoring of heart valve operations and blood flow, enhancing the detection of heart valve disorders with improved precision and ease of use compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
measure cardiac vibrations on the body surface
Implementation Method 2
using a device with gravity sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A method to identify feature points associated with the heart valve movement, heart contraction or cardiac hemodynamics is revealed. The mechanocardiography (MCG) is a technology that makes use of vibrational waveforms acquired using at least one gravity sensor attached on one of the four heart valve auscultation sites on the body surface. The data of the electrocardiography (ECG) is recorded simultaneously with the MCG The feature points are identified by comparing P, R and T points of synchronized ECG with the MCG spectrum. By the time sequences and amplitudes of the feature points, the method provides additional clinical information of cardiac cycle abnormalities for diagnosis.