Motion Sensor Arrhythmia Triage via BCG Signal Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for detecting cardiac arrhythmias in wearable devices face challenges due to high power consumption and noise interference from user motion, particularly with ECG and PPG signals, which affect accuracy and battery life.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing low-power motion sensors to detect ballistocardiography (BCG) and seismocardiography (SCG) signals, incorporating channel combination, cross-correlation, and a probability hybrid network for arrhythmia detection, with post-correction methods to reduce false alarms and noise identification, enabling continuous monitoring with extended battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If ECG or PPG sensors are used for arrhythmia detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearrhythmia detection accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines motion sensor data with optical sensor data to detect arrhythmias. The motion sensor captures ballistocardiography signals while the optical sensor captures photoplethysmogram signals, and their combination enables accurate arrhythmia detection with lower power consumption than ECG systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motion sensor serves multiple functions: it detects user motion for activity recognition, captures ballistocardiography signals for heart rate detection, and provides data for arrhythmia classification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors, lowering overall power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Use of energy by moving object

If motion sensors are used to detect BCG signals, then power consumption is reduced, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to motion noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidheartbeat detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of motion into a beneficial signal. By capturing ballistocardiography signals during motion and using machine learning classification, the system distinguishes true cardiac signals from motion artifacts, turning motion-induced noise into useful diagnostic information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical sensor acts as an intermediary to verify heartbeat detections made by the motion sensor. When the motion sensor detects a potential heartbeat, the optical sensor confirms it by detecting the corresponding photoplethysmogram signal, reducing false detections caused by motion noise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If multiple leads are used for ECG detection, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical activity detection accuracyVSAvoidnumber of leads required

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts cardiac information from motion sensor data instead of requiring multiple ECG leads. By detecting ballistocardiography signals from body motion and using algorithmic processing, the system obtains arrhythmia detection capability without the complexity of multi-lead ECG hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If continuous monitoring is implemented, then arrhythmia detection reliability is improved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous arrhythmia detection reliabilityVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic sampling of motion and optical signals rather than continuous high-rate acquisition. The system monitors for motion activity and triggers arrhythmia analysis only when relevant events are detected, enabling continuous monitoring capability while significantly reducing average power consumption to preserve battery life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 provides accurate and continuous arrhythmia detection with lower power consumption, increased precision, and flexibility in monitoring cardiac events without the need for multiple leads, suitable for wearable devices and remote monitoring.

Implementation Method 1

detecting ballistocardiography (BCG) signals and seismocardiography (SCG) signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBallistocardiography: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

detecting ballistocardiography (BCG) signals and seismocardiography (SCG) signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSeismocardiography: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS10849531B2Systematic apparatus for motion sensor and optical sensor based cardiac arrhythmia triage

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method for detecting arrhythmia, including receiving, via at least one motion sensor, channels of raw motion signals for a user; monitoring the channels for motion activity; generating segments from the raw motion signals; determining heartbeat event locations from the generated segments; performing false alarm detection on the raw motion signals and heartbeat event locations to generated refined abnormal candidates.