Pacemaker Pulse Detection via Signal Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Detection of pacing stimulus artifacts from implanted electronic pacemakers is challenging due to advanced device generations and complex artifact morphology, which complicates identification in ECG signals.
Innovation Solution
A cardiac monitoring system with a sensor and data acquisition module that isolates the pacemaker signal from the ECG signal using distinct signal paths and filters, allowing for the identification of pace pulses through filtering, sampling, and morphological analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sophisticated and evolved generations of implanted pacemakers are used, then pacemaker functionality and stimulation capability are improved, but artifact morphology becomes more complex and smaller, making detection more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ECG signal is segmented into different frequency components through filtering. The pacemaker artifact signal path processes frequencies above 15 Hz to isolate pace pulses, while the cardiac signal path processes frequencies below 15 Hz to capture cardiac activity. This frequency-based segmentation allows simultaneous optimization of both pacemaker functionality and artifact detection.
Solution Approach 2:
A digital filter acts as an intermediary between the raw ECG signal and the detection algorithms. The filter separates the composite signal into pacemaker artifact components and cardiac signal components, enabling accurate detection of pace pulses even when they are small and complex in morphology.
2Reliability
If standard ECG signal processing is used, then overall cardiac monitoring is maintained, but pacemaker artifacts are lost or misidentified due to filtering and morphological complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is divided into two parallel signal paths: one optimized for cardiac signal detection (low-pass filter <15 Hz) and another optimized for pacemaker artifact detection (high-pass filter >15 Hz). This segmentation allows each path to be tuned for its specific detection target, improving both reliability of cardiac monitoring and precision of pace pulse identification simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-dimensional ECG analysis to two-dimensional signal processing by separating signals into frequency domains. The orthogonal filtering approach creates independent detection channels, allowing reliable cardiac monitoring and precise pace pulse identification to occur in parallel without interference.
3Illumination intensity
If ECG sensors are aligned with pacing stimulus transmission vector, then signal strength is improved, but artifact morphology is modified making identification more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The detection approach changes the parameter used for identification from morphology-based to amplitude-based. By detecting the large amplitude pacemaker artifacts in the high-pass filtered signal, the system can identify pace pulses regardless of how biological tissue and sensor alignment have modified the artifact morphology in the standard ECG signal.
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
Effectively isolates and identifies pacemaker signals within ECG signals, reducing noise interference and improving the detection of pace pulses, even in complex morphologies, thereby enhancing pacemaker monitoring accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
Isolating the pacemaker signal includes filtering the ECG signal
Data Source
AI summary
A cardiac monitoring system is disclosed herein. The cardiac monitoring system includes a sensor adapted to collect an ECG signal that comprises a pacemaker signal and a cardiac signal. The cardiac monitoring system also includes a data acquisition module adapted to receive the ECG signal from the sensor. The data acquisition module includes a signal path adapted to isolate the pacemaker signal from the remainder of the ECG signal, and a processor adapted to identify a pace pulse on the isolated pacemaker signal.