Polar Coordinate Heart Activity Visualization for ECG Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for analyzing heart electric activity through electrocardiograms make it difficult for analysts to intuitively confirm changes over time, particularly in identifying irregularities such as atrial fibrillation, due to the graphical representation of duration and electrical excitation.
Innovation Solution
A display control system that acquires heart activity values and displays them as a polygonal figure on a terminal, where the distance from a reference point to each point corresponds to the value and the vector direction rotates with time, allowing for easier visualization of changes in heart activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a conventional electrocardiogram graph is used to display heart activity, then the electrical excitation and duration are represented, but it becomes difficult for analysts to intuitively confirm changes over time and identify irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the conventional linear time-series electrocardiogram display into a two-dimensional polar coordinate system. The radial distance represents the magnitude of heart activity parameters (such as R-R interval), while the angular position represents the time sequence. This dimensional transformation allows analysts to intuitively perceive changes in heart activity patterns and identify irregularities like atrial fibrillation or premature contractions through the geometric shape formed by the plotted points, rather than comparing waveforms along a linear axis.
2Ease of operation
If waveform comparison is performed on a conventional graph, then electrical excitation data is analyzed, but the analyst requires significant effort to compare waveforms at positions apart from each other
Solution Approach 1:
By plotting heart activity parameters in a polar coordinate system where angular position corresponds to time sequence and radial distance corresponds to parameter magnitude, the patent enables analysts to visually compare waveforms at different time points by simply observing the angular separation and radial distance variations. This eliminates the need for meticulous point-by-point waveform alignment and comparison, significantly reducing analysis time and effort while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of a circular/polar coordinate system provides a natural curvature that facilitates rotational comparison of waveforms. Analysts can mentally rotate the display to align different time segments for comparison, or visually assess patterns by observing the symmetry and regularity of the plotted points around the circle. This curved geometry intuitively represents the periodic nature of heartbeats and makes it easier to detect irregularities in rhythm and interval.
Data Source
AI summary
A display control apparatus includes an acquisition part that acquires a value indicating the electric activity of the heart of a person to be analyzed, and a display control part that causes a display part to display a plurality of points corresponding to a plurality of values measured in a target period, wherein a distance between the predetermined reference point and each of the plurality of points corresponds to the value corresponding to the point, and a direction of a vector from the reference point to each of the plurality of points rotates clockwise or counterclockwise about the reference point in the order of times at which the plurality of values are measured.