Cardiac Pre-Ejection Period Estimation via Multi-Sensor Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for accurately measuring the cardiac pre-ejection period (PEP) are inadequate, particularly in estimating stress levels due to limitations in detecting electrical heart activation and blood pulse propagation velocities across different body locations.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing multiple cardiac sensors, including ECG, PPG, and BCG sensors, to measure cardiac activity at two body locations, synchronizing data to estimate PEP by forming scatter points and applying linear or non-linear fitting to compute the pre-ejection period, potentially aided by machine learning algorithms for pattern recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple cardiac sensors (ECG, PPG, BCG) are used to measure cardiac activity at two body locations, then measurement precision of PEP is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the measurement task into separate modular sensor components (ECG sensor for electrical activation, PPG sensor for blood pulse detection, BCG sensor for mechanical activity) positioned at different body locations. Each sensor type captures a specific aspect of cardiac activity, and the segmented measurements are later integrated through synchronized processing to compute PEP, thereby achieving high precision without requiring a single complex monolithic device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a multi-functional sensor system where ECG, PPG, and BCG sensors collectively serve the unified purpose of measuring cardiac activity for PEP estimation. These sensors can be used individually for different cardiac parameters but are combined here to provide comprehensive cardiac monitoring, with the same infrastructure serving multiple measurement functions simultaneously
2Measurement precision
If ECG and PPG data are synchronized and processed to determine PEP, then stress assessment accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of ECG and PPG signals independently before synchronization, extracting key features such as R-wave detection from ECG and pulse arrival time from PPG. These pre-processed features are then used in the synchronization and PEP calculation, reducing the complexity of real-time joint processing while maintaining assessment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces time synchronization as an intermediary mechanism that bridges ECG and PPG data from different body locations. By establishing a common time reference and using scatter point formation with linear or non-linear fitting, the system mediates between the raw sensor data and the final PEP calculation, simplifying the overall processing architecture while improving stress assessment accuracy
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 enables precise estimation of PEP, improving stress and recovery assessments by accurately determining the time interval between electrical heart activation and blood pulse ejection, accounting for blood pulse propagation velocities and body location distances.
Implementation Method 1
The electrical depolarization of the ventricle can be observed in an electrocardiogram (ECG) via appearance of a QRS waveform in a measured ECG signal
Implementation Method 2
Cardiac pre-ejection period estimation according to the state of the art is for instance described in OREGGIA ET AL: 'Physiological parameters measurements in a cardiac cycle via a combo PPG-ECG system'
Implementation Method 3
at least one sensor device 16 may be configured to measure a ballistocardiogram (BCG)
Data Source
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AI summary
The present document discloses a solution for estimating a cardiac pre-ejection period. According to an aspect, a method comprises: measuring, from a user by using a plurality of cardiac sensor devices, electrocardiogram measurement data, a first set of cardiac measurement data measured at a first location of the user's body a first distance from the user's heart, and a second set of cardiac measurement data measured at a second location of the user's body a second distance from the heart, the second distance different from the first distance, wherein the electrocardiogram measurement data is clock-synchronized with the first set of cardiac measurement data and second set of cardiac measurement data; determining, in the electrocardiogram measurement data, a first set of time instants associated with electric heart activations; determining, in the first set of cardiac measurement data, a second set of time instants associated with detections of blood pulses at the first location, the blood pulses resulting from the electric heart activations; determining, in the second set of cardiac measurement data, a third set of time instants associated with detections of the blood pulses at the second location; forming a set of scatter points on the basis of at least the second set of time instants and the third set of time instants and performing a fitting for the scatter points; and computing the cardiac pre-ejection period from at least one parameter describing the fitting.