Prone Position ECG Acquisition via Posterior Lead Derivation

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrocardiograms (ECGs) cannot be performed effectively on patients in a prone position due to the inability to place precordial electrodes on the anterior chest, leading to reduced diagnostic value when alternative methods are used.

Innovation Solution

A method for obtaining a conventional twelve-lead ECG in a prone position using four electrodes on the limbs and at least one additional electrode on the back, which allows for the derivation of precordial leads using specific formulas and coefficients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional ECG methods are used on prone patients, then diagnostic value is maintained, but the procedure becomes impossible to perform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic valueVSAvoidfeasibility of electrode placement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional ECG approach by placing precordial electrodes on the back instead of the front of the chest. This allows ECG recording in prone patients without requiring anterior chest access, thereby maintaining diagnostic value while making the procedure feasible in the prone position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary computational method that uses signals from limb leads and a single posterior precordial lead (V7) to mathematically reconstruct the other five precordial leads (V1-V6). This intermediary approach allows derivation of complete precordial information from limited physical electrode placements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If precordial electrodes are transposed to the back in prone patients, then the procedure becomes feasible, but diagnostic value is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeasibility of electrode placementVSAvoiddiagnostic value

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary computational method that uses signals from limb leads and a single posterior precordial lead (V7) to mathematically reconstruct the other five precordial leads (V1-V6). This intermediary approach allows derivation of complete precordial information from limited physical electrode placements, thereby restoring diagnostic value that would otherwise be lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of ECG lead acquisition by using a different electrode configuration (one posterior precordial lead instead of six anterior leads) and applying mathematical transformations to reconstruct the standard twelve-lead ECG, thereby maintaining diagnostic equivalence despite parameter changes in the measurement approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If six precordial electrodes are placed on the anterior chest, then complete ECG information is obtained, but the number of electrodes and procedural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of ECG informationVSAvoidnumber of electrodes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential precordial information from the conventional six anterior precordial electrodes by using only a single posterior precordial electrode (V7) combined with limb leads. The other precordial leads are derived computationally, thereby extracting the necessary diagnostic information with fewer physical electrodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary computational method that uses signals from limb leads and a single posterior precordial lead (V7) to mathematically reconstruct the other five precordial leads (V1-V6). This intermediary approach allows derivation of complete precordial information from limited physical electrode placements, reducing the number of required electrodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4563086A1Method for obtaining an electrocardiogram in pronated subjects

Publication Date: 2025.06.04 FUNDACION PARA LA INVESTIGACION BIOMEDICA DEL HOSPITAL CLINICO SAN CARLOS

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for obtaining an electrocardiogram of a subject in a prone position, which comprises the steps of obtaining two leads (D1 and D2) from four electrodes positioned on the left arm (L), the right arm (R), the left leg (F), and the right leg (neutral electrode) of the subject selected from I, II, III, aVR, aVL, and aVF; obtaining a lead (DP) from one or more electrodes located on the back of the subject, as the potential difference between the additional electrode and a Wilson's central terminal (WCT); and obtaining precordial leads (V1 to V6), which define a derived ECG, from leads D1, D2, and DP.