PVC Detection Using RR Interval and Morphology Correlation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical monitoring devices lack an effective method to accurately detect premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in cardiac signals, which are crucial for evaluating cardiac health and risk stratification for sudden cardiac death.

Innovation Solution

A medical monitoring device with sensing electrodes and a processor that determines R-waves, RR intervals, and correlations to identify PVCs by satisfying specific interval and correlation criteria, using techniques such as RR-interval analysis and morphology correlation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If RR-interval analysis and morphology correlation are used to detect PVCs, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePVC detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection algorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection algorithm is divided into separate functional modules: an RR interval analysis module that calculates intervals between consecutive R-waves and compares them to reference intervals, and a morphology correlation module that compares wave shapes using template matching. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining high detection accuracy through the combination of multiple detection criteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple detection criteria (interval and correlation) are applied, then reliability is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePVC detection reliabilityVSAvoidsignal processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary RR interval calculations and morphology template creation during periods when no PVC is detected, storing these reference values for rapid comparison when a potential PVC occurs. This preliminary preparation allows the detection algorithm to quickly evaluate multiple criteria without significant processing delays, as the computationally intensive template matching and interval comparisons are pre-computed or pre-prepared.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3285638B1Apparatus for determining a premature ventricular contraction in a medical monitoring device
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 MEDTRONIC INC
  • EP3285638B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3285638B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3285638B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and medical monitoring device for determining the occurrence of a premature ventricular contraction that includes sensing a cardiac signal and determining R-waves in response to the sensed cardiac signal, determining RR intervals between the determined R-waves, determining whether a first interval criteria is satisfied in response to the determined intervals, determining a correlation between the determined R-waves, determining whether a first correlation criteria is satisfied in response to the determined correlation, and determining the premature ventricular contraction is occurring in response to the first interval criteria and the first correlation criteria being satisfied.