R-R Interval Plot for Cardiac Rhythm Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring methods fail to effectively present R-R interval data in a concise and temporally relevant manner, leading to difficulties in diagnosing cardiac rhythm disorders, particularly those that manifest over extended time frames, as existing methods like Poincare plots lose temporal correlation and contextual information.
Innovation Solution
A digital system that presents R-R interval data in a format combining near field and far field ECG views, with an extended duration R-R interval plot, allowing physicians to visualize heart rate variability and contextual events simultaneously, enhancing diagnostic accuracy by providing a temporal reference point for cardiac rhythm disorders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ECG is displayed at traditional paper speed of 25 mm/s, then diagnostic resolution of ECG waveforms is maintained, but extended duration recordings become cumbersome and require significant data storage and navigation effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ECG display into two distinct views: a near-field view showing detailed waveforms at traditional paper speed for diagnostic precision, and a far-field view compressing extended duration recordings to show temporal context and R-R interval patterns. This segmentation allows physicians to simultaneously access both high-resolution waveform details and long-term rhythm patterns without the cumbersome navigation required by traditional single-speed displays.
2Measurement precision
If Poincare plot is used to visualize R-R intervals, then heart rate variability is shown, but temporal correlation and contextual information are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of Poincare plots with traditional ECG display by integrating an R-R interval plot alongside the near-field and far-field ECG views. The R-R interval plot preserves temporal correlation by displaying intervals in chronological sequence with visual indicators of temporal relationships, while still providing heart rate variability visualization. This combination maintains the contextual information that pure Poincare plots lose.
3Reliability
If half-hour ECG recording is displayed at 25 mm/s, then complete cardiac rhythm information is captured, but the display becomes voluminous and requires significant navigation between pages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a temporal compression dimension by creating a far-field view that horizontally compresses extended duration ECG recordings. This dimensional transformation allows a half-hour recording to be displayed in a single continuous view rather than requiring navigation across multiple pages. The compression maintains key temporal relationships and contextual information while dramatically improving ease of operation for reviewing extended recordings.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for facilitating a cardiac rhythm disorder diagnosis with the aid of a digital computer is provided. Cutaneous action potentials of a patient are recorded over a set period of time as ECG data and a difference between recording times of successive pairs of R-wave peaks are recorded as R-R intervals. A heart rate is associated with each time difference. An R-R interval plot of the ECG data is generated. A presence of a cardiac event is displayed by presenting a presence of sinus tachycardia or a presence of bradycardia via the R-R interval plot.