Electrocardiographic method and device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of analyzing electrocardiographic activity for detecting coronary artery disease in a human being, comprising the steps of:
- a) collecting and storing electrocardiographic signals from the body, each said electrocardiographic signal having a plurality of cycles;
b) establishing an aggregate cycle for each said electrocardiographic signal;
c) for each said electrocardiographic signal, determining the level of variability in said electrocardiographic signal which is due to breathing by;
i) detecting and storing amplitude characteristics of said signal cycles;
(ii) detecting and storing amplitude characteristics of said signal aggregate cycle;
iii) adjusting said signal cycles and said aggregate cycles so that their respective said amplitude characteristics match;
iv) calculating a variance by;
i'"'"') comparing each said adjusted signal cycle to said adjusted aggregate cycle, and ii'"'"') combining said comparisons;
d) calculating the total variability for all electrocardiographic signals based on said calculated variances;
e) outputting said calculated total variability, whereby the effect of variability due to breathing on myocardial variability detection is attenuated; and
f) quantifying the magnitude of coronary artery disease, whereby an increase in said total variability is proportional to the magnitude of coronary artery disease.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting heart disease from an electrocardiogram (ECG) is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of acquiring the ECG signals, correcting for signal variability caused by breathing, and calculating the level of remaining variability due to myocardial function. The apparatus comprises a signal input system, a storage system, a microprocessor and an output system. The microprocessor has program logic for processing signal data in accordance with the above method.
51 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method of analyzing electrocardiographic activity for detecting coronary artery disease in a human being, comprising the steps of:
-
a) collecting and storing electrocardiographic signals from the body, each said electrocardiographic signal having a plurality of cycles; b) establishing an aggregate cycle for each said electrocardiographic signal; c) for each said electrocardiographic signal, determining the level of variability in said electrocardiographic signal which is due to breathing by; i) detecting and storing amplitude characteristics of said signal cycles; (ii) detecting and storing amplitude characteristics of said signal aggregate cycle; iii) adjusting said signal cycles and said aggregate cycles so that their respective said amplitude characteristics match; iv) calculating a variance by;
i'"'"') comparing each said adjusted signal cycle to said adjusted aggregate cycle, and ii'"'"') combining said comparisons;d) calculating the total variability for all electrocardiographic signals based on said calculated variances; e) outputting said calculated total variability, whereby the effect of variability due to breathing on myocardial variability detection is attenuated; and f) quantifying the magnitude of coronary artery disease, whereby an increase in said total variability is proportional to the magnitude of coronary artery disease. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for analyzing electrocardiographic activity for detecting coronary artery disease in a human being, comprising:
-
a) means for receiving a plurality of periodic electrocardiographic signals from the body, each said electrocardiographic signal having a plurality of cycles; b) means for storing said signals; c) a microprocessor having i) means for calculating an aggregate cycle for each said electrocardiographic signal, ii) means for detecting and storing amplitude characteristics of said plurality of signal cycles and said aggregate cycles, iii) means for adjusting said plurality of signal cycles and their respective said aggregate cycles as a function of their respective amplitude characteristics to provide a plurality of adjusted signals, iv) means for calculating a variance for each said adjusted signal, whereby the level of variability in each said electrocardiographic signal which is due to breathing is determined, said adjustment means comparing each said signal cycle to its respective said aggregate cycle and combining said comparisons, and v) means for calculating the total variance of the plurality of said adjusted signals based on said calculated variances; d) means for outputting said calculated total variance, whereby the effect of variability due to breathing on myocardial variability detection is attenuated; and e) means for quantifying the magnitude of coronary artery disease, whereby an increase in said total variability is proportional to the magnitude of coronary artery disease. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
Specification