Method and apparatus for classifying heartbeats in an ECG waveform
First Claim
1. A method of classifying a plurality of heartbeats in an EOG waveform for a patient undergoing a stress test, said ECG waveform obtained from a plurality of ECG electrodes, said method comprising the steps of:
- performing said stress test;
receiving heartbeat data from said stress test;
comparing a first heartbeat from said plurality of heartbeats with a first template stored in memory or storage, said first template corresponding to a first heartbeat classification;
determining if said first heartbeat matches said first template, responsive to said comparing step; and
if said first heartbeat matches said first template,averaging said first heartbeat into said first template;
classifying said first heartbeat as said first heartbeat classification;
storing said first heartbeat classification for subsequent diagnosis;
repeating said comparing, determining, averaging, classifying, and storing steps for the remainder of the plurality of heartbeats in the EGG waveform determined to match the first template, wherein said repeating step continuously updates the first template to track changes in the morphology of the plurality of heartbeats while the patient is undergoing the stress test.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for classifying heartbeats obtains ECG data from a plurality of ECG waveforms, which are in turn obtained from signals received from a plurality of ECG electrodes. QRS detection logic detects heartbeats in the ECG data. Classification logic classifies the detected heartbeats into categories based on shape and/or timing. This classification is done by comparing each heartbeat against a group of templates corresponding to one or more heartbeat classifications. The templates are updated to track changes in the morphology of the heartbeats. The heartbeat classification is displayed to the cardiologist or medical professional for diagnosis of the condition of the patient'"'"'s heart.
174 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method of classifying a plurality of heartbeats in an EOG waveform for a patient undergoing a stress test, said ECG waveform obtained from a plurality of ECG electrodes, said method comprising the steps of:
-
performing said stress test; receiving heartbeat data from said stress test; comparing a first heartbeat from said plurality of heartbeats with a first template stored in memory or storage, said first template corresponding to a first heartbeat classification; determining if said first heartbeat matches said first template, responsive to said comparing step; and if said first heartbeat matches said first template, averaging said first heartbeat into said first template; classifying said first heartbeat as said first heartbeat classification; storing said first heartbeat classification for subsequent diagnosis; repeating said comparing, determining, averaging, classifying, and storing steps for the remainder of the plurality of heartbeats in the EGG waveform determined to match the first template, wherein said repeating step continuously updates the first template to track changes in the morphology of the plurality of heartbeats while the patient is undergoing the stress test. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of classifying a plurality of heartbeats in an ECG waveform for a patient undergoing a stress test, said EGG waveform obtained from a plurality of ECG electrodes, said method comprising the steps of:
-
performing said stress test; receiving heartbeat data from said stress test; comparing a first heartbeat from said plurality of heartbeats with a first template stored in memory or storage, said first template corresponding to a first heartbeat classification, said comparing step further comprising the steps of; deriving an activity function from said first heartbeat; sliding said activity function across said first template; while performing said sliding step, computing a minimum area difference between said activity function and said first template; determining if said first heartbeat matches said first template, responsive to said comparing step, said determining step further comprising the steps of; analyzing said minimum area difference to see if it exceeds a predetermined threshold; if said minimum area difference does not exceed a predetermined threshold, concluding that said first heartbeat matches said first template; and if said minimum area difference does exceed a predetermined threshold, concluding that said first heartbeat does not match said first template; if said first heartbeat matches said first template, averaging said first heartbeat into said first template; classifying said first heartbeat as said first heartbeat classification; storing said first heartbeat classification for subsequent diagnosis; and repeating said comparing, determining, averaging, classifying, and storing steps for the remainder of the plurality of heartbeats in the ECG waveform determined to match the first template, wherein said repeating step continuously updates the first template to track changes in the morphology of the plurality of heartbeats while the patient is undergoing the stress test.
-
-
13. A medical device for classifying a plurality of heartbeats in an ECG waveform for a patient undergoing a stress test, said ECG waveform obtained from a plurality of ECG electrodes, said medical device comprising:
-
a computing unit having a processor, memory and storage, said computing unit further comprising heartbeat classification logic, said heartbeat classification logic further comprising; means for comparing a first heartbeat from said plurality of heartbeats with a first template stored in memory or storage, said first template corresponding to a first heartbeat classification; means for determining if said first heartbeat matches said first template, responsive to said comparing means; if said first heartbeat matches said first template, means for averaging said first heartbeat into said first template; means for classifying said first heartbeat as said first heartbeat classification; means for storing said first heartbeat classification for subsequent diagnosis; and means for repeating said comparing, determining, averaging, classifying, and storing means for the remainder of the plurality of heartbeats in the ECG waveform determined to match the first template, wherein said repeating means continuously updates the first template to track changes in the morphology of the plurality of heartbeats while the patient is undergoing the stress test. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification