Method and apparatus for rapid interpretive analysis of electrocardiographic waveforms

• US 8,543,193 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braemar Manufacturing LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cardiocore Lab Incorporated
• Inventors: Satin, Scott L., Cochran, Robert G., Patel, Nirmal R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US11/383,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20060264769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,689 Days
• Field of Search: 600/509, 600/515, 600/523
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/36 Detecting PQ interval, PR interval or QT interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/364 Detecting abnormal ECG interval, e.g. extrasystoles, ectopic heartbeats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/366 Detecting abnormal QRS complex, e.g. widening
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/23 Clustering techniques

Abstract

A method for analyzing a subject-visit group of ECG waveforms captured digitally on an electrocardiograph machine, on a Holter monitor device or digitized from paper electrocardiograms. A cardiologist selects a subject-visit group from a number of subject-visit groups, and each ECG waveform of the subject-visit group is scanned for artifact. Those ECG waveforms containing artifact are annotated appropriately. A determination is made if measurement calipers are present in each ECG waveform, measurement calipers are added to ECG waveforms lacking measurement calipers, and a preliminary interpretation is assigned to each ECG waveform that lacks a preliminary interpretation. Each ECG waveform is assigned a grouping metric, and the ECG waveforms are segregated according to their grouping metric for display and evaluation.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing a subject-visit group of ECG waveforms, the method comprising:

selecting a subject-visit group for a particular patient from a plurality of subject-visit groups;

analyzing each ECG waveform of the subject-visit group to determine whether artifacts are present and annotating each ECG waveform containing artifacts;

determining if measurement calipers are present in each ECG waveform and adding measurement calipers to each ECG waveform lacking measurement calipers;

assigning a grouping metric to each ECG waveform; and

segregating the ECG waveforms according to their grouping metric for display and evaluation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises assigning a preliminary interpretation to each ECG waveform that lacks a preliminary interpretation.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises automatically accepting preliminary interpretations of each ECG waveform having a predetermined level of confidence.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the segregating the ECG waveforms comprises segregating ECG waveforms having an accepted interpretation from other ECG waveforms being grouped for interpretation.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the segregating the ECG waveforms further comprises segregating the ECG waveforms containing artifacts into a single member group for interpretation.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the segregating the ECG waveforms further comprises grouping ECG waveforms lacking an accepted interpretation into groups based on a set of predetermined metrics.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined metrics are adjusted to control the grouping of the ECG waveforms lacking an accepted interpretation.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

selecting a group of segregated ECG waveforms for interpretation;

interpreting sub-groups of the group of segregated ECG waveforms; and

confirming the caliper placement for the group of segregated ECG waveforms.

9. A method for analyzing a subject-visit group of ECG waveforms, the method comprising:

selecting a subject-visit group for a particular patient from a plurality of subject-visit groups;

analyzing each ECG waveform of the subject-visit group to determine whether artifacts are present and annotating each ECG waveform containing artifacts;

determining if measurement calipers are present in each ECG waveform and adding measurement calipers to each ECG waveform lacking measurement calipers;

assigning a grouping metric to each ECG waveform;

segregating the ECG waveforms according to their grouping metric for display and evaluation; and

interpreting a group of segregated ECG waveforms by;

determining if placement of QT measurement calipers on an ECG waveform is necessary; and

assigning an interpretation to an ECG waveform of the group of segregated ECG waveforms.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises accepting the QT measurement placement and interpretation of at least one ECG waveform of the group of segregated ECG waveforms.