Method and apparatus for processing ECG signals

US5479933A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Elema AB · SE

Inventors

• Roozbeh Atarius · San Diego, US
• Thomas Ohlsson · Sandviken, SE
• Leif Soernmo · Lund, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 23, 1994
• Grant date: Jan 2, 1996
• Expiry date: Jun 23, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B5/35
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for processing ECG signals for the purpose of detecting low-amplitude signal structures hidden in noise in the ECG signal, the ECG signals, number of cardiac cycles are analog-to-digital converted, and QRS complexes in the converted signals are detected. The signals from at least two cardiac cycles are cross-correlated, and the correlation between these signals in time intervals which comprise at least the time intervals of the two samples is determined. An output quantity representing the degree of correlation is thus obtained, the magnitude of this quantity designating the amplitude of the signal structure in question. This magnitude can then be analyzed to determine if, and where in the signal, the signal structure arises.