Mutation signal processing methods, devices and medical detecting apparatuses

Mutation signal processing methods, devices and medical detecting apparatuses are described. The method includes detecting whether or not a mutation signal exists in an input signal; if the mutation signal exists in the input signal, processing the input signal by a filter to obtain an output signal, and updating a prestored difference value according to a difference value obtained by subtracting the output signal from the input signal; and if the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, using a difference value obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal as the output signal.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to the field of medical electronics, and more particularly to mutation signal processing methods, devices and medical detecting apparatuses.

BACKGROUND

In a signal processing system, in order to improve the SNR (signal to noise ratio) of a signal, it is necessary to process signals by a high-pass filter or a low-pass filter to remove some interfering signals. Referring toFIG. 1, due to a pacemaker and other reasons, in addition to normal detecting signals (which are not shown inFIG. 1) and interfering signals (which are not shown inFIG. 1), collected original signals may include mutation signals120. Since the mutation signals120could be used to represent the pace-making regularity of the pacemaker, so it is necessary to reserve the mutation signals120during signal processing. However, when filtering the interfering signals by the high-pass filter or the low-pass filter, due to the existence of the mutation signals120, it will inevitably lead to a distortion of the normal detecting signals and the mutation signals120, thereby affecting the effect of signal processing.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide mutation signal processing methods, devices and medical detecting apparatuses, which can be directed to avoid a distortion of an out signal caused by a mutation signal.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a mutation signal processing method is described, including detecting whether or not a mutation signal exists in an input signal; if the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, processing the input signal by a filter to obtain an output signal, and updating a prestored difference value according to a difference value obtained by subtracting the output signal from the input signal; and if the mutation signal exists in the input signal, using a difference value obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal as the output signal.

The step of detecting whether or not a mutation signal exists in an input signal includes determining whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal according to amplitude variations of the input signal.

The filter is a filter with time-delay or a filter without time-delay.

If the filter is a filter with time-delay, after detecting whether or not a mutation signal exists in an input signal, the method further includes: if the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, updating a stored retaining signal according to the input signal, wherein using a difference value obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal as the output signal specifically includes processing the stored retaining signal by the filter to obtain a filtered signal; updating the prestored difference value according to a difference value obtained by subtracting the filtered signal from the stored retaining signal; and obtaining the output signal by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal after a time-delay.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a mutation signal processing device includes a mutation signal detector, a filter, a first subtractor and a second subtractor, wherein an input end of the mutation signal detector is configured to receive an input signal, a first output end of the mutation signal detector is connected with an input end of the filter, a first input end of the first subtractor is connected with a first output end of the mutation signal detector and the input end of the filter, a second input end of the first subtractor is connected with an output end of the filter, a second output end of the mutation signal detector is connected with a first input end of the second subtractor, and a second input end of the second subtractor is connected with an output end of the first subtractor. The mutation signal detector determines whether or not a mutation signal exists in an input signal, when the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, and outputs the input signal to the filter and the first subtractor by the first output end of the mutation signal detector. The filter then processes the input signal to obtain an output signal, the first subtractor calculates a difference value obtained by subtracting the output signal from the input signal, and then it uses the difference value to update a prestored difference value. When the mutation signal detector detects that the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the input signal is output to the second subtractor by the second output end of the mutation signal detector, and the second subtractor calculates a difference value obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal as the output signal.

The mutation signal detector detects whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal according to amplitude variations of the input signal.

The filter is a filter with time-delay or a filter without time-delay.

If the filter is a filter with time-delay, the device further includes a retainer, and a first input end of the retainer is connected with the first output end of the mutation signal detector, a second input end of the retainer is connected with the second output end of the mutation signal detector, and an output end of the retainer is connected with the input end of the filter and the first input end of the first subtractor. The retainer is configured to update a stored retaining signal according to the input signal when the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, and outputs the stored retaining signal in the retainer to the filter when the mutation signal exists in the input signal.

The device further includes a delayer, wherein an input end of the delayer is connected with the second output end of the mutation signal detector, an output end of the delayer is connected with the first input end of the second subtractor, and the delayer is configured to input the input signal which is output by the mutation signal detector to the second subtractor after a predetermined time-delay.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a medical detecting apparatus includes a mutation signal detector, a filter, a first subtractor and a second subtractor, wherein an input end of the mutation signal detector is configured to receive an input signal, a first output end of the mutation signal detector is connected with an input end of the filter, a first input end of the first subtractor is connected with a first output end of the mutation signal detector and the input end of the filter, a second input end of the first subtractor is connected with the output end of the filter, a second output end of the mutation signal detector is connected with a first input end of the second subtractor, and a second input end of the second subtractor is connected with an output end of the first subtractor. The mutation signal detector determines whether or not a mutation signal exists in an input signal. When the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, the detector outputs the input signal to the filter and the first subtractor by the first output end of the mutation signal detector. The filter then processes the input signal to obtain an output signal, the first subtractor calculates a difference value obtained by subtracting the output signal from the input signal, and then it uses the difference value to update a prestored difference value. When the mutation signal detector detects that the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the input signal is output to the second subtractor by the second output end of the mutation signal detector, and the second subtractor calculates a difference value obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal as the output signal.

Wherein, the mutation signal detector detects whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal according to amplitude variations of the input signal.

Wherein, the filter is a filter with time-delay or a filter without time-delay.

If the filter is a filter with time-delay, the medical detecting apparatus further comprises a retainer, and a first input end of the retainer is connected with the first output end of the mutation signal detector, a second input end of the retainer is connected with the second output end of the mutation signal detector, and an output end of the retainer is connected with the input end of the filter and the first input end of the first subtractor. The retainer is then configured to update a stored retaining signal according to the input signal when the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, and then outputs the stored retaining signal in the retainer to the filter when the mutation signal exists in the input signal.

The medical detecting apparatus further comprises a delayer, wherein an input end of the delayer is connected with the second output end of the mutation signal detector, an output end of the delayer is connected with the first input end of the second subtractor, and the delayer is configured to input the input signal, which is output by the mutation signal detector, to the second subtractor after a predetermined time-delay.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, according to the working principle of a high-pass filter, a baseline of the input signal can be removed by the high-pass filter. Therefore, when the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, the prestored difference value can be obtained by subtracting the output signal from the input signal first, thereby obtaining the baseline of the input signal. When the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the input signal will not pass through the high-pass filter, but subtracts the prestored difference value, which is obtained when the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal to obtain a difference value, and the difference value obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal can be taken as the output signal, thereby removing the baseline of the input signal, which avoids distortion of the normal detecting signal and the mutation signal because the mutation signal passes through the high-pass filter. For a low-pass filter, although the baseline of the input signal cannot be removed by the low-pass filter, it will not cause any adverse effects in the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The following text, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings according to various embodiments, clearly describes technical proposals according to various embodiments. It would be obvious that the described embodiments are part but not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by persons having ordinary skills without paying for any creative work based on the illustrated embodiments should all be within the scope according to various embodiments.

FIG. 2is a flowchart of a mutation signal processing method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The mutation signal processing method according to the present embodiment includes the following steps:

Step210: detecting whether or not a mutation signal exists in an input signal.

Specifically, the mutation signal detector determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal according to amplitude variations of the input signal. For example, the mutation signal detector determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal in accordance with whether or not the amplitude of the input signal exceeds a threshold value in an instant or within a period of time. If the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, the method enters step220. If the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the method enters step230.

The threshold value is associated with the amplitude of the input signal. In general, the greater the amplitude of the input signal is, the greater the threshold value is set, and the smaller the amplitude of the input signal is, the smaller the threshold value is set, which will not be restricted here in embodiments of the present disclosure.

It should be understood that, in other embodiments, the mutation signal detector determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal by some other means. For example, the mutation signal detector determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal according to variations of the input signal energy.

Step220: processing the input signal by a filter to obtain an output signal, and updating a prestored difference value according to a difference value obtained by subtracting the output signal from the input signal.

Specifically, in a first mode, the filter is a filter without time-delay, that is, after the input signal is processed by the filter, an output signal can be obtained immediately. If the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, the output signal can be obtained after the input signal is processed by the filter, and the difference value obtained by subtracting the output signal from the input signal can be used to update the prestored difference value.

In a second mode, the filter is a filter with time-delay, that is, after the input signal is input to the filter, a corresponding output signal will be obtained in the output end of the filter after a predetermined time-delay. If the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the output signal can be obtained after the input signal is processed by the filter, and the difference value obtained by subtracting the output signal from the input signal can be used to update the prestored difference value. Specifically, the input signal can be used to update a stored retaining signal, then the output signal can be obtained after the stored retaining signal is processed by the filter, and then a difference value obtained by subtracting the output signal from the stored retaining signal can be used to update the prestored difference value.

Step230: taking a difference value obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal as the output signal.

Specifically, in the first mode, the filter is a filter without time-delay. The output signal can be obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal, where the prestored difference value is a difference value that is calculated when the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal. The prestored difference value is an amplitude of a baseline, which is calculated when the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, while the amplitude of the baseline is constant. Therefore, when the mutation signal exists in the input signal, by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal to obtain the output signal, the amplitude of the baseline can remain consistent.

In the second mode, the filter is a filter with time-delay. Similar to the first mode, the output signal can be obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal.

FIG. 3is a structure diagram of a mutation signal processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and will be described in detail as follows. In a first mode, within a filter system, there is a filter without time-delay, and a mutation signal processing device in one embodiment includes a mutation signal detector310, a filter320, a first subtractor330and a second subtractor340. An input end of the mutation signal detector310is configured to receive an input signal; a first output end of the mutation signal detector310is connected with an input end of the filter320. A first input end of the first subtractor330is connected to a common end of the mutation signal detector310and the filter320, a second input end of the first subtractor330is connected with an output end of the filter320, a first input end of the second subtractor340is connected with a second output end of the mutation signal detector310, and a second input end of the second subtractor340is connected with an output end of the first subtractor330.

The mutation signal does not exist in the input signal at the time T1and the time T2, and the mutation signal exists in the input signal at the time T3and the time T4.

At the time T1, an input signal X1is input to the mutation signal detector310, and the mutation signal detector310determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal X1at the time T1in accordance with whether or not an amplitude of the input signal X1exceeds a threshold value. If the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, the input signal X1will be input to the filter320to filter out the interfering signal which contains a baseline signal in the input signal X1, thereby obtaining an output signal Y1at the time T1. Simultaneously, the input signal X1and the output signal Y1at the time T1are input to the first subtractor330to obtain a prestored difference value E1by subtracting the output signal Y1at the time T1from the input signal X1at the time T1. That is, the prestored difference value E1is the interfering signal filtered by the filter320at the time T1.

At the time T2, an input signal X2is input to the mutation signal detector310, which determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal X2at the time T2in accordance with whether or not an amplitude of the input signal X2exceeds the threshold value. If the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, the input signal X2will be input to the filter320to filter out the interfering signal, which contains a baseline signal in the input signal X2, thereby obtaining an output signal Y2at the time T2. Simultaneously, the input signal X2the output signal Y2at the time T2are input to the first subtractor330to obtain a prestored difference value E2by subtracting the output signal Y2at the time T2from the input signal X2at the time T2. That is, the prestored difference value E2is the interfering signal filtered by the filter320at the time T2.

At the time T3, an input signal X3is input to the mutation signal detector310, which determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal X3at the time T3in accordance with whether or not an amplitude of the input signal X3exceeds the threshold value. If the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the input signal X3, which contains a mutation signal, will not be input to the filter320, but will be directly output to the second subtractor340. Simultaneously, the prestored difference value E2will be output to the second subtractor340by the first subtractor330, and then an output signal Y′3can be obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value E2from the input signal X3at the time T3. Since the input signal X3will not be input to the filter320and the first subtractor330, the output of the first subtractor330remains to be the prestored difference value E2.

At the time T4, an input signal X4is input to the mutation signal detector310, which determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal X4at the time T4in accordance that whether or not an amplitude of the input signal X4exceeds the threshold value. If the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the input signal X4, which contains a mutation signal, will not be input to the filter320, but will be directly output to the second subtractor340. Simultaneously, the prestored difference value E2will be output to the second subtractor340by the first subtractor330, and then an output signal Y′4can be obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value E2from the input signal X4at the time T4.

Therefore, when the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the input signal will not be input to the filter for filtering, but it subtracts the interfering signal, which is obtained when the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, thereby avoiding a distortion caused by the filter.

FIG. 4is a structure diagram of a mutation signal processing device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, and will be described as follows. In a second mode, the filter is a filter with time-delay. The mutation signal processing device in another embodiment includes a mutation signal detector410, a filter420, a retainer430, a delayer440, a first subtractor450and a second subtractor460. An input end of the mutation signal detector410is configured to receive an input signal, a first output end of the mutation signal detector410is connected with an input end of the filter420, a first input end of the retainer430is connected with a first output end of the mutation signal detector410, a second input end of the retainer430is connected with a second output end of the mutation signal detector410, an output end of the retainer430is connected with the first output end of the mutation signal detector410, an input end of the delayer440is connected with the second output end of the mutation signal detector410, an output end of the delayer440is connected with a first input end of the second subtractor460, a first input end of the first subtractor450is connected to a common end of the mutation signal detector410and the filter420, a second input end of the first subtractor450is connected with the output end of the filter420, and a second input end of the second subtractor460is connected with an output end of the first subtractor450.

The mutation signal does not exist in the input signal at the time T1and the time T2, and the mutation signal exists in the input signal at the time T3and the time T4.

At the time T1, an input signal X1is input to the mutation signal detector410, and the mutation signal detector410determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal X1at the time T1in accordance with whether or not the amplitude of the input signal X1exceeds a threshold value. If the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, the input signal X1will be input to the filter420for filtering, and simultaneously, the input signal X1will be input to the retainer430for retaining. Since the filter is a filter with time-delay, after a predetermined time-delay (assuming that the predetermined time-delay is five times), the filter420can output an output signal Y1at the time T6, where the interfering signal which contains a baseline signal in the input signal X1has been filtered out.

At the time T2, an input signal X2is input to the mutation signal detector410, and the mutation signal detector410determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal X2at the time T2in accordance with whether or not the amplitude of the input signal X2exceeds the threshold value. If the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, the input signal X2will be input to the filter420for filtering, and simultaneously, the input signal X2will be input to the retainer430for retaining. Since the filter is a filter with time-delay, after a predetermined time delay (assuming that the predetermined time delay is five times), the filter420can output an output signal Y2at the time T7.

At the time T3, an input signal X3is input to the mutation signal detector410, and the mutation signal detector410determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal X3at the time T3in accordance with whether or not the amplitude of the input signal X3exceeds the threshold value. If the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the input signal X2is input to the retainer430for retaining at the time T2will be output to the filter420. Simultaneously, the input signal X3, which contains the mutation signal, is input to the delayer440. The time-delay of the delayer440is the same as the predetermined time-delay; therefore, the input signal X3, which contains the mutation signal, will be output to the second subtractor460at the time T8. Simultaneously, the input signal X2is output to the first subtractor450by the retainer430, and then a prestored difference value E2can be obtained by subtracting the output signal Y2input to the first subtractor450from the input signal X2. In the second subtractor460, an output signal Y8at the time T8can be obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value E2from the input signal X3.

At the time T4, an input signal X4is input to the mutation signal detector310, and the mutation signal detector310determines whether or not the mutation signal exists in the input signal X4at the time T4in accordance with whether or not amplitude of the input signal X4exceeds the threshold value. If the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the input signal X2is input to the retainer430for retaining at the time T2it will be output to the filter420. Simultaneously, the input signal X4, which contains the mutation signal, is input to the delayer440. The time-delay of the delayer440is the same as the predetermined time-delay; therefore, the input signal X4, which contains the mutation signal, will be output to the second subtractor460at the time T9. Simultaneously, the input signal X2is output to the first subtractor450by the retainer430, and then the prestored difference value E2can be obtained by subtracting the output signal Y2input to the first subtractor450from the input signal X2. In the second subtractor460, an output signal Y9at the time T9can be obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value E2from the input signal X4.

Therefore, when the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the input signal will not be input to the filter for filtering, but it subtracts the interfering signal, which is obtained when the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, thereby avoiding a distortion caused by the filter.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above, and according to the working principle of a high-pass filter, the baseline of the input signal can be removed by the high-pass filter. Therefore, when the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, the prestored difference value can be obtained by subtracting the output signal from the input signal first, thereby obtaining the baseline of the input signal. When the mutation signal exists in the input signal, the input signal will not pass through the high-pass filter, but it subtracts the prestored difference value, which is obtained when the mutation signal does not exist in the input signal, to obtain a difference value, and the difference value obtained by subtracting the prestored difference value from the input signal can be used as the output signal, thereby removing the baseline of the input signal, which avoids distortion of the normal detecting signal and the mutation signal because the mutation signal passes through the high-pass filter. For a low-pass filter, although the baseline of the input signal cannot be removed by the low-pass filter, it will not cause any adverse effects in the present disclosure.

As described above, an undistorted signal can be obtained as shown inFIG. 1according to the present disclosure, which brings a good experimental result.

A medical detecting apparatus is further provided in one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the medical detecting apparatus includes the mutation signal processing device as described above. For example seeFIGS. 3 and 4, and other related descriptions herein.

A person having ordinary skills in the art can understand that part or all of the processes in the methods described above may be implemented by a computer program instructing hardware. The program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. When executed, the program may execute processes in the above-mentioned embodiments. The storage medium may be a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), etc.

The foregoing descriptions are merely embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Any variation or replacement made by persons of ordinary skills in the art without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure shall be subject to the appended claims.