System and method for post-processing intracardiac signals

Abstract: An external diagnostic/programming device (29) is disclosed which includes means for both displaying intracardiac signals sensed and telemetered from an implantable pacemaker (20) in real time as an intracardiac electrocardiogram (ECG), and for storing the intracardiac signals for subsequent retrieval and analysis. The subsequent analysis selectively includes processing means (30) for processing the signals off-line, i.e., not in real time, using various signal processing strategies, such as digital filtering and frequency domain spectral analysis. The off-line signals may also be recursively processed in order to enhance the detection of a particular physiologic phenomena manifested by, but not readily discerned within, the unprocessed real-time signals.

Description: Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a system and method for analyzing intracardiac data obtained from an implantable pacemaker and/or a surface (skin) electrogram. In recent years, most implantable pacemakers have included the capability of transmitting an intracardiac electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, either alone or in combination with marker signals. The intracardiac ECG signal provides data indicative of heart activity, including the contraction of the atria as sensed by the pacemaker sensing circuits, the contraction of the ventricles as also sensed by the pacemaker sensing circuits, and the timing therebetween. Further, if stimulation pulses are generated by the pacemaker in order to cause a particular heart chamber to contract at a particular time, such is also evident in the intracardiac ECG data telemetered from the pacemaker. Advantageously, the intracardiac ECG data, when displayed or printed as a function of time, thus provides a "picture" of the performance of the heart and pacemaker. Any problems associated with the heart, or with the pacemaker, are usually evident from an analysis of the intracardiac ECG data. If intracardiac ECG data is not available, then a conventional surface electrogram (EGM) may be made using, e.g., skin electrodes. The surface EGM also provides a "picture" of the performance of the heart and a pacemaker. Because special equipment must be used to record a surface EGM, it is generally preferred for a patient already having an implanted pacemaker to utilize the intracardiac ECG data from the pacemaker as the primarily indicator of the heart's performance. To this end, some pacemaker manufacturers include as an integral part of their diagnostic and programming devices (used by the physician or cardiologist to program and interrogate the implanted pacemaker), the ability to print and/or display the intracardiac ECG data received from the pacemaker as a function of time. Such data, when printed or displayed as a function of time, appears dissimilar to a surface EGM. (It is noted that the shape of some of the waveforms included within the intracardiac ECG data, e.g., a P-wave, representing contraction of the atria, or an R-wave, representing contraction of the ventricles, may appear somewhat distinct from the shape of corresponding waveforms included within a surface EGM due to the different location from which such signals are sensed, one being sensed from inside the heart, the other being sensed at the skin of the patient. However, the timing relationship between such waveforms remains approximately the same.) Further, some recent diagnostic/programming devices (frequently referred to as "programmers") include the ability to "freeze" the incoming intracardiac data so that the displayed intracardiac ECG signal may be carefully studied. An example of a diagnostic/programming device which includes the capability of displaying, printing and freezing the incoming intracardiac data is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,809,697. It should also be noted that the diagnostic/programming device described in the referenced patent also includes the capability of selectively displaying surface EGM data as well as intracardiac ECG data. It is not uncommon when observing intracardiac ECG or surface EGM data on a programming device, or equivalent display, for "noise" to mask out important features of the waveform being studied. (As used herein, the term "noise" refers to any unwanted signal.) When this occurs, it is necessary to identify the source of the noise, if it is identifiable, and then make attempts to eliminate the source of the noise, or at least minimize its effect. For example, there may be a 50 or 60 Hz component present in the waveform which originates with the line power. If this occurs, attempts must be made to filter out this component before it interacts with the circuits displaying the intracardiac ECG or surface EGM data. Once this is successfully done, the intracardiac ECG or surface EGM data (in the absence of the 50 or 60 Hz background noise) may be retaken. Having to retake such data, however, is not only inconvenient and possibly stressful for the patient, but is also expensive to perform. Unfortunately, some types of noise are not specific to a particular frequency, and may not originate from any one source. Hence, it is difficult to separate such noise from the incoming data without also compromising the integrity of the incoming data. In such instances, it is usually necessary to apply one or more different kinds of filters to the incoming data in an attempt to remove the noise without adversely impacting the integrity of the signal. Unfortunately, this typically requires a time-consuming iterative process wherein a particular filter type is selected prior to gathering the intracardiac data, after which the data is gathered and evaluated. Then, based on the results of the evaluation, another filter type is selected (or the prior filter type is modified), and additional data is gathered and evaluated. This process is repeated as many times as are necessary in order to optimize the intracardiac data so that any cardiac phenomena manifested therein can best be detected and observed. Disadvantageously, such an iterative process is not only expensive (both in terms of time consumed, as well as in the costs associated with the design, fabrication and test of the various signal processing elements, e.g., filters which must be used), but it is also bothersome and stressful to the patient. What is needed, rather, is a system wherein the intracardiac ECG or surface EGM data can be acquired once, and thereafter processed as many times as desired using inexpensive, flexible signal processing methods and techniques. As is evident from the above description, one of the problems associated with monitoring the performance of implanted products through telemetry and/or surface patient connections is that the data is typically displayed in real time. Because real-time data is only present for an instant of time, it is thus common to "capture" or "freeze" the data by printing it and/or by storing in memory for subsequent display. However, as the real-time data is thus captured or frozen, a desired signal processing technique must be applied, e.g., filtering, in order to remove any unwanted signals or interference as the data is captured. The use of such real-time signal processing techniques commonly introduces distortion which denies the accurate reproduction of the signal of interest. While many sophisticated signal processing circuits are known in the art which could be used to process a given signal in real-time for a particular purpose, such circuits are complex and expensive to make and operate. Further, if the intracardiac signal is to be processed in real time for more than one purpose, it is typically necessary to successively apply newly acquired real-time data to an appropriate signal processing circuit. Hence, what is needed is a method for analyzing the acquired intracardiac data in non-real-time, e.g., "off-line", thereby allowing a single acquisition of the data to serve multiple purposes. An additional problem facing users of products which are regulated by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), or any other governmental agency, such as pacemakers and programming devices used with pacemakers, is that the appropriate governmental agency must not only initially approve the device itself, but also must approve any modifications subsequently made to the devices, e.g, to any electronic circuitry used within such devices which interfaces in real-time with the patient as the intracardiac data is obtained. Hence, a circuit modification, e.g., to change a filter in order to enhance the observability of cardiac phenomena manifested in the intracardiac data, may require prior FDA approval, which approval may result in a significant delay and expense before it is obtained. What is thus needed is a system wherein modifications to improve the observability of cardiac phenomena can be readily made in a way which does not affect the hardware or software utilized in real time to initially acquire the intracardiac data, and hence which does not need to go through an approval cycle. The present invention advantageously addresses the above and other needs. Summary of the Invention The present invention meets these needs by the system and method according to the claims 1 to 8. In accordance with the present invention, an implantable pacemaker includes conventional means for sensing and telemetering intracardiac signals to a non-implanted diagnostic and programming device remote from the pacemaker. The diagnostic and programming device includes a display for displaying the intracardiac signals in real time as an intracardiac electrocardiogram (ECG). The diagnostic/programming device further includes sufficient memory for storing the intracardiac signals for subsequent retrieval and analysis. Such subsequent analysis selectively includes processing means for processing the signals off-line, i.e., not in real time, using various signal processing strategies, such as digital filtering and frequency domain spectral analysis. As required, the off-line signals may also be recursively processed in order to enhance the detection of a particular physiologic phenomena manifested by, but not readily discerned within, the unprocessed real-time signals. Because the intracardiac signals are processed off-line, i.e., after they have been acquired in real time, such off-line processing is appropriately referred to as a "post-processing." Thus, one aspect of the present invention broadly provides for application of non-real-time signal processing strategies to previously acquired and stored cardiac data. This is in contrast to prior art real-time signal processing strategies wherein cardiac data is processed as it is acquired using specific hardware signal processing circuits, e.g., filters. Advantageously, the off-line signal processing strategies utilized by the present invention are repetitively and recursively applied to the original cardiac data to remove noise, to improve the effective bandwidth, and to provide other benefits not available in real time. As the various signal processing strategies are invoked to process the cardiac data, the cardiac data is selectively and repetitively displayed subsequent to each processing step, thereby allowing the effects of the particular processing strategies to be readily observed. Another aspect of the invention provides an enhanced detection system for enhancing the detection of particular physiologic phenomena manifested within an intracardiac ECG signal or a surface electrogram (EGM) signal. The enhanced detection system in accordance with this aspect of the invention includes four main elements: (1) an implantable pacemaker; (2) a diagnostic system, e.g., external programmer, in signal contact with the implantable pacemaker; (3) a retrieval system for retrieving signals stored in the diagnostic system; and (4) a processing system for analyzing the retrieved signals. The first element, the implantable pacemaker, may be a conventional implantable pacemaker which includes means for sensing intracardiac signals, such as P-waves or R-waves, and means for telemetering these intracardiac signals to a non-implanted location remote from the implantable pacemaker, e.g., to an external programmer. The second element, the diagnostic system, is an external programmer adapted to be in telecommunicative contact with the implantable pacemaker. In most respects, the external programmer is conventional. It includes means for receiving intracardiac signals telemetered from the pacemaker. Unlike many conventional programmers, however, the programmer also includes sufficient memory capacity to store large quantities of data representative of the intracardiac signals received from the pacemaker. The third element, the retrieval system, comprises means for selectively retrieving the intracardiac signals stored in the programmer. Such retrieval may advantageously be performed at any desired time subsequent to receipt of the intracardiac signals, e.g., within a few minutes of when the signals are first received and stored, or within a few days of when the signals are first received and stored. The fourth element, the processing system, comprises a central processing unit (CPU) programmed to selectively process the intracardiac signals retrieved by the retrieval system in accordance with at least one of a plurality of signal processing strategies. These signal processing strategies are selected to enhance the detection of a particular physiologic phenomena manifested within the intracardiac signals, which phenomena may not be readily apparent from an analysis and/or processing of the intracardiac signals in real time. Representative signal processing strategies used by the system of the present invention to process the retrieved intracardiac signals include digital high pass filtering, digital low pass filtering, and Fourier analysis. Advantageously, the CPU may either be a CPU included within the diagnostic system, e.g., a microprocessor within the programmer, and/or a CPU external to the diagnostic system. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for post-processing intracardiac ECG signals is provided. Such apparatus includes: (a) a receiving circuit for receiving the intracardiac ECG signals; (b) an amplifier circuit for amplifying the received intracardiac ECG signals; (c) a memory circuit for storing the amplified intracardiac ECG signals; and (d) a processor circuit for processing the stored intracardiac ECG signals in non-real-time in accordance with at least one of a plurality of signal post-processing strategies. In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for enhancing the analysis of intracardiac ECG signals is disclosed. This method includes: (a) receiving and amplifying the intracardiac ECG signals from a mammalian heart; (b) converting the received and amplified intracardiac ECG signals into digital signals; (c) storing the digital signals; and (d) subjecting the stored digital signals (at a time subsequent to when the intracardiac ECG signals are first received, amplified, converted to digital form, and stored) to at least one signal processing strategy. The signal processing strategy (or strategies) to which the stored digital signals are subjected are advantageously selected to enhance the intracardiac ECG signals so as to reveal characteristics therein which are masked out or otherwise not evident when the intracardiac ECG signals are analyzed in real time. It is a feature of the present invention to provide a system and method which uses non-hardware components to enhance the observation and/or analysis of cardiac phenomena, e.g., rare or aperiodic cardiac phenomena which may otherwise be difficult or impossible to observe using conventional hardware processing techniques. Another feature of the invention allows intracardiac data to be acquired and recursively processed so as to enhance the detection of particular physiologic phenomena without a requirement of having to preselect a particular hardware filtering or processing strategy prior to the initiation of data collection. Hence, the patient need not be subjected to a test repetition in order to acquire data processed through a more appropriate hardware filter. This, in turn, advantageously reduces patient stress and expense. It is another feature of the invention to provide such a signal enhancing system which processes sampled cardiac ECG data "off-line", i.e., not in real time, in accordance with at least one of a collection of signal processing strategies. Such signal processing strategies are advantageously easy and inexpensive to implement, and may be applied, as indicated above, repetitively and/or recursively to the same acquired data without the need of continually subjecting a patient to additional testing in order to acquire additional data under different conditions. A still further feature of the invention allows selected signal processing strategies to be applied "off-line" to intracardiac ECG signals which have not heretofore been available to process such signals in real time. This is because the use of such signal processing strategies in real time is either prohibitively expensive or extremely difficult and complex. Hence, in accordance with this feature of the invention, particular results and insights relative to the informational content of the intracardiac ECG signals are provided which have not previously been available. Yet another feature of the invention provides for the optimization of the analysis and/or display of intracardiac ECG signals so as to remove unwanted noise therefrom, which noise may mask out important features of the signal being analyzed or displayed. Moreover, such optimization advantageously serves to increase the effective bandwidth of the signal being analyzed or displayed. Still an additional feature of the invention provides for the rapid, easy and inexpensive off-line modification of a particular intracardiac signal processing strategy, which modifications (because they are performed off-line) may be implemented without requiring prior approval from the FDA or other regulatory agencies. Description of the Drawings The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the main components of a pacing/programming system; Fig. 2 shows a representative programmer used with the pacing/programming system of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the post-processing system of the present invention, which system may be implemented in large measure using the existing hardware components of the pacing/programming system of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a flow chart of the main program used to control the microprocessor of Fig. 3 in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 is a simplified block diagram of a microprocessor-based central processing unit (CPU); Fig. 6 is a simplified block diagram of the analog input and output circuits used with the post-processing system of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a tracing of an atrial intracardiac ECG before post-processing, with the tracing illustrating both 60 Hz interference and a quantitization error; and Fig. 8 is a tracing of an atrial intracardiac ECG after post-processing using the principles of the present invention, with the tracing illustrating the removal of the 60 Hz interference and the quantization error. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The following description includes the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. Advantageously, the post-processing system herein described includes, with only slight hardware modifications, the same components included within a conventional pacing and programming system. Such a conventional pacing and programming system is shown in Fig. 1. As seen in Fig. 1, the pacing/programming system includes a programmable pacemaker 20, presumably implanted within living tissue, which is in electrical contact with a heart 22 by way of at least one pacemaker lead 24. (It is noted that while the pacemaker 20 in Fig. 1 is presumed to be implanted, it need not be implanted for the pacing/programming system to function. For example, for training purposes, it is quite common to use a programming system with a pacemaker connected to a heart simulator.) The pacemaker 20 is a self-contained unit which is capable of both sensing natural cardiac activity and providing stimulating pulses to evoke paced cardiac activity. The operating parameters of the pacemaker 20 can be noninvasively programmed using a programmer 29. The programmer 29 includes a telemetry head 28 coupled to processing circuits and memory 30 by way of a suitable connection cable 31. Command signals are received within the pacer 20 over a telemetry link 26. These command signals are generated within the processing circuits 30 of the programmer 29 as selected by an appropriate data/command selection input device 32. Thus, intracardiac data sensed by sensing circuits within the pacer 20 are received within the programmer 29 over the telemetry link 26. Such intracardiac data may be displayed on a display 34, printed by a printer 36, and/or stored in memory circuits (included as part of the processing circuits 30) within the programmer 29. When the data is stored in this fashion, the intracardiac data is effectively "frozen" so that it can be observed on the display 34 for as long as desired. Typically, the processing circuits 30 include one or more microprocessors which operate in accordance with a program stored in a program memory 40. Advantageously, some embodiments of the programmer 29 allow the program memory 40 to be detachably replaced with a selected program memory modules, thereby allowing the program carried out by the processing circuits 30 to be readily altered. Data is output from the processing circuits 30 of the programmer 29 over a data line 38. This data may include intracardiac ECG data received from the pacemaker 20, as well as status data relating to the operation of the pacemaker 20 and the programmer 29. This data may be transferred to a central processing unit (CPU) (not shown) for further processing or logging. This transfer may occur through a direct cable connection, as when the CPU is in close proximity to the programmer 29; or through a modem and a telecommunication network, as when the CPU is located remotely from the programmer 29. Fig. 2 shows a representative programmer 29 used with the pacing/programming system of Fig. 1. The particular programmer 29 shown in Fig. 2 includes a housing 44 within which the components of the programmer 29 are housed. For the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, all of the components of the programmer 29 in Fig. 1, except for the telemetry head 28 and the connecting cable 31, are housed within the housing 44. A CRT screen 46, or equivalent display (e.g., LCD display), is used to realize the display 34. Intracardiac ECG data may thus be displayed on the CRT screen 46. The printer 36 is built into the housing 44. The printer includes an appropriate print head (not shown) which allows the selected signals to be printed on paper 52. A roll of the paper 52 is conveniently stored within the housing 44. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, a transparent touch sensitive membrane 33 overlays the CRT screen 46. This touch sensitive membrane 33 detects a particular section or zone thereon which is touched. Hence, a menu of commands may be displayed on the CRT screen 46, with each selection included in the menu occupying a particular zone or area of the CRT screen 46. The operator, to select a given command, need only touch the area of the CRT screen 46 where the desired command is listed in order to select that command. In this way, the combination of the CRT screen 46 and the touch sensitive membrane 33 function as at least part of the data/command input selection device 32 (Fig. 1). Additional commands may be selected by way of buttons 43 located in an array along the bottom edge of the CRT screen 46. The programmer 29 is typically powered through a power line cord 47 which is connected to a conventional 50/60 Hz power line at 110 or 220 volts AC. Unlike the pacemaker 20 (which is powered from a battery), the use of 50/60 Hz line power in this manner sometimes creates a problem because the 50/60 Hz power signal may couple through to the intracardiac ECG or other data. This is particularly a problem because many of the signals included in the intracardiac ECG data have a frequency the same as, or very close to, 50/60 Hz. Thus, the use of a simple filter to remove 50/60 Hz signals from the intracardiac ECG data is generally unacceptable because doing so also removes many of the signals of interest. Turning next to Fig. 3, a block diagram of the post-processing system of the present invention is illustrated. Many of the same components shown in Figs. 1 or 2 are also included in Fig. 3. These same components are referenced with the same reference numerals. As seen in Fig. 3, a patient 18 has a pacemaker 20 implanted (or otherwise carried) in his or her body. This pacemaker 20 is in electrical contact with the patient's heart 22 by way of at least one pacemaker lead 24. The pacemaker 20 is also in telecommunicative contact with the telemetry head 28 of the programmer 29 by way of the telemetry link 26. The telemetry head 28 includes an antenna 53 and a telemetry transceiver circuit 54. It is the function of the telemetry transceiver circuit 54 to receive intracardiac ECG data over the telemetry link 26 and to preliminarily process this data prior to transferring it to the processing circuits 30 of the programmer 29. Typically, this preliminary processing involves amplification, and may involve demodulation (if an RF carrier signal is used in sending the data over the telemetry link 26). The transceiver 54 also receives pacemaker commands and data generated by the programmer, converts such commands and/or data into suitable form for transmission over the telemetry link 26, e.g., modulates the same with a suitable carrier signal, and transmits such commands and/or data to the pacemaker 20. For purposes of the present invention, it is the intracardiac ECG data received from the pacer 20 which is of interest. This data, after receipt and processing in the telemetry transceiver 54, is coupled to a multiplexer circuit 56. Also coupled to the multiplexer 56 are surface EGM data obtained from the surface or skin of the patient 18. That is, skin electrodes 58 and 60, located, e.g., respectively at the wrists and ankle of the patient 18, are connected to surface EGM amplifiers 62. The surface EGM amplifiers 62 may be of conventional design, but are preferably located within the processing circuits 30 of the programmer 29 (Fig. 1). The multiplexer 56 connects a selected one of the telemetered intracardiac ECG signals or the surface EGM signals to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 64. The A/D converter 64 converts the analog ECG and EGM signals into digital data which is supplied to a microprocessor 66. The microprocessor 66 controls the multiplexer 56, over control line 67, so that a desired data source is selected, or so that no data source is selected, at any given time. That is, the microprocessor 66 will always select either the intracardiac ECG data, the surface EGM data, or no data. Coupled to the microprocessor 66 is a data memory 68 and the program memory 40. The data memory 68 provides a medium wherein the incoming digital data from the A/D converter 64 is selectively stored for subsequent retrieval and analysis. The program memory 40 provides a medium wherein the control programs of the microprocessor 66 are stored. As indicated above in Fig. 1, it is preferred that the program memory 40 be replaceable (or reprogrammable) so that the controlling programs of the microprocessor 66 can be readily replaced or revised. Data processed by the microprocessor 66 may be selectively displayed on the display device 34, printed on a printer 36 (Fig. 1), or otherwise made available over a data bus 38. It is noted that while Fig. 3 shows an analog multiplexer 56, i.e., a multiplexer which selects either the analog telemetered ECG data, the analog EGM data, or no data, such is only exemplary. Some embodiments of the invention may perform the A/D conversion prior to selecting it with a digital multiplexer circuit (not shown). In operation, the system shown in Fig. 3 operates in two basic modes: (1) a data gathering mode; and (2) a data analysis (or post-processing) mode. During the data gathering mode, intracardiac ECG data and/or surface EGM data is gathered in conventional manner. This data is stored in the data memory 68. This data may also be displayed and or printed as it is gathered. Advantageously, the intracardiac ECG data and the surface EGM data may be sampled at appropriate sampling rates so as to allow two channels of data to be displayed on the CRT display 46, both having the same time base, one channel representing the intracardiac ECG data, and the other channel representing the surface EGM data. The display is thus the same as is commonly done in displaying two separate signals on different channels of an oscilloscope. Having two separate channels of signals displayed in this manner, where each channel originates from the same source (the heart), but each is sensed differently, provides valuable insight into the interpretation of the informational content of such signals. During the data analysis or post-processing mode, the data previously gathered and stored is processed by the microprocessor 66 in accordance with at least one of a plurality of signal processing strategies aimed at enhancing the detectability and observability of the informational content of the stored signals. Advantageously, the data analysis mode is performed off-line, i.e., not in real time. Thus, different signal processing strategies may be performed on the same stored data at any time after the data gathering mode has been completed. Hence, the data gathering mode need only be performed once (or at least a minimal number of times), thereby avoiding frequent and repetitive contact with the patient, while the data analysis mode may be carried out as many times as is required or as is desired utilizing the previously stored data. To further illustrate operation of the present invention, reference is next made to Fig. 4 where there is shown a flow chart of a main program which may be used to control the microprocessor 66 of Fig. 3. This main program is stored in at least a portion of the program memory 40. Other portions of the program memory 40 contain programs for the various signal processing strategies which are selectively invoked by the main program. In the flow chart of Fig. 3, "blocks" or boxes, each containing a brief description of a particular action or determination which is made by the program as it is carried out, are illustrated. Each "block" is identified by a reference numeral. As seen in Fig. 4, once the main control program is started in block 70, the program initiates the data gathering mode by receiving and amplifying the intracardiac ECG and/or surface EGM signals in block 72. These signals are then converted to digital form in block 74. The converted (digital) signals are then stored in the data memory 68 of Fig 3 in block 76. Once some data has been thus gathered, a determination is made, at block 78, as to whether post-processing (the data analyzing mode) should commence. If not, then a further determination is made as to whether there is any further data to be gathered in block 92. If so, such further data is received and amplified in block 72, and the data gathering process repeats as described above. If not, the program is then terminated or stopped in block 94. If a determination is made at block 78 that post-processing of previously stored data is to be performed, the data analysis mode commences in block 80. This data analysis mode includes a first step of selecting a particular post-processing strategy which is to be used to analyze and/or process the stored data in block 82. Then, the stored data is retrieved from the data memory 68 in block 84. Advantageously, the amount of data retrieved from the data memory 68 may be selected to be as much or as little as desired. Frequently, some cardiac phenomena are manifested in every cardiac cycle, in which case the retrieval of only a few cardiac cycles of data will be all that is required. (A "cardiac cycle" is one beat of the heart, and a normal cardiac cycle typically includes a signal representative of the contraction of the atria, a relatively short delay, a signal representative of the contraction of the ventricles, and a relatively long delay before the cycle begins again with contraction of the atria. A malfunctioning heart may not contain all of these elements in one cycle.) Sometimes, the cardiac phenomena is aperiodic, or occurs only once, in which case the retrieval of a relatively long sequence of cardiac cycles will be required, with an analysis of each cycle in sequence. In either event, it is of significant benefit to the patient that the post-processing mode need not be performed in real time, but can be carried forward entirely after the data gathering mode has been completed. Hence, the patient need not be subjected to stressful and/or bothersome and repetitive periods of testing. After the stored data has been retrieved, the stored data is subjected to the selected post-processing strategy in block 86. The selected strategy processes the data in accordance with a desired function, e.g., low pass filtering, notch filtering, Fourier analysis, etc. The results from the processed data are then evaluated in block 88. Such evaluation may include printing and/or displaying signal waveforms representative of the processed data. After evaluation of the processed results, a determination is made as to whether additional post-processing should be carried out in block 90. If so, then an appropriate signal processing strategy is selected in block 82, and the post-processing steps are repeated. In this manner, recursive and repetitive analysis of the stored data may be performed, as required or desired, in order to further enhance the detectability of certain features in the data. If further post-processing is not to be performed in block 90, then the data analyzing mode is concluded, and a final determination is made as to whether any further data is to be gathered in block 92, i.e., if the entire method is to be repeated. If so, then the program repeats beginning with the act of receiving and amplifying additional ECG/EGM data in block 72. If not, then the program terminates in block 94. One of the advantages of the present invention is that the post-processing system is not limited to the type of post-processing which may be performed. Rather, any or all of a selected group of signal processing strategies may be invoked as best suits the needs of the one doing the analyzing of the intracardiac ECG and/or surface EGM data. Each signal processing strategy is defined in an appropriate portion of the control program stored in the program memory. Hence, invoking a different signal processing strategy is as simple as calling up another portion, e.g., subroutine, of the control program stored in the program memory 40, and/or replacing either the contents of the program memory with a new program (in the case where the program memory is of a type which allows new program data to be readily written thereinto, e.g., EPROM, erasable programmable read only memory) or replacing a program memory module with a new program memory module (in the case where the program memory is stored in a replaceable program memory module). Thus, no changes to the hardware are required in order invoke anther processing strategy. Advantageously, each signal processing strategy may be invoked recursively and/or repetitively as often as desired in order to enhance the ability to analyze the data for a particular feature or phenomena. Further, several different processing strategies may be invoked to operate on the same data, either in parallel or in series. That is, if a "parallel" processing operation is utilized, an initial data set from the data memory is copied into the registers of the microprocessor and subjected to a first signal processing strategy. This first signal processing strategy may be repeated as often as is required until the desired results are achieved. After completion of the first signal processing strategy, the initial data set is again copied from the data memory and is subjected to a second signal processing strategy. This process repeats, as often as is necessary, until the initial data set has been subjected to each of the data processing strategies, as desired. Such parallel operation may thus be considered as a repetitive process because the same initial data is repeatedly processed in accordance with the desired signal processing strategies. If a "series" processing operation is utilized, an initial data set from the data memory is copied into the registers of the microprocessor and subjected to a first signal processing strategy. As with the "parallel" processing operation described above, this first signal processing strategy may be repeated as often as is required until the desired results are achieved. Upon completion of the first signal processing strategy, a second signal processing strategy is invoked to operate on the data processed by the first signal processing strategy. That is, the starting data for the second signal processing strategy is the ending data from the first signal processing strategy. Once the second signal processing strategy is completed, additional signal processing strategies may be invoked, as desired, with each new strategy being invoked using the output data from the operation of the prior strategy as its starting point. Such "series" operation may thus be considered as a recursive process because the data being subjected to the processing is continually processed and refined. Before describing in more detail some of the signal processing strategies that may be invoked using the present invention, reference will be made to Figs. 5 and 6 which illustrate some of the hardware used by the system of the present invention. This hardware by itself is not entirely new, but an understanding of the hardware is useful in order to better appreciate the manner in which the various signal processing strategies are carried out. Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown a simplified block diagram of a microprocessor-based central processing unit (CPU), sometimes referred to as a microcomputer 100. The microcomputer 100 includes a microprocessor 66. As is well known and documented in the art, a microcomputer typically includes an arithmetic logic unit, flag registers, accumulators, data registers, memory address registers, instruction registers, instruction decoders, program decoders, stack pointers, index registers, and control logic. The manner of operating a microprocessor is also well documented in the art, and will not be repeated herein. Essentially, the microprocessor carries out a sequence of programmed instructions by selectively retrieving data from memory, loading the data into various registers, performing various arithmetic operations on the data, placing the results of the arithmetic operations back in appropriate registers, and storing the resulting data back in memory. A key component needed for the operation of the microprocessor 66 is a clock circuit 102. The clock circuit 102 generates a clock signal which synchronizes all of the various data transfers (e.g., loading and clearing registers) that occur within the microprocessor 66. Each operation performed by the microprocessor 66 requires a certain number of clock cycles to be completed. As these operations are performed, delays are built in to the result due to the length of the clock cycle. These delays become important elements to any digital signal processing strategy which is carried out by the present invention, as set forth more fully below. Other main components used by the microprocessor 66, and forming part of the microcomputer 100, include a volatile memory 103, such as random access memory (RAM). This volatile memory 103 serves as the data memory 68 previously referenced in Fig. 3. Also included within the microcomputer 100 is a nonvolatile memory 105, such as may be realized using ROM or EPROM memory. This nonvolatile memory 105 serves as the program memory 40 previously referenced in Figs. 1 and 3. The microcomputer 100 further includes various data input circuits, identified in Fig. 5 as analog input circuits 104, parallel input circuits 106, and serial input circuits 108, as well as various data output circuits, identified in Fig. 5 as parallel output circuits 110, serial output circuits 112, and analog output circuits 114. These various data input and output circuits are intended as functional descriptions. In practice, the functions performed by such circuits may be combined. For example, the multiplexer (MUX) 56 and A/D converter 64 shown in Fig. 3 perform the function of the analog input circuit 104 and the parallel input circuit 106 shown in Fig. 5. Similarly, it is understood that the output data bus 38 shown in Fig. 3 may include either parallel output data as is provided by the parallel output circuits 110 in Fig. 5, or serial output data as is provided by the serial output circuits 112. The analog output circuits 114 may comprise conventional circuitry needed to drive a CRT display 46, such as is shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 shows a simplified block diagram of the post-processing system of the present invention, particularly illustrating the analog input and output circuits used with the invention. As seen in Fig. 6, the analog intracardiac ECG data and the surface EGM data are both received at MUX 56, where one is selected and serves as the analog input to an A/D converter 64. The data outputs from the A/D converter 64 are connected to two 4-bit storage registers 116 and 118, making a total of eight bits of resolution which are available. These registers 116 and 118 function as an input data latch. The A/D converter may be realized using an AD571 integrated circuit (IC) device, commercially available from numerous IC vendors. The storage registers 116 and 118 may be realized using 74173 4-Bit D-Type Registers, also commercially available from numerous IC vendors. The outputs of the registers 116 and 118 are connected to the inputs of an Octal D-Type flip flop 120, used as an output data latch, and may be realized with a 74LS273 IC. The various signal lines between these registers, labeled D0, D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, and D7 comprise a bi-directional data bus 121 which is connected to the microprocessor 66, the program ROM 40, and the data RAM 68. A digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 122 is connected to the data latch 120, and converts the digital data stored therein to an analog output signal, which analog output signal is connected, e.g., to the display 34. The D/A converter 122 may be a 1408-L8 Converter IC. Control of the input data latches 116 and 118, the output data latch 120, and the A/D converter 64 is controlled by the microprocessor 66 by way of control signals, labeled CTL, which are directed to a 74S138, 1 of 8 demultiplexer IC 124. Single shot circuits 126 and 128, or equivalent, produce five microsecond delays which are required in the operation of the A/D 64. In operation, the analog input and output circuits shown in Fig. 6 function like two memory locations. The D/A converter 122 is addressed by writing into the first of these memory locations. The A/D 64 is addressed by reading from this same address. To initiate a conversion by the A/D 64, a write is done into the second of these memory locations. The A/D 64 feeds back a busy flag while it is performing the conversion. The microprocessor must wait for the A/D converter to clear this flag before reading the value. Using the circuitry shown in Fig. 6, conversion takes about 25 microseconds to complete. As indicated above, one of the advantages of the present invention is the ability to select a particular signal processing strategy as part of the off-line, or post-processing, analysis which is performed. For example, if in gathering intracardiac ECG or surface EGM data the presence of 60 Hz interference is noted, it has previously been necessary to remove the interference and repeat the gathering of the data in real-time. With the post-processing system of the present invention, however, all that is required is to gather and store the data one time. Then, at a time subsequent to the gathering time, the data is retrieved from storage and subjected to a suitable data processing strategy, such as a digital low pass or notch filter, to remove the interference. One example of a digital signal process strategy which may be selectively invoked by the present invention is data averaging. That is, the sampled and stored digital data is accessed sequentially, with each sample being averaged with the prior sample, thereby creating, in effect, a second data memory image of the original stored data. This type of averaging creates the effect of having passed the real-time data through a low-pass filter. However, the processing is done off-line, not in real time, as controlled by the software programs of the microprocessor. Hence, the signal processing strategy may be viewed as a digital (software controlled) low pass filter. Other types of "digital" filters may also be imposed by the selected signal processing strategy, as discussed below. A filter may be considered as any device which separates one element or class of elements from a mixture of such elements. Nearly every computer program separates special data items from the input data at some point. Thus, for example, a mailing-list program which picks out desired addresses from a data base is, by this broad definition, a filter. The most common meaning of "filter" in the electronic context, however, is a type of circuit which separates signals at certain frequencies or bands of frequencies from an input spectrum. Filters are typically constructed from hardware components, e.g, resistors, amplifiers, capacitors, and inductors, and such filters operate in the analog domain, i.e., in real time. A digital computer cannot deal with a continuous stream of input data, and it cannot continuously change its output data. Rather, the digital circuit receives an input, performs some processing step, and forms an output, all of which requires several clock cycles of "computer time" to complete. However, this "sampled" operation readily lends itself to performing the function of an analog electronic filter, i.e., of separating signals at certain frequencies or bands of frequencies. To illustrate, it is known that multiplication, addition and subtraction are common computer processes. A delay, whether caused by the built-in delays (e.g., clock cycle) of the computer, or whether programmed delays, is also a common computer process. A delay represents simply the storage of data for a given period of time. To delay a data value by one sample period thus means to simply save that given data value during one computation period for use during the next computation period. Thus, it is possible, for example, to receive as an input one sample of data. A given delay later, if this sample of data had been passed through a given type of filter, it would have changed by a predictable amount, e.g., decreased in amplitude in accordance with an exponential function. The computer can thus be programmed to perform whatever calculation is required to change a given sample of data as it would be changed after the duration of the delay period. This changed value is then added to the next sample value. One delay later, this "sum" is again processed in an appropriate manner and added to the next sample value. This process repeats for as many samples as are required, producing the same effect on the data as would be produced had the data passed through a given type of filter in real time. Numerous algorithms are known in the art for creating various types of digital filters. See, e.g., Microprocessor Applications Handbook , by David F. Stout, Chapter 11, "Digital Filters Utilizing Microprocessors" (McGraw-Hill 1982). The use of many of these algorithms are discussed in detail as applied to surface EGM signals in "Digital Filtering with Applications to Electrocardiogram Processing," by Weaver et al., IEEE Transactions on Audio and Electroacoustics , Vol. Au-16, No. 3, pp. 350-391 (September 1968). The Weaver et al. IEEE article is hereby incorporated herein by reference. In accordance with the present invention, any desired digital filter or other processing strategy may be evoked during the post-processing of the intracardiac ECG and/or surface EGM data. In addition to or in lieu of a digital low pass filter mentioned above, for example, the selected processing strategy may impose a digital high-pass filter. Such high pass filter, once applied, provides the opportunity to detect and/or observe the relatively higher frequency phenomena of the intracardiac ECG or surface EGM data, which higher frequency phenomena is typically concealed by low frequency artifacts. Further, frequency selective band-rejection, or "notch" digital filters may enhance the acquired data by eliminating the effects of interference due to the AC power lines (50/60 Hz), or due to physiologic phenomena such as skeletal muscle activity. Stored data may further be processed in accordance with the present invention, within the frequency domain by digitally performing a Fourier Transform to display the spectral content of the intracardiac ECG or surface EGM data. Such a special-content display may provide significant insight into the presence and amplitude of certain frequency components within the stored data, which insight, in turn, will typically help identify the source of such components. Digital Fourier Analysis algorithms are known in the art, see, e.g., Digital Signal Processing , by A. Oppenheimer and R. Schafer (Prentice-Hall 1975), which is hereby incorporated by reference It is also to be pointed out that intracardiac ECG and/or surface EGM data acquired during the gathering phase is typically sampled. As such, certain limitations exist, as expressed by Nyquist, relative to the informational content of the sampled data. The effect of many of these limitations may be minimized by digitally performing a mathematical convolution on the stored data. Hence, digital convolution of the stored data is also one of the signal processing strategies which may be selected while carrying out the post-processing system of the present invention. Digital convolution algorithms are also known in the art, see, e.g., Digital Signal Processing , supra . Advantageously, being able to avoid real time processing of the intracardiac ECG and/or surface EGM signals provides numerous advantages. First , a wide variety of very high performance digital filter algorithms are either published in the literature or are commercially available from numerous software vendors. Any of these algorithms may be selected for use with the post-processing apparatus of the present invention. Such high performance digital filters produce output results which cannot be obtained in real time absent very complex and expensive signal processing circuits (hardware). A second advantage of the present system is that valuable data acquired during the data gathering mode may be recursively processed to enhance the detection of physiologic phenomena without a requirement to preselect an appropriate hardware filtering strategy prior to beginning the data gathering mode. Thus, the patient only has to be subjected to the data gathering mode one time, thereby reducing patient stress and expense. Third, digital filters in many instances provide a level of performance which is unobtainable by practical electronic circuits. Needed computations which are calculated during each sample of the digital filtering process, such as time-consuming floating point calculations, may advantageously be performed without the need for specialized high speed "co-processors," as are typically required in sophisticated real-time signal processing circuits. Finally, in many instances, the intracardiac ECG may actually be enhanced, through the application of appropriate post-processing strategies of the invention, beyond the original hardware design limitations, thereby providing valuable insight into analysis of the intracardiac ECG signal which has heretofore been unavailable. For example, Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate an atrial intracardiac ECG before and after post-processing. Both traces were made at 0.5 mV per division in the vertical direction, with a chart speed of 50.0 mm/sec. The trace in Fig. 7, which is without post-processing, shows both 60 Hz interference and a quantization error. The trace in Fig. 8, which was digitally post-processed by a 60 Hz notch filter and by a low pass filter to remove both the interference and the error. These figures leave little doubt that the present invention represents a truly significant improvement to the diagnostic capabilities of pacemaker programmers and other cardiac diagnostic devices. While the post-processing of the invention has been disclosed in terms of digital processing, e.g., as performed using a digital microcomputer which is built into the programming/diagnostic device which forms part of the overall pacemaker system, other types of digital processors, including high performance remote CPU's can be used. Further, it is contemplated that the post-processing could be carried out using artificial neural networks, either as simulated on a digital computer, or as realized using analog circuitry. Indeed, any post-processing of the stored intracardiac data, whether performed on analog or digital data for the purpose of enhancing the detectability of the cardiac phenomena included within the data, could advantageously form part of the present invention. Reference List 18 patient 20 pacemaker 22 heart 24 pacemaker lead 26 telemetry link 28 telemetry head 29 programmer 30 processing circuits and memory 31 connecting cable 32 data/command selection input device 33 touch sensitive membrane 34 display 36 printer 38 data line 40 program memory 43 buttons 44 housing of 29 46 CRT screen 47 power line card 52 paper 53 antenna 54 telemetry transceiver circuit 56 multiplexer circuit 58, 60 skin electrodes 62 EGM amplifiers 64 analog-to-digital converter 66 microprocessor 67 control line 68 data memory 70 - 94 blocks of the flow chart in FIG. 3 100 microcomputer 102 clock circuit 103 = 68 volatile memory 104 analog input circuits 105 = 40 nonvolatile memory 106 parallel input circuits 108 serial input circuits 110 parallel output circuits 112 serial output circuits 114 analog output circuits 116, 118 storage registers 120 8 D-Type flip flops (data latch) 121 data bus 122 digital-to-analog converter 124 1 of 8 demultiplexer 126 single shot circuit

Claims: A system for enhancing the detection of particular physiologic phenomena manifested within intracardiac signals, said system comprising: an implantable pacemaker (20), said implantable pacemaker (20) including means for sensing intracardiac signals, such as P-waves or R-waves, and means for telemetering said intracardiac signals to a non-implanted location remote from said implantable pacemaker (20); diagnostic means (29) in telecommunicative contact with said implantable pacemaker (20) for receiving and storing said intracardiac signals; retrieval means for selectively retrieving said intracardiac signals stored by said diagnostic means; and characterised in processing means (30) for selectively processing said intracardiac signals retrieved by said retrieval means in accordance with at least one of a plurality of signal processing strategies, said at least one of said plurality of signal processing strategies being selected to enhance the detection of a particular physiologic phenomena manifested within said intracardiac signals. A system as defined in Claim 1, wherein said diagnostic means (29) comprises: amplifying means for amplifying said received intracardiac signals; and storage means (68) coupled to said amplifying means for storing said amplified intracardiac signals. A system as defined in Claim 2, wherein said diagnostic means (29) further comprises: conversion means (64) for converting said amplified intracardiac signals to digital form prior to storage of said signals in said storage means (68). A system as defined in one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said diagnostic means (29) comprises: means (58,60,62) for receiving electrocardiac signals sensed at the skin of said patient (18), said electrocardiac signals comprising a portion of said intracardiac signals. A system as defined in Claim 4, wherein said diagnostic means (29) further comprises: multiplexer means (56) for selectively directing either said intracardiac signals from said pacemaker (20) or said intracardiac signals from the skin of said patient (18) to said conversion means (64), whereby during one selected time interval said pacemaker (20) intracardiac signals are directed to said conversion means (64), converted to digital form, and stored in said storage means (68), and whereby during another selected time interval said skin electrocardiac signals are directed to said conversion means (64), converted to digital form, and stored in said storage means (68). A system as defined in one of the preceding Claims, wherein said plurality of signal processing strategies used to selectively process said stored intracardiac signals comprises digital low pass filtering, high pass filtering, notch filtering, Fourier analysis in a frequency domain and/or recursive analysis of said stored intracardiac signals. A system as defined in one of the preceding Claims, further comprising: display means (34) for displaying said intracardiac signals before and/or after said intracardiac signals have been processed by said post-processing means. A method for enhancing the analysis of intracardiac signals, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving and amplifying said intracardiac signals from a heart (20); (b) converting said received and amplified cardiac signals to digital signals; (c) storing said digital signals; and (d) subjecting said stored digital signals, at a time subsequent to when the intracardiac signals are first received, amplified, converted to digital form, and stored, to at least one signal processing strategy, said at least one signal processing strategy enhancing said intracardiac signals so as to reveal characteristics therein which are masked out when analyzing said signals prior to being subjected to said at least one signal processing strategy.

Inventors: CAUSEY JAMES D, CAUSEY, JAMES D.
Applicants: PACESETTER INC, PACESETTER, INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A61N1
IPC codes: A61N1, A61B5