Three dimensional vector cardiograph and method for detecting and monitoring ischemic events

1. A method of determining an ischemic event, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring and storing an initial electrocardiogram vector signal (x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) of a known non-ischemic condition over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals;

calculating and storing a J-point of the vector signal (x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) and a maximum magnitude of a signal level over said T wave interval;

monitoring a subsequent electrocardiogram vector signal (x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals;

measuring the magnitude (Mag.) of the vector difference between a subsequent vector signal (x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) and the initial vector signal (x 1 , y 1 , z 1 );

measuring the angle (Ang.) difference between a subsequent vector (x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) and said initial vector signal (x 1 , y 1 , z 1 );

regressing a line from points about 25 milliseconds prior to the J point and about 60 milliseconds after the J-point and determining the slope of the regression line and the deviation of the angle difference of said regression line;

regressing a line from points about 100 milliseconds prior to said maximum magnitude of the signal level over said T wave interval and determining the slope of the regressing line and the deviation of the angle difference of said regression line; and

comparing said slope and deviation of said lines from said J point and said T wave interval to a set of known values to determine the presence of an ischemic event.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of measuring and storing the magnitude (Mag.) of the vector difference includes the steps of:

accessing the stored initial electrocardiogram vector signal (x 1 , y 1 , z 1 ) of a known non-ischemic condition over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals;

measuring said subsequent electrocardiogram vector signal (x 2 , y 2 , z 2 ) over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals;

calculating the change (Δ) in the vector signal over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals by the following formula:

Δx=x 2 − x 1

Δy=y 2 − y 1

Δz=z 2 − z 1 ;

and

calculating the magnitude of the vector difference (Mag vd ) over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals by the following formula:

Mag vd =√( Δx 2 +Δy 2 +Δz 2 )

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of measuring and storing the angle of the vector difference (Ang.) includes the steps of:

accessing the stored initial electrocardiogram vector signal (x, y, z) of a known non-ischemic condition over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals;

measuring said subsequent electrocardiogram vector signal (x, y, z) over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals;

calculating the change (Δ) in the vector signal over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals by the following formula:

Δx=x 2 − x 1

Δy=y 2 − y 1

Δz=z 2 − z 1 ,

calculating an Azimuth angle (Az. Ang.) of said angle vector difference over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals by the following formula:

Az. Ang.=arc tan ( Δz/Δx ); and

calculating an Elevation angle (El. Ang.) of said angle vector difference over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals by the following formula:

El. Ang.=arc tan( Δy/√ ( Δx 2 +Δz 2 )).

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of calculating said J point includes the steps of:

calculating the magnitude of the initial vector signal (Mag vs ) over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals by the following formula:

Mag vs =√( x 2 +y 2 +z 2 );

filtering said magnitude of the vector signal (Mag vs ) over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals through a low pass filter to establish a smooth vector signal (VS sm ) and a maximum value and time of the QRS interval (QRS max and QRS maxtime );

differentiating said smooth vector signal (VS sm ) from said magnitude of the vector signal (Mag vs ) over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals and establishing a derivative vector signal (dVS sm );

calculating a set of initial parameters from the QRS interval including: the magnitude of the maximum QRS signal (QRS max ); the maximum of the QRS time interval (QRS maxtime ); and the end point of the QRS signal (QRS Endlnit );

calculating a set of initial parameters from the T wave interval including: the magnitude of the maximum T wave signal (Twave max ); and the maximum of the T wave time interval (Twave maxtime ); and

calculating an initial estimate of the end of the QRS interval (QRS Endlnit );

fitting the vector signal along a cubic polynomial curve;

calculating the change in the derived vector signal (dVS sm ) over a prescribed time period to establish a smooth test interval (S Test );

fitting a first order polynomial curve to the initial vector signal (Mag vs ) starting at the end of the QRS interval (QRS_Endlnit) to a point which is equal to the end of the QRS interval (QRS_Endlnit) plus the smooth test interval (S Test ); and

calculating the intersection of the cubic polynomial curve and the first order polynomial curve and selecting a point of intersection that is furthest from the time of the maximum QRS value (QRS maxtime ) to establish the J point.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein after said step of monitoring and storing an initial electrocardiogram vector signal (x, y, z) of a known non-ischemic condition over the QRS, ST and T wave intervals, the method includes the step of estimating a magnitude and angle of said ST interval.