Method and apparatus for rapid interpretive analysis of electrocardiographic waveforms
View Patent ↗A method for analyzing a subject-visit group of ECG waveforms captured digitally on an electrocardiograph machine, on a Holter monitor device or digitized from paper electrocardiograms. A cardiologist selects a subject-visit group from a number of subject-visit groups, and each ECG waveform of the subject-visit group is scanned for artifact. Those ECG waveforms containing artifact are annotated appropriately. A determination is made if measurement calipers are present in each ECG waveform, measurement calipers are added to ECG waveforms lacking measurement calipers, and a preliminary interpretation is assigned to each ECG waveform that lacks a preliminary interpretation. Each ECG waveform is assigned a grouping metric, and the ECG waveforms are segregated according to their grouping metric for display and evaluation.
1. A method for analyzing a subject-visit group of ECG waveforms, the method comprising:
selecting a subject-visit group for a particular patient from a plurality of subject-visit groups;
analyzing each ECG waveform of the subject-visit group to determine whether artifacts are present and annotating each ECG waveform containing artifacts;
determining if measurement calipers are present in each ECG waveform and adding measurement calipers to each ECG waveform lacking measurement calipers;
assigning a grouping metric to each ECG waveform; and
segregating the ECG waveforms according to their grouping metric for display and evaluation.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises assigning a preliminary interpretation to each ECG waveform that lacks a preliminary interpretation.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises automatically accepting preliminary interpretations of each ECG waveform having a predetermined level of confidence.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the segregating the ECG waveforms comprises segregating ECG waveforms having an accepted interpretation from other ECG waveforms being grouped for interpretation.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the segregating the ECG waveforms further comprises segregating the ECG waveforms containing artifacts into a single member group for interpretation.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the segregating the ECG waveforms further comprises grouping ECG waveforms lacking an accepted interpretation into groups based on a set of predetermined metrics.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the predetermined metrics are adjusted to control the grouping of the ECG waveforms lacking an accepted interpretation.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
selecting a group of segregated ECG waveforms for interpretation;
interpreting sub-groups of the group of segregated ECG waveforms; and
confirming the caliper placement for the group of segregated ECG waveforms.
9. A method for analyzing a subject-visit group of ECG waveforms, the method comprising:
selecting a subject-visit group for a particular patient from a plurality of subject-visit groups;
analyzing each ECG waveform of the subject-visit group to determine whether artifacts are present and annotating each ECG waveform containing artifacts;
determining if measurement calipers are present in each ECG waveform and adding measurement calipers to each ECG waveform lacking measurement calipers;
assigning a grouping metric to each ECG waveform;
segregating the ECG waveforms according to their grouping metric for display and evaluation; and
interpreting a group of segregated ECG waveforms by:
determining if placement of QT measurement calipers on an ECG waveform is necessary; and
assigning an interpretation to an ECG waveform of the group of segregated ECG waveforms.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises accepting the QT measurement placement and interpretation of at least one ECG waveform of the group of segregated ECG waveforms.