IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,786,444
Granted Patent B2
US 8,786,444 · App. 13/746,291 · Granted Jul 22, 2014

Systems and methods for determining signal quality of a physiological signal using a wavelet transform and an identified noise floor

Inventors: James Nicholas Watson (Dunfermline, GB); Paul Stanley Addison (Edinburgh, GB); Edward M. McKenna (Boulder, CO); James P. Ochs (Seattle, WA)
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,786,444
App. No.
13/746,291
Granted
Jul 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system are provided for evaluating in patient monitoring whether a signal is sensed optimally by receiving a signal, transforming the signal using a wavelet transform, generating a scalogram based at least in part on the transformed signal, identifying a pulse band in the scalogram, identifying a characteristic of the pulse band, determining, based on the characteristic of the pulse band, whether the signal is sensed optimally; and triggering an event. The characteristics of the pulse band and scalogram may be used to provide an indication of monitoring conditions.

Claims (41)

1. A method comprising:

using a processor for:

receiving a physiological signal;

transforming the physiological signal based at least in part on a wavelet transform;

generating scalogram data based at least in part on the transformed signal;

identifying a band in the scalogram data;

identifying a characteristic of the band;

identifying a noise floor of the scalogram data; and

determining signal quality of the physiological signal based at least in part on the characteristic of the band and the noise floor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic of the band comprises one or more of a height of the band, a width of the band, an amplitude of the band, a strength of the band, and a shape of the band.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic of the band comprises a width of the band and wherein the signal quality of the physiological signal is inversely related to the width of the band.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic of the band is identified by comparing a shape of the band with one or more shape types.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a template of a noiseless slice of the scalogram data based on the physiological signal during one or more periods when noise is not present; and

comparing current scalogram data with the template, wherein determining signal quality is further based at least in part on the comparison.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a marker region corresponding to a high amplitude region adjacent to the band, wherein determining signal quality is further based at least in part on the marker region.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the noise floor is identified outside of the band.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the noise floor comprises determining a minimum value between two bands in the scalogram data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the physiological signal comprises a photoplethysmograph signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the band comprises a pulse band.

11. A system comprising:

a processor capable of:

receiving a physiological signal;

transforming the physiological signal based at least in part on a wavelet transform;

generating scalogram data based at least in part on the transformed signal;

identifying a band in the scalogram data;

identifying a characteristic of the band;

identifying a noise floor of the scalogram data; and

determining signal quality of the physiological signal based at least in part on the characteristic of the band and the noise floor; and

a display for displaying information based at least in part on the physiological signal.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the characteristic of the band comprises one or more of a height of the band, a width of the band, an amplitude of the band, a strength of the band, and a shape of the band.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the characteristic of the band comprises a width of the band and wherein the signal quality of the physiological signal is inversely related to the width of the band.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the characteristic of the band is identified by comparing a shape of the band with one or more shape types.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor is further capable of:

generating a template of a noiseless slice of the scalogram data based on the physiological signal during one or more periods when noise is not present; and

comparing current scalogram data with the template, wherein determining signal quality is further based at least in part on the comparison.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor is further capable of identifying a marker region corresponding to a high amplitude region adjacent to the band, wherein determining signal quality is further based at least in part on the marker region.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the noise floor is identified outside of the band.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein identifying the noise floor comprises determining a minimum value between two bands in the scalogram data.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the physiological signal comprises a photoplethysmograph signal detected by a sensor.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the band comprises a pulse band.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2014
From: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT LLC
To: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT IRELAND
Reel/Frame 032907/0306 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2013
From: WATSON, JAMES NICHOLAS; ADDISON, PAUL STANLEY; MCKENNA, EDWARD M.; OCHS, JAMES P.
To: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT LLC
Reel/Frame 031206/0285 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 12497824 · Jul 6, 2009
Provisional Application 61080982 · Jul 15, 2008
Related Publication 20130138357A1 · May 30, 2013