Long-term ST database: A reference for the development and evaluation of automated ischaemia detectors and for the study of the dynamics of myocardial ischaemia

The long-term ST database is the result of a multinational research effort. The goal was to develop a challenging and realistic research resource for development and evaluation of automated systems to detect transient ST segment changes in electrocardiograms and for supporting basic research into the mechanisms and dynamics of transient myocardial ischaemia. Twenty-four hour ambulatory ECG records were selected from routine clinical practice settings in the USA and Europe, between 1994 and 2000, on the basic of occurrence of ischaemic and non-ischaemic ST segment changes. Human expert annotators used newly developed annotation protocols and a specially developed interactive graphic editor tool (Semia) that supported paperless editing of annotations and facilitated international co-operation via the Internet. The database contains 86 two- and three-channel 24h annotated ambulatory records from 80 patients and is stored on DVD-ROMs. The database annotation files contain ST segment annotations of transient ischaemic (1155) and heart-rate related ST episodes and annotations of non-ischaemic ST segment events related to postural changes and conduction abnormalities. The database is intended to complement the European Society of Cardiology ST-T database and the MIT-BIH and AHA arrhythmia databases. It provides a comprehensive representation of ‘real-world’ data, with numerous examples of transient ischaemic and non-ischaemic ST segment changes, arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities, axis shifts, noise and artifacts.     

自适应提升小波用于心电信号除噪

人体心电信号随着检测状态及时间的变化显示出明显的非平稳性并伴随着大量的干扰信号.提升小波能很好的对心电信号进行时频定位,并且其运算速度比传统小波高出许多.本研究以提升小波变换为基础,构造了一种基于尺度的自适应提升小波,用它对心电信号（ECG）进行分解,使不同频带的信号显示在小波分解的不同尺度上,并在信号重构时利用一种新的阈值方法去除不同尺度上的干扰信号,从而获得较精确的心电波形,为心电信号的进一步处理奠定了基础.     

Low delay rate adaptive pacemaker using FPGA embedded piezoelectric sensor

Abstract

This paper presents the hardware implementation of low delay, power-efficient, rate-adaptive dual-chamber pacemaker (RDPM) using a piezoelectric sensor. Rate adaptive pacemaker has the ability to sense the patient’s activity by means of some special sensors and it controls the pacing rate according to the patient’s activity. Ideally, there should be no delay between sensing and the subsequent pacing operation performed by the pacemaker. However, delay in the responses of various components in the circuitry produces an accumulative delay effect in any practical circuit. Physical activity and the physiological needs of the patient can be easily adapted by the rate-responsive pacemakers using a wide range of sensor information. The piezo-electric sensor recognises the pressure on human muscles because of physical activity and converts it to an electrical signal, which is received by the pulse generator of the pacemaker. When the patient is in the rest mode, the heart rate is the only parameter that is to be detected by the pacemaker. Thus, the heart rate and the physical activity both are the inevitable parameters for the design of RDPM. Performance analysis of the proposed RDPM shows a significant reduction in the delay between sensing and pacing. Device utility analysis shows that the proposed design not only requires lesser memory but also reduces the number of components on the chip. Therefore, it becomes very clear that the proposed pacemaker design will consume much lesser power.     

基于小波变换的心电信号基线矫正方法

本文介绍一种基于小波变换的心电信号基线漂移去除方法。该方法利用小波变换多分辨分析的特性,将含噪声及基线漂移心电信号进行多尺度分解,结果表明,某尺度下的分解信号较好地反映了心电信号基线漂移,在重构过程中可直接将其去除。     

基于经验模式分解的心电特征提取算法

本研究应用基于经验模式分解的心电特征提取方法,利用第一本征模函数(intrinsic mode function,IMF)分量对QRS波进行定位,并通过减少分解层数、筛选次数、处理区域等策略实现了快速算法。利用MIT-BIT心律失常数据库的数据进行算法测试,取得较高的检测率,检测速度也有明显提高。实验结果表明,经验模式分解算法在QRS波定位中具有相当的优越性,临床应用中取得了良好的检测效果。     

Simple two-electrode biosignal amplifier

A simple, cost effective circuit for a two-electrode non-differential biopotential amplifier is proposed. It uses a ‘virtual ground’ transimpedance amplifier and a parallel RC network for input common mode current equalisation, while the signal input impedance preserves its high value. With this innovative interface circuit, a simple non-inverting amplifier fully emulates high CMRR differential. The amplifier equivalent CMRR (typical range from 70–100 dB) is equal to the open loop gain of the operational amplifier used in the transimpedance interface stage. The circuit has very simple structure and utilises a small number of popular components. The amplifier is intended for use in various two-electrode applications, such as Holter-type monitors, defibrillators, ECG monitors, biotelemetry devices etc.     

LCD心电监视器两例

为了给我们研制的便携式急救心电监护仪配上监视器,实现心电波形的连续、实时显示,我们试用了两种LCD显示模块.本文介绍了显示器的软、硬件设计.     

心肌炎患者高频心电图QRS波群的功率谱分析

本文选取６９名心肌炎患者，９４名正常人做为对照。依其年龄不同，共分６组：幼儿心肌炎组，正常幼儿组，学龄心肌炎组，正常学龄组，成人心肌炎组，正常成人组。分别对这６组的Ⅱ导、ａＶＦ导、Ｖ２导、Ｖ５导ＱＲＳ波群０－１０００Ｈｚ、８０－３００Ｈｚ、１００－１０００Ｈｚ３个频段的功率谱（用绝对能量表示）进行了分析。结果提示，不同年龄的心肌炎患者，其心电信号高频频段的能量变化规律不一致。     

基于快速节律性运动的皮层脑电分析

节律运动是人们生活中一种基本的运动形式,与单次运动相区别,快速节律运动在脑电中有特殊的表现形式.本文以两位植入皮层电极的癫痫病人作为受试,在1Hz与2Hz听觉节拍器提示下进行手指节律运动,同时记录皮层脑电数据.对脑电数据的能量和相关性进行离线分析,结果显示节律运动中运动感觉皮层脑电的能量在特定频段上呈下降趋势,相干性呈上升趋势,且运动相关能量与相干性在不同的运动速度下具有明显的统计性差异.对不同功能区之间相干性的分析表明辅助运动区可能是与运动速度有关的皮层功能区.     

A placebo-controlled trial of procaterol: A new long-acting oral beta2-agonist in bronchial asthma

Procaterol hydrochloride, a potent beta 2-adrenergic bronchodilator developed in Japan, was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study for efficacy and safety in 45 patients (ages 18 to 55 yr) with chronic documented reversible airway disease. After a 1-week placebo washout period, patients were administered either 0.05 mg or 0.10 mg of procaterol or placebo twice daily for 2 wk. Spirometric determinations, vital signs, and ECGs were obtained at 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hr after the first dose and at the same time intervals after 1 and 2 wk of treatment. Patients recorded on a daily basis peak flow rates, asthma symptoms, need for supplemental aerosol, concurrent medications, and side effects. Spirometry results indicated significant improvement in pulmonary function with both doses of procaterol compared with placebo (P less than 0.05). The larger dose was generally more effective. Bronchodilatation was evident 1/2 hr after dosing and peaked at 2 hr. At 8 hr after 0.10 mg of procaterol, FEV1 was still above predose values. Daily peak flow rates were significantly higher with 0.10 mg than with 0.05 mg (P less than 0.05) and placebo (P less than 0.001). Tremor and nervousness were the most frequent side effects. They occurred in a dose-related frequency, were mild and transient, and occurred early in treatment. No significant drug-related changes were noted in ECGs, heart rate, blood pressure, or clinical laboratory data. Procaterol was found to be an effective, well-tolerated oral bronchodilator with a long duration of action, especially at 0.10 mg twice daily.