System and method for facilitating a cardiac rhythm disorder diagnosis with the aid of a digital computer

A system for facilitating a cardiac rhythm disorder diagnosis with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:

• a download station adapted to retrieve cutaneous action potentials of a patient recorded over a set period of time as ECG data via an ECG monitoring and recording device;
• and
• a processor and memory within which code for execution by the processor is stored, wherein the processor:
• calculates a difference between recording times of successive pairs of R-wave peaks in the ECG data as R-R intervals and determines a heart rate associated with each time difference;
• and
• generates an R-R interval plot of the ECG data comprising the R-R intervals plotted along an x-axis of the plot representing time and a y-axis representing the heart rates associated with the R-R intervals, wherein the R-R interval plot is constructed with a non-linear scale for the heart rates determined in accordance with the equation:
• y
• =
• (
• x
• -
• min
• ⁢
• bpm
• max
• ⁢
• bpm
• -
• min
• ⁢
• bpm
• )
• n
• where x is the time difference, min bpm is a minimum heart rate (in beats per minute), max bpm is a maximum heart rate, and n<1;
• and
• generates a diagnostic composite plot comprising the R-R interval plot, a near field view of a portion of the ECG data, and an intermediate field view of a different portion of the ECG data for diagnosis of a cardiac event;
• and
• a display to present a presence of bradycardia via the R-R interval plot, comprising:
• each R-R interval and associated heart rate represented as a point in the R-R interval plot;
• and
• a baseline of the points having multiple spikes of the points representing intermittent episodes of elevated heart rate,
• wherein an event of bradycardia is determined based on the presence in the display to facilitate diagnosis of a cardiac disorder of the patient.

A method for facilitating a cardiac rhythm disorder diagnosis with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:

• retrieving cutaneous action potentials of a patient recorded over a set period of time as ECG data via an ECG monitoring and recording device;
• calculating a difference between recording times of successive pairs of R-wave peaks in the ECG data as R-R intervals and determines a heart rate associated with each time difference;
• generating an R-R interval plot of the ECG data comprising the R-R intervals plotted along an x-axis of the plot representing time and a y-axis of the plot representing the heart rates associated with the R-R intervals plot, wherein the R-R interval plot is constructed with a non-linear scale for the heart rates determined in accordance with the equation:
• y
• =
• (
• x
• -
• min
• ⁢
• bpm
• max
• ⁢
• bpm
• -
• min
• ⁢
• bpm
• )
• n
• where x is the time difference, min bpm is a minimum heart rate (in beats per minute), max bpm is a maximum heart rate, and n<1;
• generating a diagnostic composite plot comprising the R-R interval plot, a near field view of a portion of the ECG data, and an intermediate field view of a different portion of the ECG data for diagnosis of a cardiac event and
• displaying a presence of a cardiac event, comprising at least one of:
• presenting a presence of sinus tachycardia via the R-R interval plot characterized by each R-R interval and associated heart rate represented as a point in the R-R interval plot and at least a portion of the points representing a baseline that spikes up and gradually slopes down with a wide tail reflecting a sharp rise of heart rates followed by a gradual decline;
• and
• presenting a presence of bradycardia via the R-R interval plot characterized by each R-R interval and associated heart rate represented as a point in the R-R interval plot and a baseline of the points having multiple spikes of the points representing intermittent episodes of elevated heart rate, wherein an event of sinus tachycardia or bradycardia is determined based on the presence of the cardiac event in the display to facilitate diagnosis of a cardiac disorder of the patient.