Synchronizing ultrasound and ecg data
OwnerHarold M. Hastingsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
ECG data and ultrasound data are synchronized by adding a marker to both sets of data, then detecting the position of the markers in the data, and using the detected positions to align the two sets of data in time. This enables an operator to visualize which frame of ultrasound data corresponds in time to which portion of the ECG waveform.
Claims20
A method of synchronizing an electrocardiogram measurement with an ultrasound image, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining an electrocardiogram of at least one beat of a subject's heart using an ECG system;
- coupling, into the ECG system, a first signal that introduces a marker into the electrocardiogram;
- obtaining an ultrasound image of the subject using an ultrasound system, wherein the ultrasound image includes enough frames to depict at least one beat of the subject's heart;
- and
- coupling, into the ultrasound system, a second signal that introduces a marker into the ultrasound image, wherein the first signal and the second signal are coupled into the ECG system and the ultrasound system, respectively, at substantially the same time.
A method of synchronizing an electrical measurement with an ultrasound image, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining an electrical measurement during at least one beat of a subject's heart using an electrical system;
- coupling, into the electrical system, a first signal that introduces a marker into the electrical measurement;
- obtaining an ultrasound image of the subject using an ultrasound system, wherein the ultrasound image includes enough frames to depict at least one beat of the subject's heart;
- and
- coupling, into the ultrasound system, a second signal that introduces a marker into the ultrasound image, wherein a known time relationship exists between the first signal and the second signal.
An apparatus for synchronizing an electrocardiogram measurement with an ultrasound image comprising:
- an input configured to accept an RF signal;
- a switch operatively connected to output a burst of the RF signal upon actuation;
- an antenna operatively connected to broadcast the burst of the RF signal;
- and
- an envelope detector operatively connected to detect an envelope of the burst of the RF signal and generate an output corresponding to the detected envelope, with an output level that is suitable for coupling into an ECG system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.