Computer-implemented method for generating an annotated photoplethysmography (ppg) signal

A computer-implemented method for generating an annotated photoplethysmography signal, abbreviated annotated PPG signal, said method comprising:

• recording an electrocardiogram signal, abbreviated ECG signal, using an ECG monitoring system;
• recording a photoplethysmography signal, abbreviated PPG signal, semi-synchronously with said recording of said ECG signal, using a contact PPG sensor;
• annotating segments in said ECG signal either algorithm-based or expert-based, resulting in ECG segment annotations;
• time-aligning said PPG signal and said ECG signal;
• detecting cardiac beats in said ECG signal, named ECG beats;
• detecting cardiac beats in said PPG signal, named PPG beats;
• pairing said ECG beats with said PPG beats;
• deriving annotations for PPG signal segments based on the nature of said ECG segment annotations and on how said ECG beats can be paired with said PPG beats;
• and
• annotating said PPG signal segments using said annotations, thereby generating said annotated PPG signal.

A controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the controller to perform:

• recording an electrocardiogram signal, abbreviated ECG signal;
• recording a photoplethysmography signal, abbreviated PPG signal, semi-synchronously with said recording of said ECG signal;
• annotating segments in said ECG signal either algorithm-based or expert-based, resulting in ECG segment annotations;
• time-aligning said PPG signal and said ECG signal;
• detecting cardiac beats in said ECG signal, named ECG beats;
• detecting cardiac beats in said PPG signal, named PPG beats;
• pairing said ECG beats with said PPG beats;
• deriving annotations for PPG signal segments based on the nature of said ECG segment annotations and on how said ECG beats can be paired with said PPG beats;
• and
• annotating said PPG signal segments using said annotations, thereby generating said annotated PPG signal.

A computer readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions of a program for performing the following steps when the program is run on a computer:

• recording an electrocardiogram signal, abbreviated ECG signal;
• recording a photoplethysmography signal, abbreviated PPG signal, semi-synchronously with said recording of said ECG signal;
• annotating segments in said ECG signal either algorithm-based or expert-based, resulting in ECG segment annotations;
• time-aligning said PPG signal and said ECG signal;
• detecting cardiac beats in said ECG signal, named ECG beats;
• detecting cardiac beats in said PPG signal, named PPG beats;
• pairing said ECG beats with said PPG beats;
• deriving annotations for PPG signal segments based on the nature of said ECG segment annotations and on how said ECG beats can be paired with said PPG beats;
• and
• annotating said PPG signal segments using said annotations, thereby generating said annotated PPG signal.