System and method for dynamically displaying cardiac interval data using scatter-plots

A system for the display of cardiac data, the system comprising:

• an interval monitor to calculate first and second cardiac intervals from electrocardiograph data, said first interval corresponding to a period of time between first and second heartbeats, said second interval corresponding to a period of time between said second heartbeat and a third heartbeat;
• timer means, coupled to said interval monitor and receiving data corresponding to said first and second cardiac intervals, for determining if said first and second intervals meet a predetermined threshold time criterion;
• and
• a display having first and second axes each labeled with a plurality of indicators corresponding to time intervals for displaying said first and second intervals as a coordinate pair only if said timer means determines that said first and second intervals meet said predetermined threshold time criterion, said first interval being displayed as a first coordinate in said coordinate pair using said plurality of indicators along said first axis, and said second interval being displayed as a second coordinate in said coordinate pair using said plurality of indicators along said second axis.

A system for the display of cardiac data, the system comprising:

• storage means for storing electrocardiograph data collected from a patient over a predetermined period of time;
• an interval monitor to calculate first and second cardiac intervals for said predetermined period of time from said electrocardiograph data, said first interval corresponding to a period of time between first and second heartbeats, said second interval corresponding to a period of time between said second heartbeat and a third heartbeat;
• a display coupled to said interval monitor to receive said first and second intervals therefrom, said display having first and second axes each labeled with a plurality of indicators corresponding to time intervals for displaying said first and second intervals as a plurality of coordinate pairs, each of said first intervals being displayed as a first coordinate in said coordinate pair using said plurality of indicators along said first axis, and each of said second intervals being displayed as a second coordinate in said coordinate pair using said plurality of indicators along said second axis;
• selection means for selecting a particular one of said plurality of coordinate pairs on said display;
• and
• display means for displaying said electrocardiograph data associated with said selected coordinate pair.

A system for the display of cardiac data, the system comprising:

• an interval monitor to calculate first and second cardiac intervals from electrocardiograph data containing a plurality of heartbeats, said first interval corresponding to a period of time between first and second heartbeats, said second interval corresponding to a period of time between said second heartbeat and a third heartbeat, said first and second intervals defining a plurality of interval pairs;
• a source analyzer to receive said electrocardiograph data and determine therefrom a beat source for each of said heartbeats, each of said plurality of interval pairs corresponding to said first, second and third heartbeats whose beat sources match a set of selected heartbeat sources for said first, second and third heartbeats being defined as a qualified interval pair;
• and
• a display coupled to said interval monitor and said source analyzer to display said qualified interval pair, said display having first and second axes and displaying said first interval of said qualified interval pair as a first coordinate in a coordinate pair using said first axis, and said second interval as a second coordinate in said coordinate pair using said second axis.

A method for the display of cardiac data on a display having first and second axes each labeled with a plurality of indicators corresponding to time intervals, the method comprising the steps of:

• calculating first and second cardiac intervals from electrocardiograph data, said first interval corresponding to a period of time between first and second heartbeats, said second interval corresponding to a period of time between said second heartbeat and a third heartbeat;
• determining a beat source for each of said heartbeats;
• and
• displaying said first and second intervals as a coordinate pair on the display only if said beat source for each of said heartbeats matches a set of selected beat sources for said first, second, and third heartbeats, said first interval being displayed as a first coordinate in said coordinate pair using the first axis, and said second interval being displayed as a second coordinate in said coordinate pair using the second axis.

A method for the display of cardiac data, the method comprising the steps of:

• calculating first and second cardiac intervals from electrocardiograph data, said first interval corresponding to a period of time between first and second heartbeats, said second interval corresponding to a period of time between said second heartbeat and a third heartbeat;
• measuring a predetermined threshold time criterion associated with said first and second intervals;
• and
• displaying said first and second intervals as a coordinate pair only if said first and second intervals meet said predetermined threshold time criterion, said first interval being displayed as a first coordinate in said coordinate pair using a first axis on the display, and said second interval being displayed as a second coordinate in said coordinate pair using a second axis on the display.