Method and apparatus for detecting artifacts using common-mode signals in differential signal detectors

In an apparatus that detects input signals in an environment where said input signals comprise differential mode signals that potentially co-exist with common mode signals, a method for analyzing the input signal and determining whether the input signal can be used to accurately diagnose the differential mode signal;

• the steps of said method comprising:
• (A) input signals into the apparatus;
• (B) separate the input signals into first and second intermediate signals based on known functions of differential mode signals and common mode signals;
• (C) analyze the first intermediate signal based on a known function of the common mode signal to produce a common mode signal value;
• (D) determine whether to analyze the second intermediate signal based on a known function of the differential mode signal according to the common mode signal value produced in step (C).

An apparatus for detecting input signals in an environment where said input signals comprise differential mode signals that potentially co-exist with common mode signals, said apparatus comprising:

• a means for inputting said input signals;
• a means for separating said input signals into intermediate signals based on known functions of said differential mode signals and said common mode signals;
• and
• a means for determining whether to analyze an intermediate signal based on known function of differential mode signal data according to the amount of artifact signal present.

In a device that collects and analyzes electrocardiographic (ECG) signal information from a patient's heart, said ECG signal information being subject to corruption by other signal sources not related to the patient's heart;

• a method for improving the accuracy of said analysis in the presence of corruption, the steps of said method comprising:
• (A) input signal information;
• (B) determine if the level of input signal information corruption inhibits an accurate analysis of the ECG portion of the input signal;
• and
• (C) if level of corruption in step (B) inhibits accurate analysis, initiate action to remove corruption from said input signal.

A device for collecting and analyzing electrocardiographic (ECG) signal information from a patient's heart, said ECG signal information being subject to corruption by other signal sources not related to the patient's heart;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a means for inputting signal information;
• a means for determining if the level of input signal information corruption inhibits an accurate analysis of the ECG portion of the input signal;
• and
• a means for initiating action to remove corruption from said input signal if said level of corruption determined by said means for determining inhibits accurate analysis.

In an ECG analyzer that detects input signals in an environment where said input signals comprise differential mode signals potentially arising from the ECG signals of a patient connected to said analyzer, said differential mode signals potentially co-existing with common mode signals, a method for analyzing the input signal and determining appropriate action based upon said analysis;

• the steps of said method comprising:
• (A) input a signal into the apparatus;
• (B) separate the input signal into intermediate signals based on known functions of differential mode signals and common mode signals;
• and
• (C) determine appropriate action according to the amount of artifact present in the input signal.

A method for analyzing an input signal, the steps of said method comprising:

• (A) collect an input signal comprising an ECG signal;
• (B) determine whether artifact is present in the ECG signal, wherein step (B) comprises:
• (B)(i) separate the input signal into first and second intermediate signals, wherein the input signal further comprises a converted common mode signal, and wherein the second intermediate signal is a known function of the ECG signal and the converted common mode signal, and
• (B)(ii) compare the first and second intermediate signals to determine whether a converted common mode signal is present in the input signal.

A method for analyzing an input signal, the steps of said method comprising:

• (A) collect an input signal comprising an ECG signal;
• (B) determine whether artifact is present in the ECG signal, wherein step (B) comprises:
• (B)(i) separate the input signal into first and second intermediate signals;
• (B)(ii) compare the first and second intermediate signals to determine whether artifact is present in the input signal.

An apparatus for detecting artifact in an input signal comprising:

• means for collecting an input signal comprising a primary signal and artifact reference signal;
• means for comparing the artifact reference signal with the input signal;
• and
• means for altering analysis of the input signal if the level of artifact is unacceptably high with respect to the input signal.