Abstract: A method for quantifying cardiac desynchrony of the right and left ventricles includes obtaining cardiac acquisition data from a medical imaging system, and determining a movement profile from the cardiac acquisition data. The movement profile is directed toward identifying at least one of a time-based contraction parameter for a region of the left ventricle (LV), and a displacement-based contraction parameter for a region of the LV. The determined movement profile is visually displayed by generating a 3D model therefrom.

Abstract: A method and system for associating ECG waveform data with medical imaging data using ECG gating for dose reduction and image improvement by generating the ECG waveform data using an electrocardiogram device. The ECG data is first validated and then QRS complexes are detected using a detection function. An underlying cardiac rhythm based on the detected QRS complexes is analyzed and an even number N of substantially normally shaped consecutive QRS complexes are selected. An RR interval between consecutive QRS complexes is computed to yield N−1 intervals. Duration of a representative cardiac cycle by averaging at least a plurality of the N−1 intervals is determined. Once a representative cardiac cycle is determined, a method to control power and improve image quality with the presence of patient's having arrhythmias is disclosed.

Abstract: In order to reduce bias associated with conventional ECG analysis, the present invention provides a method and apparatus to improve diagnosis of acute cardiac syndromes (ACS), such as acute myocardial infarction and acute cardiac ischemia (unstable angina), in specified groups of patients using ECG signals and automatic detection analysis. Specific criteria are developed and utilized based on a prespecified group selection for the particular patient. After identifying group membership for the particular patient, ECG data are acquired from a patient experiencing ACS symptoms. Known criteria typically used for assessing ACS are then modified for the particular group membership. Such criteria significantly reduce the bias found in a baseline group for which the known criteria were established.

Abstract: A flexible multiple electrode assembly includes at least one fixed electrode; at least one extendible electrode; and electrically conductive interconnections coupling the at least one fixed electrode and the at least one extendible electrode to a common connector. The at least one extendible electrode is adapted to be physically separable from the at least one fixed electrode while remaining electrically coupled to the common connector. In one embodiment, an array of fixed and extendible electrodes is configured for the acquisition of electrical pulses from a heart for transmission to an electrocardiograph (EKG or ECG) device.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system for acquiring a physiological waveform, and a method of detecting the presence of pacemaker pulses in same. The patient monitoring system includes an input circuit for acquiring an analog ECG, an analog pace detection circuit connected to the input amplifier for generating analog pacemaker pulse markers and energy measures from analog ECG, a digital ECG processing circuit for providing a digitized output of the analog ECG, and software for analyzing the digitized output to establish digital pace detection markers, and for comparing the analog pacemaker pulse markers and energy measures to the digital pace detection markers to eliminate erroneously detected pacemaker pulses.