ECG Artifact Reduction System

Abstract

An ECG signal processing system which removes the CPR-induced artifact from measured ECG signals obtained during the administration of CPR.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of calculating an estimated true electrocardiogram (ECG) signal from a patient undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), said patient having a chest, said method comprising the steps of:
 applying CPR to the chest of a patient and measuring a value corresponding to CPR, said value selected from a group consisting of force associated with CPR, displacement of the chest during CPR, velocity of the chest during CPR, motion of a CPR device administering CPR and combinations thereof;   providing the measured value corresponding to CPR as a first input to a processor;   providing a measured ECG signal as a second input to the processor; and   processing the first input and the second input with the processor to produce an estimated true ECG signal.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of processing the first and second inputs is performed using a non-linear method. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of processing the first and second inputs is performed using linear predictive filtering. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of processing the first and second inputs is performed using the method of recursive least squares. 
     
     
         6 . A system for facilitating the effective administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), said system comprising:
 an accelerometer for producing an acceleration signal indicative of the displacement of a CPR recipient's chest;   a housing for holding the accelerometer in fixed relationship to the chest as it moves in response to CPR compressions;   a microprocessor programmed to process the acceleration signal to determine the depth of chest compression and produce a compression signal indicative of the depth of compression of the patient's chest, said microprocessor further programmed to determine the start of a compression without reference to a signal derived from a source not held in fixed relationship to the chest and thereafter calculate downward displacement of the chest using the acceleration signal.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a signaling mechanism, said signaling mechanism operable to produce a signal indicative of the displacement of the chest and operably connected to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to operate the signaling mechanism to indicate when the displacement value of the chest is within a desired range.