Can we hear ventricle dyssynchrony? Yes, we can

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiology
• Signal Processing

Background:

• Ventricular depolarization is a critical indicator of heart electrical activity.
• Current methods for analyzing depolarization can be complex and require specialized interpretation.
• There is a need for intuitive methods to assess ventricular electrical activation patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for detecting ventricular depolarization.
• To translate this electrical activity into an audible stereo audio signal.
• To enable auditory assessment of heart electrical activation for diagnostic purposes.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an ultra-high-frequency, high-dynamic-range electrocardiograph (UHF-ECG) with a 25-kHz sampling rate.
• Processing UHF amplitude envelopes from V1-3 and V4-6 leads (500-1000 Hz).
• Modulating two carrier audio frequencies with processed ECG data for stereo output.

Main Results:

• The method successfully converts ventricular depolarization into a stereo audio signal.
• Simultaneous audio from both speakers indicates normal biventricular activation.
• Delayed audio from either the left or right speaker signifies dyssynchronous ventricular electrical activation.

Conclusions:

• This UHF-ECG based audio conversion provides a novel, intuitive method for detecting ventricular depolarization.
• The auditory representation of heart electrical activity can aid in identifying conditions like bundle branch blocks.
• The system offers a potential new tool for non-invasive cardiac diagnostics and education.