SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR GATING HEART SIGNALS

摘要

A heart gating system in which the heart sounds are used to generate the acquisition trigger signals. This is possible because the various heart sound components have characteristics in the temporal domain to allow for distinguishing the S1's and S2's. Hence, the individual heart sound components can be temporally distinguished and gating signals can be generated based on the identified heart sounds such as the S2 heart sound. In addition, S1 also has a frequency spectrum different from that of S2. Hence, in another embodiment of the invention, the frequency characteristics of the heart sounds can be used to distinguish S1 from S2. The combined temporal and frequency characteristics of the heart sounds can also be used to distinguish S1 from S2. In addition, detecting carotid pulses and/or changes in thoracic cavity can also used to better distinguish between S1 and S2.