Computerized system for evaluation of coronary artery disease by noninvasive techniques

Abstract

The accepted method of determining the presence and extent of coronary artery disease is by coronary angiography. A method of obtaining this information noninvasively is being developed. The kinetocardiogram, ballistocardiogram, vectorcardiogram, heart sounds, and carotid pulse pressure tracings have been recorded on analog tape from 903 patients. These patients have also been studied by the angiographic invasive techniques within 24 hours of the noninvasive study. A data processing system has been developed using one of the remote satellites to the Multiple Laboratory Computer Center of the University of Alabama. A technician interacting with this system selects usable portions of the analog records and controls the A to D conversion of the data. Calibration and time normalization is performed so that several heartbeats can be averaged together for each data source. The technician again has the opportunity to view the results and accept or reject them. Accepted data is spooled to magtape and merged with clinical records.Comparisons of mean curves of patients with similar coronary artery abnormalities indicate that there are significant differences. Preliminary statistical models using multiple regression techniques separate the seriously ill patients from those with less abnormality with 77% accuracy.