Data Visualization for electrocardiogram (ECG)

Create a real-time visualization tool that maps ECG data to the actual motion of the heart

Problem: A 2D ECG graph of the heartbeat is a representation of the electrical impulses occurring in the heart. This 2D graphical representation of the data makes it difficult to consistently localize complicated electrical signal to specific parts of the heart without extensive training

Background: An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test which measures the electrical activity of your heart to show whether or not it is working normally. ECGs attempt to represent a 3-dimensional pathway using 2-dimensional structures. Each person has a unique, baseline ECG data set that reflects their individual heart function. As a result. it is difficult to detect changes in ECG data for that individual.

Opportunity:

ECGs are an unintuitive way to attempt to capture the electrophysiology of the heart, causing poor physician learning and retention of knowledge. Doctors learn to recognize patterns on an ECG and correlate them with known pathology as opposed to understanding the true electrical impulses occurring in the heart

It can be difficult to consistently localize complicated electrical signal to specific parts of  the heart using a traditional ECG without extensive training

Doctors mostly interpret 10 second ECG strips, despite the machine having access to   data occurring over a longer period of time

Doctors learn to recognize patterns on an ECG and correlate them with known pathology as opposed to understanding the true electrical impulses occurring in the heart

ECGs attempt to represent a 3-dimensional pathway using 2-dimensional structures

Different people have different baseline ECGs making it difficult to analyze an ECG without a previous ECG that is not always available

Resources

ECG Animation - Electrical Changes in Heart

The heart