Application of signal analysis methods to arterial and aortic pressure curves

¹ Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, and Cardio-Pulmonary Laboratory and Department of Medicine, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York City

Brachial and aortic cardiovascular pressure waveforms taken from the literature and from New York Hospital patients were subjected to Fourier analysis to determine the harmonic spectrum. The computation, which was performed on a specially constructed analogue computer (Procedyne Associates model 101A) consisted of evaluating the integral (See PDF) The complex transform, F(), was analyzed in terms of gain and phase by means of Bode and Nyquist diagrams. The preliminary data show that frequency response techniques may be a useful aid in diagnosing heart disease. In contrast to the normal or mildly defective hearts, the subjects with serious aortic stenosis show pulse waveforms which a) have less high frequency components, b) have no nodes or missing frequencies which are multiples of the fundamental frequency. The paper points to several ways in which advanced signal techniques and control theory can be applied to medical problems.

Submitted on September 14, 1962