referring to fig1 and 2 , there is shown an icg waveform 10 and a pcg waveform 12 in accordance with the system and method of the present invention . both figures depict heart valve activity in icg waveform 10 . the pep is determined by identifying the time period between the starting point of the qrs complex based on an ecg signal , labeled as the q point , and the starting point of the mechanical systole as marked by the initial deflection of the systolic waveform based on the icg signal coincident with the opening of the aortic valve or the onset of left ventricular ejection into the aorta , labeled as the b point . the lvet is determined by identifying the time period between the end of the pep and the closure of the aortic valve when ejection ends , labeled as the x point . both figures also depict heart valve activity in pcg waveform 12 , where known devices and methods are used to monitor and record sounds associated with the aortic valve opening , labeled as s 1 , and closing , labeled as s 2 . while fig1 and 2 depict pcg waveforms 12 , those skilled in the art can appreciate that waveforms generated from any independent signals derived from heart valve activity can be depicted in relation to icg waveforms 10 . referring to fig3 , one embodiment of the system in accordance with the present invention includes a display device 13 used to display waveforms and a processing device 14 used to receive inputs from a sensor system 15 hooked to a patient in order to generate waveforms and communicate with display device 13 . those skilled in the art can appreciate that display device 13 may include any type of device for presenting visual information such as , for example , a computer monitor or flat - screen display . display device 13 may be equipped with user input devices , such as buttons or touch screen capabilities for enabling user input , operation and control of the system . those skilled in the art can also appreciate that sensor system 15 may include electrodes for measuring icg signals and ecg signals , microphones for measuring and recording heart sounds , blood pressure monitors , signals representing central venous pressure , finger phlethysmographs and the like . those skilled in the art will appreciate that the system in accordance with the present invention may include stationary systems used in intensive care units or emergency rooms in hospitals , or may comprise portable units for use by emergency medical technicians in ambulances , at the scene of accidents , and when responding to other emergency situations . in another embodiment in accordance with the present invention , independent signals can be produced from one or more means that are sensitive to heart valve activity . sources of the independent signals include but are not limited to pcg &# 39 ; s , blood pressure waveforms , heart sounds , ecg &# 39 ; s or user input . in one embodiment , an algorithm based on an empirical , mathematical model can be used to combine information from independent signals with information from icg signals to determine heart valve activity and placement of the same on waveforms . the algorithm can include a set of coefficients , such as probability coefficients , applied to recent values of the differences between the icg signals and the independent signals derived from heart valve activity in order to provide accurate weight to input signals being received by a processing device ( such as a computer processor ) in order to generate accurate graphic representations depicting heart valve activity . these coefficients can be multiplied by a sensitivity factor based on individual sensor errors , system errors or historic errors in correlating icg signals with independent signals derived from heart valve activity for a particular patient . in this manner , sensor and system errors can be accounted for when modifying icg waveforms based on independent signals derived from heart valve activity . fig4 through 6 depict embodiments in accordance with the present invention in which information generated from independent signals can be depicted in relation to icg waveforms . referring to fig4 , one embodiment of a method for deriving an ensemble average in accordance with the present invention includes steps for : inputting an icg signal 16 ; inputting an ecg signal 18 ; inputting a pcg signal 20 ; identifying c - waves from the icg signal 22 ; identifying r - waves and heart rate from the ecg signal 24 ; filtering the pcg signal through a bandpass filter 26 ; and deriving an r - wave triggered ensemble average 28 . while fig4 depicts inputting signals from an icg , an ecg and a pcg , those skilled in the art can appreciate that input signals can be derived from other sources as previously discussed , manipulated , and combined with other input signals to derive an ensemble average that can be used to determine proper placement of heart valve activity on a graphic representation , such as a waveform or a combined waveform . referring now to fig5 , one embodiment for a method of determining preferred areas for aortic valve opening and closing in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of : inputting an r - wave triggered ensemble average pcg waveform 30 ; deriving an absolute value 32 ; calculating a window integration 34 ; inputting an s 1 , or aortic valve opening , window 36 ; inputting an s 2 , or aortic valve closure , window 38 ; determining an s 1 maximum 40 ; determining an s 2 maximum 42 ; determining an s 1 extent 44 ; determining an s 2 extent 46 ; determining a preferred area to be identified as the aortic valve opening point on a graphic representation 50 ; and determining a preferred area to be identified as the aortic valve closure point on a graphic representation 52 . in one embodiment , the s 1 and s 2 extent values can be used to find a value for pcg signal to noise 48 . the value for pcg signal to noise can be used to determine preferred areas to be identified as the aortic valve closure and opening points on the graphic representation . while fig5 depicts an embodiment for determining aortic valve opening and closure points on a graphic representation starting with an r - wave triggered ensemble average pcg waveform , those skilled in the art can appreciate that the input pcg signal could be pre - processed in manners other than ensemble averaging , including but not limited to the input pcg signal being a raw unprocessed signal or a signal from an independent source other than pcg that can be used to derive aortic valve opening and closing points and / or other heart valve activity that can be depicted graphically in combination with icg waveforms . examples of other independent source signals are echocardiography , blood pressure , and the like . as illustrated in the flowchart depicted in fig6 , one method for determining the best overall rank for aortic valve closing point on the graphic representation includes the steps of : inputting an r - wave triggered ensemble average icg waveform 54 ; finding the b point , which represents the opening of the aortic valve or the onset of left ventricular ejection into the aorta , 56 ; finding the o - wave , which represents the diastolic segment of the icg waveform , 58 ; determining limits for the x - point using the b - point and the o - wave as inputs 60 ; ranking waveform amplitudes 62 ; ranking waveform slopes 66 ; utilizing a preferred time of aortic valve closure as determined from the signal of an independent source 64 ; utilizing heart rate as determined from ecg or other signal 68 ; determining a window for the lvet using the heart rate as an input 70 ; and finding the best overall ranking for the aortic valve closing 72 . in this embodiment , steps for ranking waveform amplitudes 62 , ranking waveform slopes 66 , utilizing a preferred time of aortic valve closure as determined from the signal of an independent source 64 , and utilizing heart rate as determined from ecg or other signal 68 are conducted before and utilized to find the best overall ranking for the aortic valve closing 72 . those skilled in the art can appreciate that steps 62 , 66 , 64 and 68 can be conducted in varying orders or simultaneously . while fig6 depicts a method for finding the best overall ranking for graphically representing aortic valve closure using an r - wave triggered ensemble average icg waveform , those skilled in the art can appreciate that the input pcg signal can be pre - processed in manners other than ensemble averaging , including but not limited to using a raw unprocessed signal or a signal from an independent source other than pcg that can be used to derive aortic valve opening and closing points , and / or other heart valve activity that can be depicted graphically in combination with icg waveforms . referring now to fig7 and 8 , an alternate embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method for displaying waveforms . according to the prior art as depicted in fig7 , ecg waveforms 74 and icg waveforms 76 are traditionally viewed separate from one another . fig8 depicts a new method for displaying waveforms in according to the present invention where icg waveforms 76 are combined with ecg waveforms 74 on a single overlay graph 78 such that users can obtain greater utility from the combined waveform than can be obtained by viewing the two waveforms individually . the increase in utility is a result of both ecg waveforms 74 and icg waveforms 76 depicting systolic time interval characteristics . for example , the onset of pep is typically obtained from the q - point of the ecg signal and the end of the pep is typically obtained form the upward portion of the icg signal in icg systems . waveforms depicting a combined graphical representation of the systolic intervals , such as the pep and the lvet , convey information to users more efficiently than separate waveforms . single overlay graph 78 also assists users in identifying the diastolic interval . the key points of the systolic time interval are marked by vertical lines 80 , 82 , 84 in fig6 and 7 . line 80 marks the onset of the pep and is determined by the q - point of the ecg . line 82 marks the end of the pep and the start of the lvet and is determined by the icg signal . line 82 can optionally be determined via one or a combination of more than one the aforementioned independent signals , which can include the icg signal . line 84 marks the end of the lvet and is determined by the icg signal . line 84 can also optionally be determined via one or a combination of more than one of the aforementioned independent signals , which can include the icg signal . while the waveforms depicted in fig7 and 8 are icg and ecg waveforms 74 , 76 , those skilled in the art can recognize that this method may be used on any type of waveform . those skilled in the art can also recognize that this method may be used with graphic representations that correlate icg signals with any signals measured , derived from or related to cardiac sources , and any other combination thereof . referring now to fig9 , processing device 14 illustrates typical components of a processing device . processing device 14 includes a local memory 86 , a secondary storage device 94 , a processor 96 , a user interface device 100 and an output device 98 . local memory 86 may include random access memory ( ram ) or similar types of memory , and it may store one or more applications 88 , including system software 90 , and a web server 92 , for execution by processor 96 . local memory 86 is generally located in individual pieces of equipment used to monitor cardiac performance of patients . secondary storage device 94 may include a hard disk drive , floppy disk drive , cd - rom drive , or other types of non - volatile data storage . the local cache that includes a patient &# 39 ; s waveform and heart valve activity data may be stored on secondary storage device 94 . processor 96 may execute system software 90 and other applications 88 stored in local memory 86 or secondary storage 94 . processor 96 may execute system software 90 in order to provide the functions described in this specification including measuring , reporting and displaying individual and / or combined waveforms with or without other graphic representations of heart valve activity . user interface device 100 may include any device for entering information into processing device 14 , such as a keyboard , mouse , cursor - control device , touch - screen , infrared , microphone , digital camera , video recorder , or any other instrument or device necessary to measure , report and display individual and / or combined waveforms with or without other graphic representations of heart valve activity . output device 98 may include any type of device for presenting a hard copy of information , such as a printer , and other types of output devices include speakers or any device for providing information in audio form . web server 92 is used to provide access to patient data stored in memory 86 and on secondary storage devices 94 and display the data . web server 92 allows users secure remote access to the system through which they can monitor the status of a patient &# 39 ; s cardiovasculograms and access patient data . web server 92 can allow access to a user running a web browser . examples of web browsers include the netscape navigator program and the microsoft internet explorer program . any web browser , co - browser , or other application capable of retrieving content from a network and displaying pages or screens may be used . examples of processing devices 14 for interacting within the system for measuring and displaying individual or combined waveforms with or without graphic representation of other valve activity include embedded microprocessors , digital signal processors , personal computers , laptop computers , notebook computers , palm top computers , network computers , internet appliances , or any processor - controlled device capable of storing data , system software 90 and any other type of application 88 stored in local memory 86 or accessible via secondary storage device 94 . while the invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof , those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiments of the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention . the terms and descriptions used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations . those skilled in the art will recognize that these and other variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims and their equivalents .
an improved method and system for measuring and reporting heart valve activity combines information obtained from independent signals with information obtained from icg signals , such that signals derived from heart valve activity may be used as confirmation that the icg system is accurately identifying heart valve activity . the method and system of the present invention also provide improved accuracy in reported values such as pep , lvet , str , sv , and co . in addition , the method and system of the present invention provide improved accuracy of graphical representations of heart activity where the graphical representations include identifying heart valve activity .