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Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Analysis Software

Home > Applications > ECG: Cardiology > Advanced Features > Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Analysis Software
HRV epoch analysis

AcqKnowledge® includes a series of automated Heart Rate Variability (HRV) analysis tools that conform to international cardiology standards. It is possible to perform the analysis over user-defined selections of data, or automatically within user-specified time periods, or between stimulus presentation event marks, or user entered event marks. The user can also create focus areas in real time or post-acquisition and the software will analyze the data within areas.

Options for:

Single-epoch HRV–Spectral
Single-epoch HRV is the examination of a user defined area of data.

Multi-epoch HRV–Statistical
This analysis computes statistical measures of heart rate variability in user-specified time intervals These measures (RMSSD, SDSD, and pNN50) can be extracted by fixed time intervals, time between event boundaries or focus areas.

Multi-epoch HRV and RSA–Spectral
This routine performs RSA and HRV analyses on specified time slices along an ECG waveform, whether by markers, fixed-time intervals, or focus areas.

R-R Poincare Plot
Poincare plots are constructed from ECG Lead II data. A Poincare plot is an X/Y plot with R-R intervals in seconds on one axis and on the other axis the sequence delayed by one beat (RR vs. RR+1).

RSA–Time-series
This particular method looks at the time domain data and uses the peak and valley method to compute Respirator Sinus Arrhythmia. It is used to explore the connection between respiration and changes to heart rate. Variations in the heart rate can be directly correlated with vagal tone. The RSA index can be used to investigate changes in this connection during recording.

Learn more in the HRV Webinar Series: Part 1 Time Domain Measures, Part II Frequency Domain Measures.

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Details

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AcqKnowledge® research software includes a fully-automated Heart Rate Variability analysis tool. The algorithm conforms to the frequency domain algorithm guidelines as published by the European Heart Journal. These  are the formulas AcqKnowledge uses to calculate HRV statistical measures (RMSSD, pNN50, and SDSD):

HRV statistical formulas

For optimal results, follow these suggestions for Preparing HRV Data for Analysis. For additional reference, see Shaffer, F., & Ginsberg, J. P. (2017). An Overview of Heart Rate Variability Metrics and Norms. Frontiers in public health, 5, 258. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00258.

  • There are two methods for extracting the RR intervals from the ECG signal:
    • A modified Pan-Tompkins QRS detector
    • Events located in the file – ECG QRS Peak event

HRV interpolated tachogram

  • The RR intervals are re-sampled to a continuous sampling rate in order to extract frequency information.
    • Cubic-spline interpolation is used to generate this continuous time-domain representation of the RR intervals.

HRV Analysis PSD data

  • The frequency information is extracted from the RR intervals and analyzed to produce standard ratios. Power sums are reported in units of sec2/Hz. A Welch periodogram is used to generate the Power Spectral Density (equivalent to Transform > Power Spectral Density).

 HRV Analysis Poincare Plot

  • The software reports values for the typical HRV frequency bands, including: Very Low Frequency, Low Frequency, High Frequency, and Very High Frequency ranges. The analysis also includes values for the overall ratios: Sympathetic, Vagal and Sympathetic – Vagal balance. The ratio values and frequency band results can be plotted into a Journal file or exported for further analysis.

HRV epoch analysis

AcqKnowledge also inlcudes a Poincare plot option that will display either selected areas of the data, or the entire file. The Poincare plot is an X/Y plot of the RR intervals in seconds. One axis displays the RR interval and the other axis displays the interval delayed by one beat.

HRV Analysis Poincare Plot

 

Note: The BioHarness is not recommended for heart rate variability studies because the sample rate used to record the ECG waveform is at the very low end of the optimal range for HRV studies.

Videos

On Demand Webinar: HRV & RSA – FUNDAMENTAL ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES
Fundamental techniques for analyzing Heart Rate Variability and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia data with AcqKnowledge software.

Recording Good Quality ECG for HRV

HRV Analysis: Fully-automated Routine in AcqKnowledge

RSA Analysis

Epoch Analysis Demonstration

BIOPAC Research Solutions | ECG

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Application Notes

Knowledge Base

Hardware Packages   |   Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Analysis Software

Hardware Bundles are complete solutions for the specified application. Choose your preferred platform and bundle, then click "Request Pricing" to request an estimate, add/remove items, or complete purchase. If you have questions about specific items, click through to the product web page for details and specifications, or contact your Local Sales contact.

Wired

MP36R System

  • 1 x 4-channel Data Acquisition and Analysis System for Windows
  • 1 x foam electrode 50/pk
  • 1 x Lead set, shielded, BSL
  • 1 x Abrasive Pads 10/pk

MP36R System

  • 1 x 4-channel Data Acquisition and Analysis System for Windows
  • 1 x Clip Lead RED 1m TP Shielded
  • 1 x Clip Lead WHT 1m TP Shielded
  • 1 x Clip Lead BLK 1m TP unshielded
  • 1 x foam electrode 50/pk
  • 1 x Electrode Lead Adapter, TP
  • 1 x Abrasive Pads 10/pk

MP160 System

  • 1 x MP160 Data Acquisition System - Win
  • 1 x C-series Biop. Amp to Touchproof
  • 1 x Clip Lead RED 1m TP Shielded
  • 1 x Clip Lead WHT 1m TP Shielded
  • 1 x Clip Lead BLK 1m TP unshielded
  • 1 x foam electrode 50/pk
  • 1 x ECG Electrocardiogram Amplifier
  • 1 x Abrasive Pads 10/pk
  • 1 x Electrode Impedance Checker

MP36R System

  • 1 x 4-channel Data Acquisition and Analysis System for Windows
  • 1 x foam electrode 50/pk
  • 3 x Lead set, shielded, BSL
  • 1 x Respiratory Effort Transducer - MP3X/46/45

MP160 System

  • 1 x MP160 Data Acquisition System - Win
  • 1 x C-series Biop. Amp to Touchproof
  • 1 x C-Series Transducer Amp to Touchproof
  • 1 x Clip Lead RED 1m TP Shielded
  • 1 x Clip Lead WHT 1m TP Shielded
  • 1 x Clip Lead BLK 1m TP unshielded
  • 1 x foam electrode 50/pk
  • 1 x Finger Clip SpO2
  • 1 x Disp. Cloth electrode 30/pk
  • 1 x Fast Response Thermistor, TP
  • 1 x Adhesive Tape, single-sided, 9.1m
  • 1 x ECG Electrocardiogram Amplifier
  • 1 x Abrasive Pads 10/pk
  • 1 x Electrode Impedance Checker
  • 1 x Respiration Amplifier
  • 1 x Respiratory Effort Trans, TP
  • 7 x Electroencephalogram Amplifier
  • 1 x Electrode Cap Sys., TouchProof
  • 1 x Electromyogram Amplifier
  • 1 x Electrooculogram Amplifier
  • 1 x Skin Temperature Amplifier
  • 1 x SPO2 Pulse Oximeter Amplifier

Wireless

MP160 System

  • 1 x MP160 Data Acquisition System - Win
  • 1 x Electrode Lead 3x30cm - BN/micro
  • 1 x Electrode Lead 2x30cm - BN/micro
  • 1 x foam electrode 50/pk
  • 1 x BioNomadix 2Ch Wireless ECG Amplifier
  • 1 x Abrasive Pads 10/pk
  • 1 x Electrode Impedance Checker

BioNomadix Logger

  • 1 x Logger with 1 transmitter
  • 1 x Electrode Lead 3x15cm - BN/micro
  • 1 x Electrode Lead 2x15cm - BN/micro
  • 1 x foam electrode 50/pk
  • 1 x Abrasive Pads 10/pk
  • 1 x Electrode Impedance Checker

MRI

MP160 System

  • 1 x MP160 Data Acquisition System - Win
  • 1 x MRI Cbl/Filter Sys. to Biopot. Amps
  • 3 x Clip Lead, RT, unshielded, 15 cm
  • 1 x ECG Electrocardiogram Amplifier for MRI
  • 1 x Disp. Radiotranslucent Electrode, 100/pk
  • 1 x Abrasive Pads 10/pk
  • 1 x Electrode Impedance Checker

MP160 System

  • 1 x MP160 Data Acquisition System - Win
  • 1 x MRI Cbl/Filter Sys. to Biopot. Amps
  • 3 x Clip Lead, RT, unshielded, 15 cm
  • 1 x Electrode gel 250 g
  • 1 x ECG Electrocardiogram Amplifier for MRI
  • 1 x Disp. Radiotranslucent Electrode, 100/pk
  • 1 x Abrasive Pads 10/pk
  • 1 x Electrode Impedance Checker

Animal

MP36R System

  • 1 x 4-channel Data Acquisition and Analysis System for Windows
  • 3 x Needle electrode Unipolar 12 mm TP
  • 1 x Electrode Lead Adapter, TP

Stellar

  • 1 x AcqKnowledge for Stellar Telemetry

MP160 System

  • 1 x MP160 Data Acquisition System - Win
  • 1 x C-series Biop. Amp to Touchproof
  • 3 x Needle electrode Unipolar 12 mm TP
  • 1 x ECG Electrocardiogram Amplifier
  • 1 x Electrode Impedance Checker
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