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Abstract

Seismic techniques and principles are used to provide a noninvasive method and apparatus for assessing selective cardiac performance by detecting compression waves generated by heart muscle function. An analog signal is generated by detecting compression waves in the range of 0.025 Hz to about 800 Hz at an exterior surface of a subject's body by an accelerometer having a sensitivity of one (1) micro inch at one (1) Hz. Compression waves at frequencies above about 50 Hz are eliminated from the analog signal and then single full-cycle functions of the heart muscle are selected from a series of such cycles making up the analog signal. The selected single cycles may be averaged and waveform distortion may be removed from the averaged signal. Total energy level of the compression wave may be calculated and then the averaged signal may be displayed for visual analysis of a compression wave cycle representative of the muscle function of the heart.

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First Claim