Abstract

Time-frequency distribution (TFD) analysis is a relatively new process for decomposing a complex signal to understand its spectral content Traditional signal spectral analysis examines both temporal and spectral contents distinctly. This method of analysis is suitable for signals where the spectral content is stationary and time-invariant. However, many naturally occurring signals are not only multicomponent, but are also highly time-variable, such as speech, heart rate variability, and other biological signals. Typically, the Fourier transform exposes sinusoidal frequencies present in a signal. It cannot, however, tell when these frequencies existed temporally. This is where timefrequency analysis excels over traditional spectral processing techniques. Time-frequency analysis allows the spectral content of the signal to be determined as well as when these frequency components occurred. The process can be thought of as time dependent Fourier analysis. The following thesis explores the effectiveness of time-frequency analysis for examining heart rate and blood velocity variability of dorsal aortic blood flow in developing chick embryos. These hemodynamic data series are used to assess embryonic cardiovascular function.. It is hoped that this thesis aids in the creation of cluneal tools for the early identification of functional heart defects in a developing human fetus. These heart defects can lead to serious heart disease later in life. Clinical treatments of morphological and functional heart defects are possible if they can be identified during early embryo/fetal development The time-frequency analysis performed, utilized the binomial distribution with a Hanning window as the input parameters. Through the use of Discrete Time Frequency Laboratory (DTFL) software, TFD analysis appears to be an effective tool for functional assessment of cardiovascular health during development.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Biomedical engineering; Signal processing; Fetal monitoring; Chickens--Embryos--Abnormalities--Diagnosis; Heart--Abnormalities--Diagnosis

Publication Date

11-1-1996

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

Mechanical Engineering (KGCOE)

Advisor

Kempski, Mark

Advisor/Committee Member

Kochersberger, Kevin

Advisor/Committee Member

Ghoneim, Hany

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: R857.S47 B66 1996

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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