U.S. patent application number 17/202299 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-22 for electrocardiogram patch devices and methods.
The applicant listed for this patent is HeartBeam, Inc.. Invention is credited to Bosko BOJOVIC, Ljupco HADZIEVSKI, Marjan MILETIC, Uros MITROVIC, Dorin PANESCU, Branislav VAJDIC, Vladan VUKCEVIC.
Application Number | 20210219902 17/202299 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005497304 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210219902 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
VAJDIC; Branislav ; et
al. |
July 22, 2021 |
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM PATCH DEVICES AND METHODS
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses, including devices and systems, for
remote and detection and/or diagnosis of acute myocardial
infarction (AMI). In particular, described herein are handheld and
adhesive devices having an electrode configuration capable of
recording three orthogonal ECG lead signals in an
orientation-specific manner, and transmitting these signals to a
processor. The processor may be remote or local, and it may
automatically or semi-automatically detect AMI, atrial fibrillation
or other heart disorders based on the analyses of the deviation of
the recorded 3 cardiac signals with respect to previously stored
baseline recordings.
Inventors: |
VAJDIC; Branislav; (Los
Gatos, CA) ; PANESCU; Dorin; (San Jose, CA) ;
BOJOVIC; Bosko; (Belgrade, RS) ; HADZIEVSKI;
Ljupco; (Belgrade, RS) ; VUKCEVIC; Vladan;
(Belgrade, RS) ; MITROVIC; Uros; (Belgrade,
RS) ; MILETIC; Marjan; (Belgrade, RS) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HeartBeam, Inc. |
Santa Clara |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005497304 |
Appl. No.: |
17/202299 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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17092152 |
Nov 6, 2020 |
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17202299 |
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16181330 |
Nov 5, 2018 |
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17092152 |
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15632155 |
Jun 23, 2017 |
10117592 |
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16181330 |
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15096159 |
Apr 11, 2016 |
10433744 |
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15632155 |
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62145431 |
Apr 9, 2015 |
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63133669 |
Jan 4, 2021 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 40/63 20180101;
A61B 5/6825 20130101; A61B 5/6823 20130101; A61B 5/332 20210101;
A61B 5/0006 20130101; G16H 50/20 20180101; G16H 40/67 20180101;
A61B 2562/0209 20130101; G16Z 99/00 20190201; A61B 5/316 20210101;
A61B 5/282 20210101; A61B 2560/0468 20130101; A61B 5/341 20210101;
A61B 5/361 20210101; A61B 5/747 20130101; A61B 5/684 20130101; A61B
5/6898 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/332 20060101
A61B005/332; A61B 5/00 20060101 A61B005/00; G16H 40/63 20060101
G16H040/63; G16H 50/20 20060101 G16H050/20; A61B 5/282 20060101
A61B005/282; A61B 5/316 20060101 A61B005/316; A61B 5/341 20060101
A61B005/341; A61B 5/361 20060101 A61B005/361; G16H 40/67 20060101
G16H040/67 |
Claims
1. An adhesive patch device for synthesizing a 12-lead
electrocardiogram, the device comprising: a patch of adhesive
material having a back and a front, wherein the back is configured
to be adhesively secured to a patient's chest; a first electrode
and a second electrode integrated on the back of the patch
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's chest,
wherein the first and second electrodes are positioned a distance
of at least 5 cm apart; a third electrode on the front of the patch
and configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's
right hand; a fourth electrode on the front of the patch and
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's left
hand; a processing network forming a central point in a sagittal
plane through the patient's chest passing between the third and
fourth electrodes when the housing is held adhesively secured
against the patient's chest, wherein three orthogonal cardiac leads
are formed from said electrodes and the central point; and a
processor within a housing on the patch configured to process the
three orthogonal cardiac leads derived from the first, second,
third and fourth electrodes.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a communication
circuit within the housing configured to transmit the processed
three orthogonal cardiac leads to a remote processor.
3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a marker on the
housing indicating the orientation of the patch when applied to the
patient's chest.
4. The device of claim 1, further comprising an LED on the housing
indicating the orientation of the housing.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth electrodes
are disposed on two opposed sides with respect to a longitudinal
plane of symmetry of the housing, said plane of symmetry being
substantially perpendicular to the back of the housing.
6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a ground electrode on
the housing for contacting one of the patient's hands disposed on
either a side or a front of the housing.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein either the third or fourth
electrode is band-shaped and disposed along a first side of the
housing.
8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a detection circuit
configured to detect a finger contact on both the third electrode
and the fourth electrode, further wherein the processor is
configured to collect the three orthogonal leads when the detection
circuit detects the finger contact on both the third electrode and
the fourth electrode.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to
automatically detect a one-lead ECG signal from the first electrode
and the second electrode when the detection circuit does not detect
the finger contact on both the third electrode and the fourth
electrode.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to
detect an irregular cardiac signal from the one-lead ECG signal and
to prompt the patient to touch the third electrode and the fourth
electrode when the irregular cardiac signal is detected.
11. The device of claim 2, wherein processor is configured to
receive information back from the remote processor.
12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a symptoms present
control on the front of the patch, wherein the processor is
configured so that the three orthogonal cardiac leads derived from
the first, second, third and fourth electrodes are marked by a flag
indicating that the patient has activated the symptoms present
control.
13. An adhesive patch device for synthesizing a 12-lead
electrocardiogram, the device comprising: a patch of adhesive
material having a back and a front, wherein the back is configured
to be adhesively secured to a patient's chest; a first electrode
and a second electrode integrated on the back of the patch
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's chest,
wherein the first and second electrodes are positioned a distance
of at least 5 cm apart; a third electrode on the front of the patch
and configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's
right hand; a fourth electrode on the front of the patch and
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's left
hand; a processing network forming a central point in a sagittal
plane through the patient's chest passing between the third and
fourth electrodes when the housing is held adhesively secured
against the patient's chest, wherein three orthogonal cardiac leads
are formed from said electrodes and the central point; and a
processor configured to process the three orthogonal cardiac leads,
wherein the processor comprises a register configured to store a
first set of values for the three orthogonal cardiac leads taken at
a first time, and a comparator configured to determine a difference
signal between the first set of values of three orthogonal cardiac
leads and a second set of values of the three orthogonal cardiac
leads taken at a second time.
14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a communication
circuit within the housing configured to transmit the processed
three orthogonal cardiac leads to a remote processor.
15. The device of claim 13, further comprising a marker on the
housing indicating the orientation of the patch when applied to the
patient's chest.
16. The device of claim 13, further comprising an LED on the
housing indicating the orientation of the housing.
17. The device of claim 13, wherein the third and fourth electrodes
are disposed on two opposed sides with respect to a longitudinal
plane of symmetry of the housing, said plane of symmetry being
substantially perpendicular to the back of the housing.
18. The device of claim 13, further comprising a ground electrode
on the housing for contacting one of the patient's hands disposed
on either a side or a front of the housing.
19. The device of claim 13, wherein either the third or fourth
electrode is band-shaped and disposed along a first side of the
housing.
20. The device of claim 13, further comprising a detection circuit
configured to detect a finger contact on both the third electrode
and the fourth electrode, further wherein the processor is
configured to collect the three orthogonal leads when the detection
circuit detects the finger contact on both the third electrode and
the fourth electrode.
21. The device of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to
automatically detect a one-lead ECG signal from the first electrode
and the second electrode when the detection circuit does not detect
the finger contact on both the third electrode and the fourth
electrode.
22. The device of claim 13, wherein processor is configured to
receive information back from the remote processor.
23. An adhesive patch device for synthesizing a 12-lead
electrocardiogram, the device comprising: a patch of adhesive
material having a back and a front, wherein the back is configured
to be adhesively secured to a patient's chest; a first electrode
and a second electrode integrated on the back of the patch
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's chest,
wherein the first and second electrodes are positioned a distance
of at least 5 cm apart; a third electrode on the front of the patch
and configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's
right hand; a fourth electrode on the front of the patch and
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's left
hand; a processing network forming a central point in a sagittal
plane through the patient's chest passing between the third and
fourth electrodes when the housing is held adhesively secured
against the patient's chest, wherein three orthogonal cardiac leads
are formed from said electrodes and the central point; and a
processor configured to process the three orthogonal cardiac leads,
wherein the processor is configured to operate in a first mode and
to measure the three orthogonal cardiac leads when a finger contact
is detected on both the third electrode and the fourth electrode,
and to be operated in a standby mode when no finger contact is
detected on both the third electrode and the fourth electrode.
24. An adhesive patch device for synthesizing a 12-lead
electrocardiogram, the device comprising: a patch of adhesive
material having a back and a front, wherein the back is configured
to be adhesively secured to a patient's chest; a first electrode
and a second electrode integrated on the back of the patch
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's chest,
wherein the first and second electrodes are positioned a distance
of at least 5 cm apart; a third electrode on the back of a right
arm region of the patch and configured to measure bioelectric
signals from the patient's right arm; a fourth electrode on the
back of a left arm region of the patch and configured to measure
bioelectric signals from the patient's left arm; a processing
network forming a central point in a sagittal plane through the
patient's chest passing between the third and fourth electrodes
when the housing is held adhesively secured against the patient's
chest, wherein three orthogonal cardiac leads are formed from said
electrodes and the central point; and a processor within a housing
on the patch configured to process the three orthogonal cardiac
leads derived from the first, second, third and fourth
electrodes.
25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is configured to
periodically process the three orthogonal cardiac leads from the
first, second, third and fourth electrodes.
26. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is configured to
continuously process the three orthogonal cardiac leads from the
first, second, third and fourth electrodes.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 17/092,152, titled "MOBILE THREE-LEAD CARDIAC
MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED DIAGNOSTICS," filed on
Nov. 6, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 16/181,330, filed Nov. 5, 2018, titled "MOBILE THREE-LEAD
CARDIAC MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED DIAGNOSTICS,"
which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/632,155, filed Jun. 23, 2017, titled "MOBILE THREE-LEAD CARDIAC
MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED DIAGNOSTICS," now U.S.
Pat. No. 10,117,592, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/096,159, filed Apr. 11, 2016, titled
"MOBILE THREE-LEAD CARDIAC MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR
AUTOMATED DIAGNOSTICS," now U.S. Pat. No. 10,433,744, which claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/145,431,
filed Apr. 9, 2015, titled "MOBILE THREE-LEAD CARDIAC MONITORING
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED DIAGNOSTICS," each of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
[0002] This patent application also claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 63/133,669, titled "AMBULATORY
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM PATCH DEVICES AND METHODS," filed on Jan. 4,
2021, and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0003] All publications and patent applications mentioned in this
specification are herein incorporated by reference in their
entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication or
patent application was specifically and individually indicated to
be incorporated by reference.
FIELD
[0004] The methods and apparatuses (e.g., systems, devices, etc.)
described herein may relate generally to electrocardiography.
BACKGROUND
[0005] Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI, also referred to as heart
attack) remains a leading cause of mortality in the developed
world. Finding accurate and cost-effective solutions for AMI
diagnosis is vital. Survival of patients having AMI may depend
critically on reducing treatment delay, and particularly reducing
the time between symptoms onset and medical treatment time. A
technology that would enable AMI diagnosis early after occurrence
of AMI symptoms, for example, at patient's home or wherever the
patient may be, may significantly decrease AMI mortality.
[0006] In the AMI setting, the conventional 12-lead ECG is not only
the most important piece of information, but it is also nearly as
important as all other information combined. Therefore, a
technology for early AMI diagnosis may rely on ECG recording. The
ECG recording may be performed by the patient himself, but such a
technology would need to overcome the problem of complicated
application of 12-lead ECG electrodes, and to enable automated
software-based AMI detection.
[0007] Electrocardiogram (ECG) data recording as acquisition of
bioelectric signals for cardiac condition status detection is
widely known in the art. In general, before the recording is
performed, characteristic points on patient's body are identified
and electrodes are positioned with respect to these points. During
the recording procedure, the electrical voltages between two
characteristics points are measured, and corresponding signals are
called ECG leads. The conventional ECG uses 10 electrodes to record
12 leads, and the 12 leads ECG (12L ECG) is widely adopted standard
in cardiac diagnostics.
[0008] It has long been suggested that urgent cardiac diagnostics
which enables a patient, wherever he may be, to record his ECG
himself and send it to his cardiologist in the remote diagnostic
center via commercial telecommunication network (cellular or
similar) would be beneficial. On the bases of the received ECG and
the conversation with the patient, the cardiologist on duty could
decide whether the patient's state requires urgent medical
intervention, and act accordingly. There are a number of patents
and products which, within the said concept of urgent cardiac
diagnostics, offer different solutions for recording and
transmitting the ECG signal. The simplest of these devices uses
only a single `lead` or pair of electrodes. However, devices
recording only one ECG lead may be used only for rhythm disorders.
Because the ECG changes needed for detection of an AMI may occur in
as few as only two among 12 leads of a conventional ECG, it may be
difficult, to reliably use only a single lead (or in some cases
only a few leads) to reliably and thoroughly detect AMI. Further,
it is also unreasonable for a patient to record a full 12L ECG by
himself, because of the difficulty in placing the leads.
[0009] Solutions capable of detecting AMI that use different
surrogates of 12L ECG are also known. For example, Heartview P12 by
Aerotel (Aerotel Medical Systems, Holon, Israel), Smartheart, by
SHL (SHL Telemedicine, Tel Aviv, Israel) and CardioBip (e.g., U.S.
Pat. No. 7,647,093). All these solutions have significant
drawbacks. For example, all of these solutions typically require
complicated measuring procedures (such as with Heartview,
Smartheart), and may require attaching electrodes by the means of
cables, taking the clothes off from the waist up, using straps and
multi-step recording procedure (e.g., see US20120059271A1 to Amitai
et al.). Existing or proposed systems may also require extensive
calibration procedures (e.g., Cardiobip), requiring the patient to
be in a medical facility with specially trained personnel prior to
using the device by himself. Finally, all of these procedures may
require medical personnel for interpretation of recorded ECG.
[0010] For example, the Cardiobip device is the simplest for use by
the patient, and allows simple positioning of the device by
pressing it against the chest, with no cables or straps, and
recording the ECG. In this example, a diagnostic center may use a
PC computer with corresponding software for processing of three
special ECG leads and reconstruction of the three leads into a
standard 12 lead ECG. The reconstruction is required for
interpretation of ECG by the medical personnel. Accuracy of the
reconstruction of a 12 standard ECG leads using the recordings of
three special leads may be achieved by strictly determined
arrangement of integrated electrodes in the mobile device and
corresponding leads. A hand-held device may include 5 built in
electrodes (see, e.g., EP1659936) three of which may be placed in
contact with the chest of the patient and the remaining two
electrodes in contact with right- and left-hand fingers. The
reconstruction algorithm in the Cardiobip device is premised on the
assumption that the diffuse electric activity of the heart muscle
can be approximated by a time-changing electrical dipole (heart
dipole) immersed in a low conducting environment. The Heart dipole
is represented by a vector defined by three non-coplanar
projections, so that it can be determined on the basis of recording
of electric potential between any three pairs of points
corresponding to three non-coplanar directions, i.e., three special
ECG leads not lying on the same plane. Standard ECG leads are
reconstructed as linear combinations of the recorded special leads
and coefficients by which the transformation matrix is defined. It
can be shown, by an in-depth analysis, that there are two dominant
error sources in such reconstruction. Unfortunately, the heart
dipole is only the first term in the multipole mathematical
expansion of diffuse heart electrical activity and this
approximation is valid only for recording points at a sufficient
distance from the heart. In the points near the heart, the
linearity of the system necessary for signal reconstruction is
significantly affected by the non-dipole content created due to the
presence of higher order terms in multipole expansion.
[0011] Further the described reconstruction techniques for
converting a few leads into a 12-lead signal for analysis by a
cardiologist or other technical expert are also limited. In order
to carry enough diagnostic information the three special leads need
to be as close to orthogonal as possible (e.g., three vector axes
with 90 degrees angle between each of them). The opposite to
orthogonal is the case of three coplanar vectors, that is three
vectors in the same plane, in which case the diagnostic information
corresponding to the axis perpendicular to that plane is completely
missing. Importantly the assumptions needed for this modeling,
treating the heart as a dipole (and estimating at a distance) and
making orthogonal measurements of the heart leads, are at odds with
each other, since the orthogonal lead positions are far easier to
obtain if the electrodes are closer to the heart, while in this
case the non-dipole content is higher. Existing systems such as
Cardiobip must rely on the use of a configuration that optimally
fulfills both requirements, in which all three leads use the
right-hand electrode as a reference. These systems also have
additional drawbacks. For example, Cardiobip uses three integrated
electrodes on the chest side of the device. It was observed in
clinical studies using Cardiobip that breast in female patients and
pronounced pectoralis muscle in male patients may prevent a
reliable contact of all three electrodes with the chest surface
simultaneously. It has also been observed that the symmetrical
arrangement of finger electrodes on the front side of the device
may cause switching of left- and right-hand fingers in about 10%
recordings, making the recording useless for diagnostics.
[0012] Similarly, other solutions that use a reduced set of three
leads (e.g., US20140163349A1; US20100076331) typically use the
three leads that are coplanar and therefore lack enough diagnostic
information for AMI detection.
[0013] In addition, the requirement for trained medical personnel
for the interpretation of recorded ECG may be an organizational
challenge and increases the operational cost of the system, and the
accuracy of the human ECG interpretation may have large variance.
Automated software for ECG interpretation is also used in the
systems for early diagnosis of AMI, but they have performance that
is inferior to that of human interpreters. The chest pain is the
main symptom suggesting an AMI, or ischemia (the underlying
physiological process). The main ECG parameter used is the ST
segment elevation (STE). Unfortunately, a large number of patients
(up to 15%) presenting with chest pain have STE of non-ischemic
etiology (NISTE) on their presenting (to the emergency room) ECG.
Thus, both human readers and automated software may often
misinterpret NISTE as a new STE due to ischemia. In a typical
emergency room (ER) scenario, patients with chest pain are examined
by emergency physician who must promptly decide if the acute
ischemia is present, relaying just on the on-site (current) ECG
recording.
[0014] Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a technology
capable of separating new from old STE, as it could significantly
increase performance of automated AMI detection, and make it a
viable enhancement or even replacement for human interpretation,
particularly when qualified human interpretation is not available.
Described herein are methods and apparatuses that may address the
problems and needs discussed above, particularly the need for early
automated remote diagnostics of AMI. In particular the methods and
apparatuses described herein may provide a mechanically stable,
longer-term and improved electrical contact, while eliminating
errors associated with switching of finger contacts. Additionally,
aspects of more frequent, or continuous, monitoring are
addressed.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0015] In general, described herein are methods and apparatuses for
recording and analyzing cardiac signals to automatically detect one
or more indicators of cardiac dysfunction, including in particular
AMI. These apparatuses may typically include a housing having at
least four electrodes arranged thereon in an asymmetric manner on
two or more surfaces to provide orthogonal, or quasi-orthogonal
leads.
[0016] As used herein, a cardiac signal may refer to a voltage
produced by a human heart as sensed between selected points on the
surface of a subject's body, and may also be referred to as cardiac
electrical signals (e.g., electrocardic signals). These cardiac
signals may include electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. It should be
understood that although the term ECG (electrocardiogram) is
commonly used to refer to conventional 12-lead ECG signals, the
cardiac signals (cardiac electrical signals) described herein are
not limited to these conventional 12-lead ECG signals. Further,
although the disclosure herein may use and refer to terms including
characteristic points (such as P, Q, R, S, T) and intervals (such
as ST segment) on the cardiac signals described, these
characteristic points may refer to points, positions or regions
equivalent to the positions on conventional 12-lead ECG
signals.
[0017] Described herein are mobile, hand-held apparatuses for
automated cardiac electrical signal analysis. For example, an
apparatus may include: a housing having a back, a first side, and a
front; a first electrode and a second electrode integrated on the
back of the housing configured to measure bioelectric signals from
a patient's chest, wherein the first and second electrode are
positioned a distance of at least 5 cm apart; a third electrode
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's right
hand; a fourth electrode configured to measure bioelectric signals
from the patient's left hand; wherein one or both of the third
electrode and the fourth electrode are integrated on the front of
the housing; and a processor within the housing configured to
record three orthogonal cardiac leads from the first, second, third
and fourth electrodes, wherein less than three pairs of said
electrodes comprise the third electrode.
[0018] Alternatively or additionally, any of these apparatuses may
include: a housing having a back, a first side, and a front; a
first electrode and a second electrode integrated on the back of
the housing configured to measure bioelectric signals from a
patient's chest, wherein the first and second electrode are
positioned a distance of at least 5 cm apart; a third electrode
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's right
hand; a fourth electrode configured to measure bioelectric signals
from the patient's left hand; and a processor configured to record
3 orthogonal cardiac leads from the first, second, third and fourth
electrodes, wherein the processor comprises a register configure to
store a first set of three orthogonal cardiac leads taken at a
first time, and a comparator configured to determine a difference
signal between the first set of three orthogonal cardiac leads and
a second set of three orthogonal cardiac leads taken at a second
time.
[0019] For example, described herein are mobile, hand-held,
three-lead apparatuses for automated electrical cardiac-signal
analysis. An apparatus may include: a housing having a back, a
first side, and a front, wherein the front is parallel with the
back; a first electrode and a second electrode integrated on the
back of the housing configured to measure bioelectric signals from
a patient's chest, wherein the first and second electrode are
positioned a distance of at least 5 cm apart; a third electrode
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's right
hand; a fourth electrode configured to measure bioelectric signals
from the patient's left hand; wherein one or both of the third
electrode and the fourth electrode are integrated on the front of
the housing; a processing network (e.g. resistive network, op-amp
summation network, etc.) connecting at least two of the first,
second, third and fourth electrodes, wherein the processing network
forms a central point (CP); a processor within the housing
configured to record 3 orthogonal, or quasi-orthogonal cardiac
leads from the first, second, third and fourth electrodes, wherein
less than three pairs of said electrodes comprise the third
electrode; and a communication circuit within the housing
configured to transmit the 3 cardiac leads to an internal or remote
processor.
[0020] At least one lead may be formed between one of the said
electrodes and the central point (CP) formed by mutually connecting
at least two electrodes by the resistive network. For example, the
third and fourth (right and left hand) electrodes may be separated
by a processing network to form a central point so that at least
one lead including the third and fourth electrodes may be measured
between the central point and the third or fourth electrode.
[0021] In general, the apparatus may be oriented, e.g., including
an up and down, relative to the patient's body. The apparatus may
include a marker (e.g., one or more of: alphanumeric marker, e.g.,
label, body shape, light, e.g., LED, etc.). For example, the
apparatus may include a marker on the housing indicating the
orientation of the housing, such as an LED marker on the housing
indicating the orientation of the housing.
[0022] The third and fourth electrodes may be disposed on two
opposed sides with respect to a longitudinal plane of symmetry of
the device housing, said plane of symmetry being substantially
perpendicular to the back surface of the device housing.
[0023] In any of these variations, a ground electrode may be
present on the housing for contacting one of the patient's hands
disposed on either the side or front of the housing.
[0024] Either the third or fourth electrodes may be band-shaped and
disposed along the side of the device housing.
[0025] The housing may comprise a mobile phone housing, whereby the
third or fourth electrodes are configured as conductive transparent
areas on the touch screen of the mobile phone. The housing may be
incorporated in a mobile phone housing. The housing may be an
extension structure of a mobile phone housing communicating with
the said phone using an electrical connector or wireless
communication. The housing may forma mobile phone protective case.
For example, the housing may forma mobile phone protective case
with a phone display protective cover and the third and fourth
electrodes incorporated in the phone display protective cover.
[0026] In some variations, the apparatus is integrated with or
connected to a cover (e.g., back cover) of a mobile phone. For
example the housing for the apparatus may be a back cover for a
mobile phone that can be retrofitted (e.g., used to replace) a
standard back cover of a smartphone or other mobile phone. In some
variations, the apparatus can be connected to the cover (e.g., back
cover) of the mobile phone, e.g., by an adhesive or other
attachment mechanism.
[0027] Also described herein are methods of detecting cardiac
anomalies, such as detecting ischemia, atrial fibrillation or other
cardiac disorder; these methods may be automated methods. Any of
these methods may be methods for automated cardiac diagnostics, and
may include: acquiring a first set of at least three orthogonal
leads from a patient's chest and hands at a first time; acquiring a
second set of at least three orthogonal leads from the patient's
chest and hands a second time; performing a beat alignment in a
processor on the first and second sets of at least three orthogonal
leads to synchronize representative beats from the first and second
sets of at least three orthogonal leads; calculating a difference
signal representing the change between the first and second at
least three orthogonal leads; detecting cardiac changes suggestive
of a cardiac condition by comparing parameters of the first and
second at least three orthogonal leads or by comparing parameters
of the difference signal to a predefined threshold; and
communicating cardiac changes from the device to the patient.
[0028] Alternatively or additionally, a method for automated
cardiac diagnostics may include: positioning a device configured to
detect at least three orthogonal leads from a patient's chest and
hands against the subject's chest in a first recording position;
acquiring a first set of at least three orthogonal leads from the
device at a first time; communicating the first set of at least
three orthogonal leads to a processor; positioning the device
against the subject's chest in a second recording position;
acquiring a second set of at least three orthogonal leads from the
patient using the device at a second time; communicating the second
set of at least three orthogonal leads to the processor; performing
a beat alignment in the processor to synchronize representative
beats from the first and second sets of at least three orthogonal
leads; calculating a difference signal representing the change
between the first and second sets of at least three orthogonal
leads; detecting cardiac changes suggestive of a cardiac condition
by comparing one or more parameters of the difference signal to a
predefined threshold; and communicating cardiac changes from the
device to the patient.
[0029] For example, a method for automated cardiac diagnostics may
include: placing a device comprising a housing having four
integrated electrodes arranged to measure three orthogonal leads
from a patient's chest and hands against the subject's chest in a
first recording position; acquiring a first 3 lead cardiac
recording (also referred to as three cardiac lead recording and
three lead electrical cardiac readings) from the device at a first
time (e.g., taking a baseline recordings); communicating the first
3 lead recording to a processor; keeping the device at the same
first recording position or placing the device against the
subject's chest in a second recording position; acquiring a second
3 lead recording from the device at a second time (diagnostic
recordings); communicating the second 3 lead recording to the
processor; performing a beat alignment in the processor to
synchronize representative beats from the first and second 3 lead
recordings; calculating a difference signal representing the change
between the first and second 3 cardiac leads recordings; detecting
changes in the cardiac signals (e.g., changes in the cardiac signal
records, also referred to herein as cardiac changes) suggestive of
cardiac conditions, such as ischemia or atrial fibrillation, by
comparing parameters of the first and second 3 lead cardiac
recording or by comparing parameters of the difference signal to a
predefined threshold; and communicating any cardiac changes
suggestive of a cardiac condition from the device to the
patient.
[0030] The first and second recording positions may be different or
the same. In some variations, the method (or an apparatus
performing the method) may detect if the positions have changed and
either correct for the different recording positions or indicate
that the hand-held device needs to be more accurately repositioned.
For example, the method may include compensating for chest
electrode miss-positioning between the first and second recording
positions in the processor by compensating a heart electrical axis
deviation in a 3 cardiac leads vector space.
[0031] Communicating the first 3 lead electrical cardiac recording
to the processor may comprise wirelessly transmitting the first 3
lead electrical cardiac recordings to a remote processor,
transmitting a partial cardiac-recording processing result to a
remote processing, or just transferring the 3-lead cardiac
recordings to an internal processor for processing, or for patient
alert.
[0032] In general, these methods may include pre-processing the
first and second 3 lead electrical cardiac recordings in the
processor to achieve one or more of: eliminate power line
interference, baseline wandering and/or muscle noise; obtain a
representative beat using fiducial points and median beat
procedure; and check for switching of the left and right
finger.
[0033] The parameters of the diagnostic recording, baseline
recording and difference signal may be vector magnitude of the
cardiac signal, where the vector components are three cardiac leads
of the diagnostic, baseline and difference signals in a single time
instant (J point, J+80 ms) or average in predetermined time
interval (e.g., the ST segment or other predetermined interval) and
radius of the sphere which envelopes the vector signal hodograph of
the ST segment (or other predetermined interval).
[0034] The parameters of the diagnostic recording, baseline
recording and difference signal may be RR variability (or
equivalent), amplitude of P waves (or equivalent), or averaged
amplitude of P waves when detection of atrial fibrillation or
atrial flutter are desired.
[0035] Any of these methods may also include transmitting any
cardiac signal changes suggestive of a cardiac condition from the
processor to the device. The methods may also include communicating
any cardiac signal changes suggestive of a cardiac condition from
the device to the patient comprises presenting a visual and/or
audible alert to the patient.
[0036] For example, a method for automated cardiac diagnostics may
include: placing a device comprising a housing having four
integrated electrodes arranged to measure three orthogonal, or
quasi-orthogonal, leads from a patient's chest and hands against
the subject's chest in a first recording position; acquiring a
first 3 lead cardiac recording from the device at a first time;
communicating the first 3 lead cardiac recording to a processor;
storing the first 3 lead cardiac recording as baseline recording;
keeping the device at the same first location, or placing the
device against the subject's chest in a second recording position;
acquiring a second 3 lead cardiac recording from the device at a
second time; communicating the second 3 lead cardiac recording to
the processor; pre-processing the first and second 3 lead cardiac
recordings in the processor to eliminate power line interference,
baseline wandering and muscle noise, obtain a representative beat
using fiducial points and median beat procedure, and to check for
switching of the left and right finger; performing beat alignment
in the processor to bring representative beats from the first and
second 3 lead cardiac recordings in a same time frame so that
corresponding points are synchronized; compensating for chest
electrode miss-positioning between the first and second recording
positions in the processor by compensating a heart electrical axis
deviation in a 3 cardiac leads vector space; calculating a
difference signal representing the change between the first and
second 3 cardiac leads recordings; detecting cardiac signal changes
suggestive of cardiac condition (e.g., ischemia, atrial
fibrillation, atrial flutter, etc.) by comparing parameters of the
first and second 3 lead cardiac recording or by comparing
parameters of the difference signal to a predefined threshold;
communicating any cardiac signal changes suggestive of a cardiac
condition from the device to the patient.
[0037] In general, described herein are apparatuses configured to
perform any of the methods described herein. For example, an
apparatus configured to provide an automated cardiac diagnostics
may include: a housing comprising at least four electrodes
connected to a processor within the housing; wherein the processor
is configured to: acquire a first set of at least three orthogonal
leads from a patient's chest and hands at a first time; acquire a
second set of at least three orthogonal leads from the patient's
chest and hands a second time; perform a beat alignment on the
first and second sets of at least three orthogonal leads to
synchronize representative beats from the first and second sets of
at least three orthogonal leads; calculate a difference signal
representing the change between the first and second at least three
orthogonal leads; detect cardiac changes suggestive of a cardiac
condition by comparing parameters of the first and second at least
three orthogonal leads or by comparing parameters of the difference
signal to a predefined threshold; and communicate cardiac changes
from the device to the patient.
[0038] Although the description of the methods and apparatuses
included herein describes the use of a set of orthogonal, or
quasi-orthogonal, cardiac signals, these methods and apparatuses
may be used with any set of signals (cardiac electrical signals)
which contain significant independent cardiac information. For
example, an implementation that used cardiac leads represented by
vectors that are not completely orthogonal would not deviate from
the spirit of this invention. It would be important to have the
respective cardiac vectors orientated at relative angles greater
than 30.degree. with respect to one another. Such smaller relative
angles may still provide significantly linearly independent
information and allow the apparatuses and methods described herein
to produce similar and clinically/diagnostically relevant results.
Accordingly, for simplicity, without implying any limitation, we
may herein refer to our cardiac leads as orthogonal leads. Thus,
orthogonal leads may be strictly orthogonal (e.g., having deviation
of the leads relative angles from 90.degree. less than 10.degree.,
less than 8.degree., less than 7.degree., less than 6.degree., less
than 5.degree., less than 4.degree., less than 3.degree., less than
2.degree., less than 1.degree., etc.) or approximately orthogonal
(e.g., having deviation of the leads relative angles from
90.degree. less than 30.degree., 25.degree., 20.degree.,
15.degree., etc.). Alternatively, the quasi-orthogonality can be
assessed based on the cross-correlation function of combinations of
data from any two leads, data which were required at about the same
time and with the same device. Given that herein orthogonality
refers to the amount of independent information content, two leads
from the set may be deemed quasi-orthogonal if there
cross-correlation is less than 0.6.
[0039] For example, described herein are adhesive patch devices for
synthesizing a 12-lead electrocardiogram. These devices may
include: a patch of adhesive material having a back and a front,
wherein the back is configured to be adhesively secured to a
patient's chest; a first electrode and a second electrode
integrated on the back of the patch configured to measure
bioelectric signals from the patient's chest, wherein the first and
second electrodes are positioned a distance of at least 5 cm apart;
a third electrode on the front of the patch and configured to
measure bioelectric signals from the patient's right hand; a fourth
electrode on the front of the patch and configured to measure
bioelectric signals from the patient's left hand; a processing
network forming a central point in a sagittal plane through the
patient's chest passing between the third and fourth electrodes
when the housing is held adhesively secured against the patient's
chest, wherein three orthogonal cardiac leads are formed from said
electrodes and the central point; and a processor within a housing
on the patch configured to process the three orthogonal cardiac
leads derived from the first, second, third and fourth
electrodes.
[0040] For example, an adhesive patch device for synthesizing a
12-lead electrocardiogram, may include: a patch of adhesive
material having a back and a front, wherein the back is configured
to be adhesively secured to a patient's chest; a first electrode
and a second electrode integrated on the back of the patch
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's chest,
wherein the first and second electrodes are positioned a distance
of at least 5 cm apart; a third electrode on the front of the patch
and configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's
right hand; a fourth electrode on the front of the patch and
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's left
hand; a processing network forming a central point in a sagittal
plane through the patient's chest passing between the third and
fourth electrodes when the housing is held adhesively secured
against the patient's chest, wherein three orthogonal cardiac leads
are formed from said electrodes and the central point; and a
processor configured to process the three orthogonal cardiac leads,
wherein the processor comprises a register configured to store a
first set of values for the three orthogonal cardiac leads taken at
a first time, and a comparator configured to determine a difference
signal between the first set of values of three orthogonal cardiac
leads and a second set of values of the three orthogonal cardiac
leads taken at a second time.
[0041] Any of these devices may include a communication circuit
within the housing configured to transmit the processed three
orthogonal cardiac leads to a remote processor. The processor may
be configured to receive information back from the remote
processor. The device may include a marker on the housing
indicating the orientation of the patch when applied to the
patient's chest. For example, the device may include an LED on the
housing indicating the orientation of the housing.
[0042] The third and fourth electrodes may be disposed on two
opposed sides with respect to a longitudinal plane of symmetry of
the housing, said plane of symmetry being substantially
perpendicular to the back of the housing. For example, the housing
may extend proud of the front of the patch and may include sides
(e.g., four sides). In some examples, the device includes a ground
electrode (e.g., on the housing) for contacting one of the
patient's hands, for example, disposed on either a side or a front
of the housing. Either the third or fourth electrode may be
band-shaped and disposed along a first side of the housing.
[0043] Any of these devices may be configured to operate (and to
switch between) different modes of operation, including a 12-lead
ECG detection mode, when a detection circuit (e.g., a finger
detection circuit) detects both finger electrodes (e.g., the third
and fourth electrodes) are in contact with a finger, such as a
finger from the patient's left hand and a finger from the patient's
right hand. The device may switch to a standby mode (or 1-lead ECG
mode) when the detection circuit indicates that neither finger
electrode is in contact with a finger. In the standby/1-lead ECG
mode the device may be configured to take a 1-lead ECG measurement
from just the chest electrodes (the first and second electrodes);
these measurements may be taken on a predetermined schedule (e.g.,
once per day, twice per day, every other day, etc.), and stored,
processed and/or transmitted. For example, the processor may be
configured to automatically detect a one-lead ECG signal from the
first electrode and the second electrode when the detection circuit
does not detect the finger contact on both the third electrode and
the fourth electrode.
[0044] Thus, in general, any of these devices may include a
detection circuit configured to detect a finger contact on either
or both the third electrode and the fourth electrode. In general,
the processor may be configured to collect the three orthogonal
leads when the detection circuit detects the finger contact on both
the third electrode and the fourth electrode (e.g., in the first
mode).
[0045] An example of an adhesive patch device for synthesizing a
12-lead electrocardiogram may include: a patch of adhesive material
having a back and a front, wherein the back is configured to be
adhesively secured to a patient's chest; a first electrode and a
second electrode integrated on the back of the patch configured to
measure bioelectric signals from the patient's chest, wherein the
first and second electrodes are positioned a distance of at least 5
cm apart; a third electrode on the front of the patch and
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's right
hand; a fourth electrode on the front of the patch and configured
to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's left hand; a
processing network forming a central point in a sagittal plane
through the patient's chest passing between the third and fourth
electrodes when the housing is held adhesively secured against the
patient's chest, wherein three orthogonal cardiac leads are formed
from said electrodes and the central point; and a processor
configured to process the three orthogonal cardiac leads, wherein
the processor comprises a is configured to operate in a first mode
and to measure the three orthogonal cardiac leads when a finger
contact is detected on both the third electrode and the fourth
electrode, and to operate in a standby mode when no finger contact
is detected on both the third electrode and the fourth
electrode.
[0046] Thus, described herein are electrocardiogram (ECG) sensing
and review apparatuses and methods that may provide multiple
single-channel acquisition, for detection of arrhythmia that may
include a change in QRS axis or change in QRS width, and/or may
distinguish an arrhythmia from an artifact. The "gold standard" for
assessing cardiac rhythm abnormalities is 12-lead ECG or 12-lead
Holter. The advantage of a standard 12-lead ECG is in the ability
to assess rhythm, conduction, repolarization from multiple leads
allowing diagnosis of cardiac structural, electrophysiologic, and
metabolic abnormalities and drug effects.
[0047] Peer reviewed publications point out that within the first
24 hours of monitoring of any one of six arrhythmias
(supraventricular tachycardia, AF/AFL, pause >3 s, AVB,
ventricular tachycardia, or polymorphic ventricular
tachycardia/fibrillation), the 12-lead Holter monitor detected
about 17% more reportable events than a leading ECG patch
technology. Other arrhythmias and conduction disorders most likely
have been under-detected by ECG patches, likely owing to their
single-lead nature compared with the 12-lead Holter monitor. Some
ECG patches offer multiple electrodes that are attached to the
chest only, however they offer diagnostic information that is still
confined to a single signal plane. To achieve a 12-lead equivalency
in terms of diagnostic content the patch described herein may
record signals in all three human body cardinal axes: frontal,
sagittal and transverse (X, Y and Z).
[0048] Cardiac electrophysiologic derangements often coexist with
disorders of the circulatory system. Pathophysiologic states
including current or pre-existing ischemia, infarction, left
ventricular hypertrophy, and heritable arrhythmic disorders may
also be revealed by a longer term (multiple week) monitoring. Post
coronary artery disease intervention (stent or bypass surgery)
patients at their discharge need monitoring to reassure them and to
decrease unnecessary readmissions of these patients. Detection of
coronary artery disease with a single lead ECG device is unreliable
(poor accuracy) and because of that, single lead technologies are
contraindicated for coronary artery disease detection. The methods
and apparatuses may address these issues.
[0049] While not all occurrences of arrhythmia and other cardiac
disorders are symptomatic majority of them are. The gold standard
for diagnosing many rhythm disturbances is a symptom-to-ECG
correlation. In practice that means that the patient who is wearing
an ECG patch needs to mark somehow a symptomatic event. Usually,
that is accomplished by a patient pressing a special "symptoms
present" button typically located on the top surface of the patch
(see, e.g., FIG. 12). In a way, this accomplishes an event
monitoring function in an ECG patch. Usually, the whole multi-week
recording is sent for analysis after the device is removed from the
patient's chest.
[0050] For example, described herein are cardiac monitoring patch
devices (e.g., an ECG patch for 12-lead detection) comprising: a
casing having a front face and a rear face; two chest electrodes on
the rear face separated for most orthogonal signal collection by
about 5 cm and preferably by 10 cm or more; a first finger
electrode and a second finger electrode on the front face; wherein
the rear face comprises an adhesive configured to secure the two
chest electrodes in contact with the skin; and a processor
configured to detect when a first finger of the first hand contacts
the first finger electrode concurrently with a second finger of the
second hand contacting the second finger electrode, and to record
electrical signals from the two chest electrodes and two finger
electrodes.
[0051] In some examples the processor may be configured to
automatically detect an ECG signal (e.g., a one-lead ECG signal)
from the first electrode and the second electrode when the
detection circuit does not detect the finger contact on both the
third electrode and the fourth electrode. The processor may further
be configured to detect an irregular cardiac signal from the
detected ECG and in some examples may prompt the patient to touch
the third electrode and the fourth electrode when the irregular
cardiac signal is detected, and/or may prompt the patient to
actuate a "symptoms present" control (e.g., button).
[0052] In general, described herein are adhesive patch apparatuses
(devices, systems, etc.) for synthesizing a 12-lead
electrocardiogram using four electrodes (two hands and two chest).
For example, also described herein are adhesive patch devices for
synthesizing a 12-lead electrocardiogram, the device comprising: a
patch of adhesive material having a back and a front, wherein the
back is configured to be adhesively secured to a patient's chest; a
first electrode and a second electrode integrated on the back of
the patch configured to measure bioelectric signals from the
patient's chest, wherein the first and second electrodes are
positioned a distance of at least 5 cm apart; a third electrode on
the back of a right arm region of the patch and configured to
measure bioelectric signals from the patient's right arm; a fourth
electrode on the back of a left arm region of the patch and
configured to measure bioelectric signals from the patient's left
arm; a processing network forming a central point in a sagittal
plane through the patient's chest passing between the third and
fourth electrodes when the housing is held adhesively secured
against the patient's chest, wherein three orthogonal cardiac leads
are formed from said electrodes and the central point; and a
processor within a housing on the patch configured to process the
three orthogonal cardiac leads derived from the first, second,
third and fourth electrodes. The processor may be configured to
periodically process the three orthogonal cardiac leads from the
first, second, third and fourth electrodes. In some examples, the
processor may be configured to continuously process the three
orthogonal cardiac leads from the first, second, third and fourth
electrodes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0053] FIG. 1A shows one variation of a schematic configuration of
a diagnostic system for detection of cardiac disorders such as AMI,
including a local processor in the system.
[0054] FIG. 1B is another schematic of a remote diagnostic system,
wherein the processor is remote from the hand-held device.
[0055] FIG. 2A shows a front (non-chest) view of one variation of a
handheld device with two recording and one ground electrode.
[0056] FIG. 2B shows a back (chest) view of one variation of a
handheld device with two recording electrodes.
[0057] FIG. 2C shows an axonometric view of a handheld device.
[0058] FIG. 2D shows a front view of the device placed against the
patient's body in a recording position.
[0059] FIG. 3A shows a simple electrical scheme for obtaining a
central point CP by connecting the electrodes of both hands via a
simple resistive network with two resistors.
[0060] FIG. 3B shows an electrical scheme for obtaining a central
point CP by averaging electrode signals via known operational
amplifier (op amp) configurations.
[0061] FIG. 4A shows schematic configuration of the three cardiac
leads measured on the torso with one lead using central point as
the reference pole--the preferred embodiment.
[0062] FIG. 4B shows an electrical circuit of the three cardiac
leads with one lead using central point as the reference pole.
[0063] FIG. 4C shows a schematic configuration of the three cardiac
leads measured on the torso with two leads using central point as
the reference pole.
[0064] FIG. 4D is an electrical circuit of the three cardiac leads
with two leads using central point as the reference pole.
[0065] FIGS. 4E, 4F and 4G show schematic diagrams of three
possible configurations for measuring 3 leads among two chest and
two hand electrodes.
[0066] FIG. 5A shows a front (non-chest) view of the handheld
device with two front and one side electrode.
[0067] FIG. 5B shows a back (chest) view of the handheld device
with two front and one side electrode.
[0068] FIG. 5C shows an axonometric view of the handheld device
with two front and one side electrode.
[0069] FIG. 6A is a front (non-chest) view of the handheld device
with electrodes on the edges of the device.
[0070] FIG. 6B is a back (chest) view of the handheld device with
electrodes on the edges of the device.
[0071] FIG. 6C is an axonometric view of the handheld device with
electrodes on the edges of the device.
[0072] FIG. 7 is an axonometric view of the handheld device
realized as a flip case attachable to a mobile phone.
[0073] FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of the method for detecting
AMI.
[0074] FIG. 9 shows one example of a patient with BER (Benign Early
Repolarization), showing median beats in 12 leads. Both
pre-inflation and inflation recordings show ST segment elevation in
precordial leads, which is typically problematic for a human reader
to distinguish ischemic from non-ischemic recording.
[0075] FIG. 10 is an example of a patient with BER (Benign Early
Repolarization), showing median beats in 3 special leads. The
signal difference between pre-inflation and inflation recordings
enables the algorithm to distinguish ischemic from non-ischemic
recording.
[0076] FIG. 11 illustrates one example of a typical ECG patch size
and placement: two adhesive chest electrodes are positioned about
10 cm apart for single lead ECG recording.
[0077] FIG. 12 shows a prior art patch.
[0078] FIG. 13 shows one example of a hand-held ECG.
[0079] FIG. 14 illustrates one example of a 12-lead Holter ECG
monitor.
[0080] FIG. 15 shows a bottom view of one example of a view of an
adhesive device (e.g., an XYZ patch) with adhesive chest
electrodes.
[0081] FIG. 16 shows a top view of the patch device of FIG. 15.
[0082] FIG. 17 shows one example of a patch device (e.g., an ECG
patch for detecting 12 leads) attached to patient's chest.
[0083] FIG. 18 illustrates one example of use of patient's fingers
in an adhesive patch device.
[0084] FIG. 19 illustrates one example of a vertically attached
adhesive patch device.
[0085] FIG. 20A schematically illustrates an example of a flow
chart for an adhesive patch device as described herein.
[0086] FIG. 20B schematically illustrates an example of a flow
chart for an adhesive patch device including arm contacts as
described herein.
[0087] FIGS. 21A-21C illustrate alternative examples of adhesive
patch devices as described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0088] Described herein are apparatuses (including devices and
systems) and methods for remote diagnostics of cardiac conditions,
such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI), atrial fibrillation
(AFib), or the like. For example, described herein are handheld or
hand-operated devices with special electrode configurations capable
of recording three orthogonal cardiac lead signals in an
orientation-specific manner, and transmitting these signals to a
processor (e.g., PC or other computing device). In particular,
described herein are adhesive cardiac devices that may be worn on
the subject's chest for an extended period of time and operated by
both of the subject's hands. The processor may be configured to
diagnose/detect AMI and transmit the diagnostic information back to
the handheld device and/or to the patient's (or a caregiver's)
personal device (such as a phone, tablet, etc.). The handheld
(and/or adhesively worn) device may communicate the diagnostic
information to the patient via characteristic sounds, voice
massages or via a graphical display. The processor may be
configured via hardware, software, firmware, or the like, and may
process the signals received to produce a difference signal and
extract information reliably related to detection of AMI (and
additional information of clinical relevance). Thus, these
apparatuses and methods may perform automated detection of cardiac
conditions on the basis of a 3-lead system, without the necessity
for 12L ECG reconstruction, reducing or eliminating the need for
medical personnel to interpret the ECG, unlike prior art systems,
which typically rely on medical personnel for such decisions. The
automated diagnostic methods described herein, in combination with
the improved cardiac devices, address many of the needs and
problems present in other systems.
[0089] Specifically, described herein are 3-lead cardiac recording
devices for user placement on the chest, which include an
arrangement of electrodes on both the front and back (and in some
variations, one or more sides) so that the devices may be held by
both of the user's hand in a predefined orientation, so as to
record a 3 lead cardiac signals when held against the user's chest.
In order to fulfill the above-described functions, in some examples
the device (which may be handheld or adhesively applied/worn) may
record three leads without using cables (e.g., may include only
surface electrodes held or held against the body). Further, the
resulting three leads are non-coplanar, and as close to orthogonal
as possible. In some examples at least one electrode may be mounted
on the front side of the device (opposite to the chest side), which
may provide force to assist in holding device against the chest.
Unlike prior art devices, there is no requirement for low,
non-dipolar content, as the apparatuses and methods described
herein do not require reconstruction of 12L ECG from the measured 3
leads.
[0090] The devices described herein are configured to be
mechanically stable and allow good electrical contact with the
chest and to may eliminate the need for switching of finger
contacts. In some examples, the devices described herein may
include five electrodes, e.g., four recording electrodes and one
ground electrode. A device as described herein may include two
chest electrodes which are the recording electrodes, and may be
located on the back side of the device (e.g., and in some examples
may be adhesively coupled to the skin). In some examples the
remaining non-chest electrodes may be used for collecting cardiac
signals from the fingers of the right and left hand; in some
examples a third one may be used as a ground electrode. At least
one of these three non-chest electrodes may be mounted on the front
side for pressing with the fingers. In some examples this may
produce enough force to hold the device against the chest. In some
variations the electrodes may be asymmetrically arranged; this
asymmetric electrode configuration may prevent the need for
identifying which finger/hands are used. For example, one of the
three non-chest electrodes may establish contact with one finger of
the first hand, and the remaining two electrodes may establish
contact with the other hand. One of these two electrodes may be
used as common ground electrode and the other may be used for
signal measuring. An example of such configuration has two chest
recording electrodes, one recording finger electrode on the left
side of the device and two finger electrodes on the front side of
the device, one recording and one ground electrode. In some
examples, the optimal position of the device on the chest may be
with the center of the device on the left side of the chest
approximately above the center of the heart muscle. In this
position, the chest electrodes may be approximately on the
midclavicular line, the vertical line passing through the midpoint
of the clavicle bone, same as for the V4 electrode of the
conventional ECG, and the lower chest electrode is at about the
level of the lower end of the sternum.
[0091] In another embodiment, the ground electrode may be excluded
from the configuration, which may give acceptable 50-60 Hz
electrical noise performance if a ground-free signal amplifier
configuration is used. A four recording electrode configuration
(having two chest and two finger electrodes) may also fulfill the
condition of high orthogonality discussed above. The simplest way
to fulfill this requirement is to record signals in three main body
directions: lateral (left arm-right arm), sagittal (back-front) and
caudal (head-toes). For example, the signal in the lateral
direction may be obtained by measuring the lead between left and
right hand. The signal in the caudal direction may be obtained by
measuring the lead between the two chest electrodes, with the
condition that the distance between the chest electrodes in caudal
direction is at least about 5 cm, in some examples greater than
about 10 cm, in order to be greater than the approximate diameter
of the heart muscle. In an ideal case, the signal in the sagittal
direction would be measured between the back and the chest of the
patient, which is not possible with the constraint of using only
finger and chest electrodes. To overcome this, we use a simple
resistive network to make a central point (CP) that is close to the
heart electrical center. For recording a lead in approximately
sagittal direction, we record the voltage of the lower chest
electrode with respect to a central point (CP), obtained using two
hand electrodes and two resistors. The two resistors may be equal,
approximately 5 k.OMEGA. each, or unequal, the first one
approximately 5 k.OMEGA. between the left-hand electrode and the
CP, and the second one approximately 10 k.OMEGA. between the
right-hand electrode and the CP. This asymmetry reflects the
left-side position of the heart in the torso, thus shifting the CP
at the approximate electrical center of the heart. In this way we
obtain a three lead system that are substantially orthogonal.
[0092] Other similar lead configurations with the same CP may be
chosen using the same set of two chest and two hand electrodes,
with the distance between the chest electrodes in caudal direction
at least 5 cm, preferably greater than about 10 cm. Such a lead
configuration may be substantially orthogonal, for example when
both chest electrodes are used to record leads with the reference
pole at the CP. Another possibility to define CP is using three
electrodes, two hand electrodes and one chest electrode, and 3
resistors connected in a Y (star) configuration.
[0093] Other lead configurations without CP may also be used, like
the configuration recording the signal of two chest electrodes and
right-hand electrode with respect to left hand electrode. Such
configurations without resistors or CP are more noise resistant to,
for example, 50-60 Hz electrical noise, but have less orthogonal
lead directions than the described ones using a CP. Generally, any
other lead configuration using the same four described electrodes
(a total of 20 configurations without a CP) results in leads that
are non-coplanar and as such capture diagnostic signal in all three
directions, but may lack a high degree of orthogonality. However,
these configurations may have different levels of orthogonality,
depending on the use of the right-hand electrode. The configuration
using the right-hand electrode as the common reference pole in all
3 leads may have the lowest orthogonality, since the right-hand
electrode is farthest from the heart among the four electrodes, and
thus the angles between the vectors corresponding to the three
leads are the smallest. The configurations using right hand
electrode in two leads have better orthogonality, while best
orthogonality is achieved in the configurations using right hand
electrode in only one lead.
[0094] The effectiveness of the described solution is not affected
if one or more chest electrodes are added on the back side of the
device, and one or more corresponding additional leads are recorded
and used in diagnostic algorithms. Also, the effectiveness will not
be affected if front electrodes are pressed with palms or any other
part of hands instead with the fingers.
[0095] In order to prevent turning the device upside down during
the recording procedure, so that the upper side is facing toes of
the patient, instead of facing his head, which would lead to a
useless recording, either upper or front side of the device may be
clearly identified and/or formed, (including being marked) to be
easily distinguishable by the patient, for example by a LED diode
indicating the current phase of recording.
[0096] In some examples, the cardiac device (including either
handheld or adhesively attached device configurations) may be
configured as a stand-alone device incorporating an ECG recording
module including amplifiers and AD convertor, data storage module,
communication module operating on GSM, WWAN, or a similar
telecommunication standard for communication with the remote
processor (e.g., PC computer, pad, smartphone, etc.) and circuitry
(e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.) for communicating the diagnostic
information to the user. Alternatively, it can be realized as a
modified mobile phone that includes measuring electrodes and the
recording module. Furthermore, it can be realized as a device that
is attached to the mobile phone as a case or interchangeable back
cover. The attached device incorporates measuring electrodes and
the recording module and communicates with the mobile phone using a
connector or a wireless connection such as Bluetooth or ANT.
[0097] If the device is configured as modified mobile phone or as a
device attached to a mobile phone, the hand electrodes may be
mounted on the display side of a mobile phone. The hand electrodes
can be integrated in the edges of the display side of the phone, or
as conductive areas incorporated in a transparent layer covering
the display of the phone, arranged in the same way as hand
electrodes in the preferred embodiment, and marked with a special
color when a cardiac signal measuring application is active.
[0098] The signal processing and diagnostic software can also be
run on the processor (e.g., microprocessor) including a processor
integrated in the device, instead of running on a remote processor
(e.g., PC computer). In this case, the communication of recorded
information to the remote computer may no longer be required,
except for data and processing backups. Also, when the diagnostic
processing is carried out by a remote processor, a backup version
of the software running on the microprocessor may be integrated in
the device and may be used in situations when the user is in a zone
without wireless network coverage.
[0099] Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for
automated detection of AMI (or ischemia, the underlying
physiological process). These automated systems may include three
cardiac leads that are substantially orthogonal contain the
majority of diagnostic information that is present in the
conventional 12-lead ECG. Each user may be registered in the
diagnostic system by performing the first transmission of his/her
non symptomatic cardiac recording with 3 cardiac leads. This first
recording may be used as a reference baseline recording for AMI
detection in the diagnostic recording (diagnostic recording meaning
any further recording of the 3 cardiac leads of the same user). The
availability of the reference baseline cardiac recording may allow
distinguishing new from old STE (or equivalent parameter), and also
other cardiac signal changes suggesting an AMI, providing a tool
for automated AMI detection that may have diagnostic accuracy
comparable to human ECG interpreters.
[0100] The optimal placement of the devices (e.g., handheld and/or
adhesive) described herein may be typically on the chest is with
center of the device on the left side of the chest approximately
above the center of the heart muscle. In this position, the right
edge of the device may be about 3 cm away from the midsternal line,
the vertical middle line of the sternum, and the lower edge of the
device is at about level of the lower end of the sternum. In an
ideal case, the user chooses the optimal position on the chest in
the first baseline recording and repeats this position in each
future diagnostic recording. In such situation, the cardiac
recordings are repeatable, and it is easy to detect cardiac signal
changes suggesting an AMI.
[0101] In some variations, an adhesive may be used to secure the
device to the subject (e.g., patient's) chest, including for an
extended period, such as days, weeks or months. Thus the apparatus
may include an adhesive material or an adhesive patch or dock may
be used to connect to reproducibly connect to the apparatus and
hold it in a predetermined position on the user. For example, the
same recording position of the electrodes during the baseline
recording and any further test recording can be achieved using a
self-adhesive patch with (or connecting to a device with) the chest
electrodes. A self-adhesive patch with the chest electrodes may be
attached for the first recordings and remains on the same place on
the user chest. Similarly, a patch to which the apparatus may dock
to place the electrodes in a predetermined location may be used.
The user needs to touch the hand electrodes.
[0102] In a realistic case, the user may place the device at a
position that is different compared to the baseline position, which
may compromise diagnostic accuracy. This misplacement is equivalent
to a virtual change of the heart electrical axis in the 3D vector
space defined by the 3 cardiac leads. In some variations, this
angular change may be calculated for each test recording compared
to baseline recording. If the angular change is greater than a
threshold, such as 15 degrees, the user may be alerted to choose a
position that is closer to the baseline position. If the change is
lower than the threshold, it may be compensated for by rotating the
signal loops of the test recording in the 3D vector space and get
the signal that is substantially equivalent to the baseline
signal.
[0103] Although switching of the left and right finger or turning
the device upside down is not very likely (due to asymmetric
electrode configuration and configuration of the apparatus, e.g.,
by clear marking of the upper or front side of the device), it may
still be possible. In this case all three signals may become
unusable. Both of these user errors may be easily detected, since
in both cases the signal of the lead recorded between the left and
the right hand may become inverted. In such case, the user may be
alerted to repeat the recording using the correct recording
position.
[0104] The method for automated detection of AMI (or ischemia) may,
in some variations, the following steps: placing the device in a
recording position on the user chest; acquisition of a first 3 lead
cardiac recording and communicating the signals to the processing
unit; storage of the first recording in the data base of the
processing unit as baseline recording for further comparison with
any subsequent diagnostic recording; acquisition of the 3 lead
cardiac diagnostic recording and communicating the signal to the
processing unit, and processing of the resulting signals.
Processing of the stored baseline signals and signals of the
diagnostic recordings by the processing unit may include the
following steps: pre-processing to eliminate power line
interference, baseline wandering and muscle noise, obtain
representative beat using fiducial points and median beat
procedure, check for switching of the left and right finger, beat
alignment to bring baseline and test recordings' representative
beats in the same time frame so as the corresponding points are
synchronized, compensation for chest electrode mispositioning in
recording the test signal by compensating the heart electrical axis
deviation in the 3 cardiac leads vector space, calculating
difference signal, representing the change between baseline and
diagnostic 3 cardiac leads signals, detection of cardiac signal
changes suggesting ischemia by comparing the parameters of the test
recording to the baseline recording or by comparing parameters on
the difference signal to a predefined threshold, communicating
information by the processing unit to the device, and finally
communicating the diagnostic information by the device to the
patient.
[0105] The STE (ST segment elevation) is the most common ECG change
in case of ischemia, usually measured at the J point or up to 80
msec later. Using STE as a parameter, the ischemic changes may be
detected by comparing STE in the test recording to the baseline
recording. Also, the ischemic changes may be detected by measuring
the vector difference of the ST vector in the vector space defined
by the 3 special cardiac leads (STVD), taking the baseline
recording as a reference. As mentioned above, although these
parameters (e.g., ST, J, STVD, STE), are defined with respect to
traditional 12-lead ECG signals, they be herein refer to equivalent
measures determined for the three cardiac leads (orthogonal
signals) described herein. Thus, these equivalent points, regions
or phenomena (e.g., STE, ST, J, STVD, etc.) may be identified by
comparison between the cardiac signals described herein and
traditional ECG signals, including traditional 12-lead ECG
signals.
[0106] Other parameters of the ECG signal may also be used for
comparison with the baseline reference signal, such the "Clew",
defined as the radius of the sphere which envelopes the vector
signal hodograph between J and J+80 msec points.
[0107] Cardiac signals for an individual are highly repeatable as
far as their shape is concerned. The changes of the signal shape
are generally small for a healthy, or an individual in stable
condition. For example, the change of the position of the heart
with respect to rib cage can change the heart electrical axis by up
to 10.degree.. However, there are conditions when the signal shape
may change over time, like Benign Early Repolarization (BER). Such
signal changes are highly individual and could be significant. To
compensate for such changes, a number of baseline recordings, taken
by the user over a period of time, may be used to form a reference
that forms a 3D contour in the vector space defined by the 3
special cardiac leads (instead of a single point when single
baseline recording is used). In using such a 3D contour reference,
the ST vector difference (STVD) may be defined as a distance from
the 3D contour instead from the baseline ST vector. If more than
one parameter is used for ischemia detection, such a reference
contour may be constructed as a hyper-surface in a multidimensional
parameter space defined by such parameters. In this case a
hyper-distance from the reference hyper-surface will be defined in
the said parameter space.
[0108] In some conditions, the signal shape changes may also be
intermittent (the condition "comes and goes"), like in Brugada
syndrome, WPW syndrome, Bundle Branch Blocks (BBB), etc. To
compensate for signal changes in such conditions, two groups of
baseline recordings (e.g., at least two recordings) may be used to
define the reference, one with normal signals and one with the said
intermittent condition present. These two groups will form two 3D
contours in the vector space, forming a reference for comparison.
These two 3D contours may overlap or not. If there is no overlap,
the ST vector difference (STVD) will be defined as a distance from
closest point on the two 3D contours. If more than one parameter is
used for ischemia detection, such reference contours would be
constructed as two hyper-surfaces in a multidimensional parameter
space defined by such parameters. In this case a hyper-distance
from the reference hyper-surface will be defined in the said
parameter space.
[0109] Primary use of the methods described herein may be applied
to the detection of the most urgent cardiac diagnosis--the AMI.
Additionally, the diagnostic methods (e.g., software) in the remote
processor (or integrated processor in the handheld device) can
detect other cardiac conditions such as chronic Coronary Artery
Disease (CAD), Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH), Bundle Branch
Blocks (BBB), Brugada syndrome, rhythm disorders such as Atrial
Fibrillation (AF) etc.
[0110] Although the methods described herein do not require the
reconstruction of conventional 12 lead ECG recordings, they may be
used to reconstruct them. In many of the above-mentioned conditions
to be detected, treatment may be urgently needed, although to a
lesser extent compared to AMI. Also, many of such conditions are
transient, and may be detected using here described technology, but
may not be present when the user later comes to the physician's
office. In such a case, it would be useful to present the ECG
signals for the condition that was discovered at the time of
recording, so that physician may use it to confirm the diagnosis.
Physicians are familiar with the conventional 12 lead ECG
recording. Therefore, 3 special cardiac leads recorded when the
condition was discovered may be transformed to produce an
approximate reconstruction of conventional 12 lead ECG recording.
Such reconstruction may be obtained by multiplication of the 3
special cardiac leads with a 12.times.3 matrix. This matrix may be
obtained as a population matrix, that is a matrix with coefficients
that are calculated as average, or median, values of individual
matrices obtained by simultaneously recording conventional 12 lead
ECG and 3 special cardiac leads in a population of individuals,
with each individual matrix obtained using least squares method.
The coefficients of such matrices are dependent of the shape of the
user's body. Therefore, instead of using a single population
matrix, multiple matrices may be used, each for a group of users
defined by simple parameters of the body shape and structure, like
gender, height, weight, chest circumference, etc., that may be
easily obtained by the user. Also, matrix coefficients may be
obtained as continuous functions of such body parameters.
[0111] FIG. 1A illustrates one variation of a method of operating a
system 2 for cardiac signal detection and/or diagnosis. In FIG. 1A,
the user may record cardiac signals (e.g., at two or more times),
and the apparatus may process the three orthogonal leads to compare
the different times (e.g., baseline vs. assay time). The processor
of the apparatus may further determine if the resulting
differential signal indicates that cardiac problem, and can alert
the user. The user (patient) can then get medical assistance as
necessary. FIG. 1B shows a view of anther variations of a system
and method for detecting cardiac dysfunction, including a system 1
for remote diagnostics of AMI including handheld device 2
incorporating built in electrodes for cardiac signal acquisition,
mounted directly on the casing 3 of the handheld device and a PC
computer 4 connected via a telecommunication link to the
device.
[0112] The device further incorporates a cardiac signal recording
circuitry including amplifiers and AD convertor for amplifying the
signals detected by the electrodes, data storage (e.g., memory) for
storing the recording signal, communication circuitry operating on
GSM, WWAN, or a similar telecommunication standard for
communication with the remote processor 4 and visual and/or audio
(e.g., monitor, speaker, etc.) for communicating the diagnostic
information to the user.
[0113] The device may be communicating with the remote processor 4
via integrated communication circuitry. The remote processor 4 may
communicate with the handheld device 2 via integrated communication
module. The processor 4 may be equipped with diagnostic software
for processing the received cardiac signals, producing diagnostic
information and for transmitting the information back to the
handheld device for communicating the diagnostic information to the
patient via microphone producing characteristic sounds or voice
messages or in the form of graphical information via a display
integrated in the device. As a consequence, the system may be
capable of performing automated detection of a cardiac condition on
the basis of a 3-lead system and doesn't require interpretation of
the processed diagnostic information by a specialist.
Alternatively, instead of a remote processor, the system may
include a microprocessor integrated in the casing 3 of the handheld
device for processing the recorded cardiac signals and producing
diagnostic information.
[0114] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show front, back and axonometric views,
respectively, of an example of a handheld device. FIG. 2A shows the
front view of the device 2 in the recording position as held by the
user. The casing 3 of the device may incorporate four recording
electrodes A, B, C, D, and one ground electrode G arranged in such
arrangement that enables recording of three special ECG lead
signals. On the flat back surface 5 of the device in this example
are mounted two recording electrodes, A and B, used to make contact
with the chest of the patient in the recording position. The two
chest electrodes, A and B, are preferably arranged to cover
distance greater than at least 5 cm, preferably greater than about
10 cm in caudal direction. The reason for having such spaced
arrangement is to achieve the distance greater than approximate
diameter of the heart muscle which is needed to approach as much as
possible lead orthogonality.
[0115] In addition to the two chest electrodes, A and B, the device
in this example has two recording electrodes, C and D, mounted on
the flat front surface 6 substantially parallel and opposite to the
back surface 5. These electrodes, C and D, are used for recording
cardiac signals of the hands by pressing with fingers of the left
and right hand respectively. The fifth electrode G serves as
grounding electrode and is mounted on the front surface 6 for
pressing with a left-hand finger.
[0116] Referring back to FIG. 2A, there is shown a view of the
preferred embodiment of the invention in recording position. For
operation, the user (e.g., patient) places the device in his left
hand so that patient's index and middle finger contact electrodes C
and G respectively, positions and presses the device against his
chest so that the chest electrodes A and B contact his chest in the
manner shown in FIG. 2E for producing tight contact between chest
and the device. This may produce enough pressure for holding the
device against the chest. Simultaneously, a finger of the right
hand (or any other part of the right hand) presses the reference
electrode D mounted on the front surface 6 of the casing 3.
[0117] Referring back to FIG. 2D there is shown a front view of the
device placed against the patient's body in recording position
according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. In an
optimal recording position the center of the device is placed
closely above the center of the heart so that the chest electrodes
A and B are approximately on the midclavicular line (the vertical
line passing through the midpoint of the clavicle bone), and the
lower chest electrode B is at about the level of the lower end of
the sternum.
[0118] The example in FIG. 3A shows a simple electrical scheme for
obtaining a central point CP by connecting the electrodes of both
hands via a simple resistive network with two resistors. Similarly,
FIG. 3B shows an electrical scheme for obtaining central point CP
using buffering and averaging via operational amplifiers.
[0119] FIG. 4A shows a spatial view of the lead configuration
according to one embodiment, illustrating the arrangement of active
electrodes A, B, C, D with respect to the body, as well as relative
arrangement between the electrodes. FIG. 4B shows a simplified
electrical scheme illustrating the same relative arrangement
between the electrodes shown in FIG. 4A. For recording a lead in
approximately sagittal direction, the voltage of the lower chest
electrode B with respect to a central point CP may be obtained
using the hand electrodes C, D and two resistors R1, R2. The two
resistors R1, R2 can be equal, approximately 5 k.OMEGA. each, or
unequal, approximately 5 k.OMEGA. between the left-hand electrode
and the CP, and 10 k.OMEGA. between the right-hand electrode and
the CP. This asymmetry may reflect the left-side position of the
heart in the torso, thus putting the CP point at the approximate
electrical center of the heart. In this way a substantially
orthogonal three lead configuration may be obtained.
[0120] FIG. 4C shows a spatial view of an alternative lead
configuration with the central point CP using the same set of chest
and hand electrodes A, B, C, D, illustrating arrangement of the
electrodes with respect to the body, as well as relative
arrangement between the electrodes. FIG. 4D shows simplified
electrical scheme illustrating the same relative arrangement
between the electrodes A, B, C, and D, shown in the FIG. 4C. This
alternative lead configuration using a central point CP and
measuring two leads between the CP and each of the chest electrodes
is also substantially orthogonal, since the chest electrodes A, B
are used to record leads with the reference pole at the CP which is
obtained using two hand electrodes C, D and two resistors R1,
R2.
[0121] Other lead configurations without central point CP and
resistors may also be used, like the configuration shown in FIG.
4E, recording the signal of two chest electrodes and right-hand
electrode with respect to left hand electrode. Other two similar
configurations are shown in FIGS. 4F and 4G. Such configurations
without resistors are subject to less external interference, such
as 50-60 Hz electrical noise, but have less orthogonal lead
directions than the previously described ones using a CP.
Generally, any other lead configuration using the same four
described electrodes may result in non-coplanarity and, as such,
captures the diagnostic signal in all three directions, but lacks
high orthogonality. There are a total of 20 possible configurations
without a CP, including ones shown in FIGS. 4E, 4F and 4G. However,
these configurations have different levels of orthogonality,
depending on the use of the right-hand electrode. The configuration
using the right-hand electrode as the common reference pole in all
3 leads have the lowest orthogonality, since the right-hand
electrode is farthest from the heart among the four electrodes, and
thus the angles between the vectors corresponding to the three
leads are the smallest. The configurations using right hand
electrode in two leads, such as the configuration shown in FIG. 4F,
have better orthogonality, while best orthogonality is achieved in
the configurations using right hand electrode in only one lead,
such as the configurations shown in FIGS. 4E and 4G.
[0122] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show front view, back view and an
axonometric view, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of a
handheld device, whereby FIG. 5A shows the front view of the device
in the recording position as held by the user. In the alternative
embodiment, the electrode D1 for recording ECG signal of the right
arm by pressing with finger of the right hand is mounted on the
flank 71 of the casing 31, instead on the front surface 61 as in
the embodiment described above. Active recording electrodes A1 and
B1 for recording ECG signal of the patient's chest are mounted on
the back surface 51 of the device in the same manner as in the
embodiment above. An active recording electrode C1 for recording
ECG signal of the left hand by pressing with finger of the left
hand and ground electrode G1 for pressing with another finger of
the left hand are mounted on the front surface 61 also in the same
manner as above.
[0123] The finger switching may be prevented by having an
asymmetric electrode configuration, so that the right-hand
electrode cannot be wrongly pressed by the left hand, and vice
versa. However in each of the embodiments (preferred and
alternative), the upper (facing head) and lower part (facing toes)
of the device may be easily distinguished, since turning the device
upside down would lead to wrong recording. This may be done by
integrating LED diodes in either upper or front side of the device,
indicating the current recording phase, in the front surface of the
device casing.
[0124] The cardiac devices described herein (e.g., handheld,
adhesive, etc.) may be realized as a stand-alone device
incorporating an ECG recording circuitry including amplifiers and
AD convertor, data storage circuitry (memory), communication
circuitry operating on GSM, WWAN, or a similar telecommunication
standard for communication with the remote PC computer and an
output for communicating the diagnostic information to the user
(e.g., screen, speaker, etc.). In so embodiments, the apparatus may
be configured to operate with a modified mobile phone that includes
measuring electrodes and the cardiac signal recording capability.
Furthermore, the apparatus can be realized as a system that is
attached to a mobile phone (smartphone) as a case or
interchangeable back cover. The attached device may incorporate
measuring electrodes and the cardiac signal recording module
(including electrodes, balancing circuit, etc.) and communicates
with the mobile phone using a connector or a wireless connection
such as Bluetooth or ANT.
[0125] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C show a front view, back view and
axonometric view, respectively, of another alternative embodiment
of the handheld device. On the back side 52 of the device there are
electrodes A2, B2 are mounted for touching the chest of the patient
conducting the recording in the same manner as in the preferred
embodiment. On the front side 62 of the device there are three
electrodes, an active electrode C2, a reference electrode D2 and a
ground electrode G2. All three electrodes C2, D2 and G2 have
elongated, beam or band like shape and are integrated on the front
side 62 of the device, preferably along the two longer, parallel
edges of the housing 32 so as to be partially accessible from the
sides. In the recording position, the electrodes C2, D2 and G2 are
touched by fingers of the left and right hand, in the manner
equivalent to the one shown for electrodes C, D and G shown in FIG.
2A, respectively. This electrode arrangement is suitable if the
device is realized as a modified mobile phone that includes
measuring electrodes and the cardiac signal recording module, or if
it is realized as a device that is attached to the mobile phone as
a case or interchangeable back cover. In such embodiment, the
elongated electrodes may be a part of the frame surrounding the
display of the mobile phone or tablet.
[0126] In some examples, the alternative electrode arrangement,
featuring two electrodes on one side and on electrode on the
opposite side, also fulfills the requirement of asymmetry avoiding
the necessity for finger switching.
[0127] In another alternative example, the device is a modified
mobile phone that includes recording electrodes and the cardiac
signal recording module, with a touch screen. The three hand
electrodes for pressing with hands or fingers are realized as
transparent conductive areas incorporated in a transparent layer
covering the display of the phone, arranged in the same way as hand
electrodes in the preferred embodiment. The smart phone application
will mark the conductive areas on the screen with a special color
when the cardiac signal recording application is active.
[0128] In another alternative embodiment, the device contains
self-adhesive patch with the chest electrodes. The self-adhesive
patch is attached on the user chest enabling the same chest
electrode positions for the baseline and all subsequent diagnostic
recordings as described above. Alternatively or additionally, the
apparatus (e.g., system) may include a patch having a docking
region for connecting with any of the electrode-including devices
described herein, that may be used to connect (or provide fiduciary
reference for) the device to the same location on a user's chest.
For example, a docking adhesive patch may include a mating
component or region that connects to the device to hold the chest
electrodes on the device in a reproducible location on the user's
chest. In some variations, the docking adhesive comprises a
Band-Aid type material that is worn by the user over an extended
period of time (e.g., hours, days, weeks), and may be replaced with
another adhesive to maintain the same reference location.
[0129] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the device realized as an
extension 83 to a mobile phone, such as a case or interchangeable
back cover, having a form of a so-called flip case or wallet for
mobile phone, incorporating chest electrodes A3 and B3 on the back
side of the device, and the left- and right-hand finger electrodes
C3, D3 and G3 incorporated in the flip-type phone display cover 93
of mobile phone casing.
[0130] FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the method for automated
detection of AMI according to the preferred embodiment of the
invention. A method for automated detection of AMI (or ischemia)
may include all or some of the steps described below. First,
placing the device in a recording position on the user chest.
[0131] An optimal position of the device on the chest is with
center of the device on the left side of the chest approximately
above the center of the heart muscle. In this position, the chest
electrodes are approximately on the midclavicular line, the
vertical line passing through the midpoint of the clavicle bone,
same as for the V4 electrode of the conventional ECG, and the lower
chest electrode is at about the level of the lower end of the
sternum. The user presses one active electrode and one ground
electrodes with the fingers of the left hand and one active
electrode with the finger of the right hand on the front side of
the device.
[0132] The method may also include acquisition of a first 3 lead
cardiac recording and communicating the signals to the processing
unit. The user of the automated AMI diagnostic system may perform
the recording of the 3-lead cardiac signal by holding the device
against the chest for a short period of time (e.g., at least 30
seconds, at least 20 seconds, at least 10 seconds, at least 5
seconds, etc.). The recording is stored in the memory of the device
and then transmitted to the remote PC computer via commercial
communication network.
[0133] The method may also include storage of the first recording
in the data base of the processing unit as a baseline. After
performing the first transmission of his/her cardiac signal, the
cardiac signal recording is stored in a remote processor, and the
user may be registered in the diagnostic system. Before this first
transmission, the user or his MD/nurse may enter (via a dedicated
web site) his medical data such as age, gender, risk factors for
cardiovascular disease, etc., and indicate if he/she is currently
having chest pain or any other symptom suggesting ischemia. If the
answer is negative, this first cardiac recording is kept in the
diagnostic system as a baseline recording that will serve as a
reference for comparison in any further transmission when symptoms
suggesting ischemia may occur.
[0134] The method may further include acquisition of the 3-lead
cardiac diagnostic recording and communicating the signal to the
processing unit. Any subsequent recording after the baseline
recording has been accepted and stored in the data base is
considered to be diagnostic recoding. The user of the automated AMI
diagnostic system performs the diagnostic recording of the 3-lead
cardiac signal by holding the device against the chest for at least
10 seconds. The diagnostic recording is stored in the memory of the
device and then transmitted to the remote PC computer via
commercial communication network.
[0135] In general, the methods described herein may include
processing of the stored signals of baseline and diagnostic
recordings by the processing unit. Processing may include
pre-processing. For example the apparatus/method may be configured
to let Va, Vb, Vc be the 3 special leads recorded using the device.
Before performing any analysis, cardiac signal must be "cleaned"
from the disturbing factors like power line interference, baseline
wandering and muscle noise. While the former two may be removed
using standard adaptive filtering and cubic spline techniques,
respectively, the latter is suppressed using time-averaging median
beat procedure.
[0136] To create a median beat, the entire cardiac signal may be
delineated, resulting in set of fiducial points S={P.sub.1,
P.sub.2, . . . , P.sub.n}, where Pi={Q.sub.i, R.sub.i, T.sub.i,
T.sub.i,end} (or points equivalent to these locations) are fiducial
points of i-th beat. Based on S, the signal is then divided into n
individual beats of the same length. Finally, individual beats are
synchronized using cross-correlation (CC) and for each sample
median value across all n beats is calculated. Thus, the entire
cardiac signal is represented by the single most-representative
median beat. A set of fiducial points P={Q, R, J, T, T.sub.end}
associated to the median beat are simply calculated as median
values of the fiducial point of the individual beats.
[0137] Techniques for obtaining representative beat other than
median beat may also be used. The delineation of the cardiac signal
resulting in fiducial points for each beat may be done using
different techniques like wavelet transform, support vector
machine, etc.
[0138] The same pre-processing procedure is used for both baseline
and diagnostic recording.
[0139] If the lead recorded between the left and the right hand, or
other lead capturing the signal in the lateral direction, is
inverted, the user is alerted to repeat the recording using the
correct recording position.
[0140] The processing may also include beat alignment. For example,
the apparatus or method may be configured to let B and D denote to
the median beats extracted from the baseline and diagnostic ECGs,
respectively, and PB and PD are their associated fiducial points.
The goal of beat alignment is to bring B and D in the same time
frame so as the corresponding points are accurately synchronized.
This involves finding of such transformed B, referred to as B*, so
that it is optimally synchronized to the D. The applied
transformation is piece-wise uniform re-sampling of B, so that
corresponding segments in B* and D, defined by PB and PD,
respectively, have the same number of samples. Optimal alignment is
obtained by searching for such fiducial points PB* that optimize
cost function or similarity measure (SM) which quantifies the
alignment:
P B * = argopt P B SM ( 1 ) ##EQU00001##
[0141] B* is then obtained by transforming B using the
P.sub.B*.
[0142] In the present embodiment, we used CC which is commonly used
SM for shape-based alignment problems. However, use of solely CC
may lead to wrong alignment as shape in B and D may be
significantly different. Therefore, we introduce weighting
functions f.sub.wi, which penalizes large deviations from the
P.sub.B, as the fiducial points P.sub.B are assumed to be
accurately known:
f w i = e - ( .DELTA. P Bi ci ) 2 ( 2 ) ##EQU00002##
[0143] where i=Q, R, J, T, T.sub.end, .DELTA..sub.Bi is deviation
from the i-th fiducial point and ci is scaling factor which depends
on the fiducial points. Namely, as the R point is the most stable
reference in ECG signal, its deviation is penalized the most. On
the other hand, as J and T.sub.end points are the least stable,
thus, larger deviations are allowed. The overall SM is then
calculated as product of CC and sum of weighting functions
f.sub.wi:
SM=CC(B(P.sub.B),D).SIGMA..sub.i=1.sup.5f.sub.wi(|P.sub.B-P.sub.Bi|)
(3)
[0144] Finally, according to the Eq. (1) the B* is obtained by
finding optimum of SM given in Eq. (3).
[0145] The processing may also include compensation for chest
electrode mispositioning. During regular use of the handheld
device, chest electrodes may not be placed on the same spot every
time, thus leading to changes in shape of cardiac signal even in
absence of any pathology. This change can be modeled as "virtual"
heart electrical axis deviation in the Va, Vb, Vc leads vector
space if lead positions are assumed to be constant, with the heart
electrical axis represented by the R vector--the heart vector at
the moment of maximal magnitude in the QRS complex (or equivalent
region in the three-lead cardiac signals described herein).
However, this is undesired property as the difference signal
.DELTA.D will be significant, even though there are no
pathologically induced changes. To overcome this problem, we
transform D, resulting in D*=TD, so that its heart electrical axis
overlaps with the axis of B*. The transform T is calculated using
least squares method and Q-J segment (QRS complex) of D and B* as
input.
[0146] In general, processing may also include calculating
difference signal, representing the change between baseline and
diagnostic3 cardiac leads signals. The difference signal .DELTA.D*
is calculated as:
.DELTA.D*=D*-B* (4)
[0147] Ultimately, such difference signal .DELTA.D* will reflect
solely pathologically induced changes and it will be independent on
heart axis deviation.
[0148] Since the quality of the device misplacement compensation
decreases with increase of the angle heart axis deviation, if the
angular change is greater than a threshold, such as 15 deg, the
user is prompted to choose a position that is closer to the
baseline position.
[0149] The processing methods and apparatus described herein may
also include detection of ischemic changes. The STE is the most
common ECG change in case of ischemia, measured usually at the J
point or up to 80 msec later. In the present solution, the ischemic
changes are detected by comparing the test recording to the
baseline recording. In the preferred embodiment, the parameter or
"marker" for ischemia detection is STVM (or equivalent region in
the cardiac signals described herein), the vector magnitude of the
corrected difference signal .DELTA.D* at 80 msec after the J point
(J+80 msec), compared to a predefined threshold, such as 0.1
mV.
[0150] In other embodiments, vector magnitude in other time points
may be used as marker for ischemia, such as J point, J+60 msec, T
max, etc. Other markers may be used that describe the shape of the
ST segment (ECG signal segment between J and J+80 msec points, or
similar). Such a marker is the "Clew", defined as the radius of the
sphere which envelopes the vector signal hodograph between J and
J+80 msec points. Also, other composite markers may be used, such
as a logistic regression using a linear combination of STVM and
Clew markers.
[0151] To compensate for signal shape change over time, a number of
baseline recordings, taken by the user over a period of time, may
be used to form a reference that forms a 3D contour in the vector
space defined by the 3 special cardiac leads (instead of a single
point when single baseline recording is used). In using such a 3D
contour reference, the ST vector difference (STVD) will be defined
as a distance from the 3D contour instead from the baseline ST
vector. If more than one parameter is used for ischemia detection,
such a reference contour would be constructed as a hyper-surface in
a multidimensional parameter space defined by such parameters. In
this case a hyper-distance from the reference hyper-surface will be
defined in the said parameter space.
[0152] In users having cardiac condition with intermittent signal
shape changes, compensation for such changes may be done by forming
two groups of baseline recordings (at least two recordings) to
define the reference, one with normal signals and one with the said
condition. These two groups will form two 3D contours in the vector
space, forming a reference for comparison, and the ST vector
difference (STVD) will be defined as a distance from closest point
on the two 3D contours. If more than one parameter is used for
ischemia detection, such reference contours would be constructed as
two hyper-surfaces in a multidimensional parameter space defined by
such parameters. In this case a hyper-distance from the reference
hyper-surface will be defined in the said parameter space.
[0153] Any of these methods and apparatuses may be configured for
communicating information by the processing unit to the device. The
created diagnostic information may be transmitted from the remote
processor (e.g., a PC computer, server, etc.) to the device memory
via commercial communication network. The method and apparatuses
may also be configured for communicating the diagnostic information
by the device to the patient. The received diagnostic information
may be presented to the user in a form of characteristic sound,
voice, graphics or text.
[0154] Additionally, an approximate conventional 12 lead ECG signal
may be sent to the user's physician for evaluation. This signal may
be produced as an approximate reconstruction of conventional 12
leads by transforming the 3 special cardiac leads signals recorded
by the user. This reconstruction may be obtained by multiplication
of the 3 special cardiac leads with a 12.times.3 matrix. In one
embodiment, this matrix may be obtained computationally by using a
general solution of potentials distribution on the surface of the
human body, similar to those previously described for defining a
conventional vector cardiogram. In another embodiment, this matrix
may be obtained as a population matrix, that is a matrix with
coefficients that are calculated as an average, or median, values
of individual matrices obtained by simultaneously recording
conventional 12 lead ECG and 3 special cardiac leads in a
population of individuals, with each individual matrix obtained
using least squares method. In yet another embodiment, multiple
matrices may be used in corresponding user groups defined by simple
parameters of the body shape and structure, like gender, height,
weight, chest circumference, etc., that may be easily obtained by
the user. Also, matrix coefficients may be obtained as continuous
functions of such body parameters.
Adhesive Devices
[0155] As described above, any of the apparatuses (e.g., devices)
described herein may be configured to be adhesively secured to a
subject (e.g., patient) and may include two or more electrodes on
the adhesive side as well as two or more finger electrodes arranged
as described above (similar or identical to the handheld examples).
These apparatuses may include an of the features of the handheld
devices described. These adhesive devices may also or alternatively
be referred to as "patch" devices. Thus, the devices and systems
described herein may include ECG patches configured to receive and
process 12-lead ECG information that may be used to detect cardiac
conditions. These ECG patches may be worn for long periods of time
(e.g., more than 24 hours).
[0156] The ECG patches described herein addresses key limitations
of prior art. As described above, 12-lead ECG is diagnostically
superior to a single lead ECG for most cardiac conditions. For that
reason, it is the standard of care for professional medical use.
Patient inconvenience associated with the 12-lead Holter (see,
e.g., FIG. 14) makes it impractical to wear more than 24 hours.
Thus, it is appreciated that an ECG patch for multi week monitoring
that combines the longer-term continuous monitoring capability with
a 12-lead ECG capability would be of great value. Moreover, the
patches may allow the monitoring of symptomatic episode while a
subject is wearing a patch.
[0157] As described above, in general, the methods and apparatuses
described herein may provide a set of substantially orthogonal
cardiographic leads i.e. XYZ projections of heart vector and thus
allow synthesis of a 12-lead recording, including in real or
near-real time while patient is experiencing symptoms. A wearable
patch ECG 12-lead ECG sensor as described herein may have a
separation of about 5 cm and preferably 10 cm or more between
sensing electrodes. To achieve a capability to record X, Y and Z
projections of the heart vector with a patch, the patch may include
the addition of two finger electrodes as well as a resistor network
inside the ECG recording electronics of the patch. Any of these
apparatuses may include resistive network as described above.
[0158] For example, FIG. 15 illustrates one example of an ECG patch
1500 configured for 12-lead (or both 12-lead and 3 lead) detection
as described herein, as an adhesive chest electrode. FIG. 15 shows
a bottom view of the ECG patch 1500 for 12-lead detection. The pair
of chest electrodes 1507, 1509 are arranged in line, separated by
at least 10 cm, edge-to-edge. An adhesive 1501 may secure the
device so that the electrodes are in electrical communication with
the skin of the subject's chest. In some examples the adhesive is a
medical adhesive that may secure the device to the chest for an
extended period of time (e.g., days, weeks, etc.). In some examples
the region over the electrodes does not include an adhesive. In
some examples the region over the electrodes does include an
adhesive, such as a conductive hydrogel.
[0159] FIG. 16 shows a top view of the same device 1500, including
two finger electrodes 1603, 1605. As shown, these finger electrodes
are built into the top or side, e.g. non-adhesive surface, of the
ECG patch for 12-lead detection. This configuration may ensure the
functionality and diagnostic performance (similar or better than
that described, for example, in the hand-held device shown in FIG.
13, and described in PCT/US2020/032556, incorporated by reference
herein. In FIG. 16 the patch device also includes a body portion
including one or more housings 1611 that may house any of the
circuitry (e.g., the resistive network, wireless communication
circuitry, etc.) discussed above. The device may not include a
separate control, e.g., the control(s) may be the finger electrodes
1603, 1605 so that contacting the finger electrodes may trigger
recording of signals from the electrode leads, including detection
of a 12-lead ECG, processing locally (in the device), storing
and/or transmitting to a remote site. In some examples the signals
from the electrodes may be stored and/or transmitted for later
analysis and/or review, including for later converting to a 12-lead
signal. The system may also transmit the time of day. In some
variations the system may also be configured to automatically or
manually detect a one lead ECG signal (e.g., using just the two
chest electrodes) or a 3 lead ECG signal. For example, the system
may be configured to periodically detect electrical signals from
the two (or more) chest electrodes 1507, 1509 when worn, and may
store and/or transmit either the sensed electrical signals and/or a
processed ECG signal. Alternatively or additionally the device my
include a control or input (e.g., from a remote device, such as a
smartphone or the like) for triggering measurement of a single-lead
(or 3 lead) ECG detection. In some examples a single-lead (or 3
lead) measurement may be triggered when the user touches just one
of the finger electrodes 1603, 1605. In some examples, the user
(e.g., patient) may trigger measurement from all of the leads
and/or processing to get a 12-lead ECG signal when the user touches
multiple (e.g., both, three or more, etc.) finger electrodes for a
sufficient time. During the period that the subject is touching the
electrodes the system may record a signal. In some examples the
device may detect contact, e.g., by a change in impedance from the
electrodes. Alternatively or additionally, the device may include a
control (button, switch, etc.) that may turn it "on" and/or move it
from a standby to an active mode. In some examples one or both
finger electrodes may also include a switch (e.g., a
pressure-driven switch) that may turn the device on and/or move it
from a standby to an active mode.
[0160] In some examples an ECG patch for 12-lead detection
described herein may be referred to as "XYZ patch" devices. In
general, these apparatuses (e.g., devices, systems, etc.) may
include two finger electrodes on the top, non-adhesive side of the
patch as shown in FIG. 16. The finger electrodes may be adapted for
contact with the subject's right-hand finger and left-hand finger
(right hand on the right side, left hand on the left side) and may
be raised above the skin surface slightly, to prevent accidental
contact with other parts of the body. The electrodes may be sized
for contact with a sufficiently large region of the finger (e.g.,
between 5-15 mm diameter), and may be round, square, etc.
[0161] FIG. 16 also shows an enclosed compartment on the upper side
of the patch that may also separate (and physically isolate) the
left and right finger electrodes. In FIG. 16, the top view of the
XYZ patch shows one or more housings or compartments 1611 that may
house a power source (e.g., battery, etc.) and/or signal
acquisition and processing electronic circuitry including the
resistor network as well as signal storage and communication
circuitry, as mentioned.
[0162] FIG. 17 illustrates one example of an XYZ patch as worn by a
patient. The patch is shown oriented with the right-hand electrode
1603 on the right side of the chest, slightly above the left-hand
electrode 1605 that is on the left side of the chest. A measurement
(which may include a symptomatic event) may be detected by placing
fingers from the right and left hand on the corresponding finger
electrodes. For example, in use the subject may place his fingers
on both finger electrodes when he determines that an event may be
occurring. Any finger pair of corresponding fingers from the left
and right hand (e.g., index, pointer, pinky, thumb, etc.), that a
subject prefers, is acceptable. In some examples a "symptoms
present" button may be included on the device. Alternatively the
electrode may be configured to detect a pattern of contact from the
fingers that may indicate the subject is communicating symptoms are
present. In some examples the patient (e.g., subject or user) may
place his/her right-hand finger on the electrode that is at the
higher elevation. The left-hand finger is placed on the other
finger electrode on the lower elevation left hand, as shown in FIG.
18.
[0163] In some examples the apparatus may include a sensor or
sensors to detect that the patch is oriented appropriately on the
chest. For example, the patch may include a sensor to detect the
orientation of the patch on the upright (or in some variations,
prone) patient, such as an accelerometer. In addition, the device
may be configured to detect skin contact with each of the
electrodes, including the finger electrodes.
[0164] In operation of some examples, once skin contact is detected
on both finger electrodes, the device will start recording X, Y and
Z projections of the heart vector and by that enable synthesis of a
12-lead ECG signal that may correspond to a symptomatic event
period. The recording may stop, and in some cases the system will
continue in the single lead mode, as soon as at least one finger is
removed from a finger electrode. Thus, recording may stop if at
least one finger is removed from a finger electrode for at least a
few seconds to avoid prematurely terminating a symptomatic session
by accidental and short removal of a finger from a finger
electrode. In some examples, for a period of time when only a
single finger is contacting the device, a 3-lead ECG measurement
may be taken and may automatically stop after a predetermined time
period. In some examples, after both fingers are removed,
additional single-lead measurements may be taken (e.g., single lead
ECG) for a period of time, as this information may still have
diagnostic value.
[0165] FIG. 18 shows a symptomatic session recording with two
fingers touching the finger electrodes on the top surface of an XYZ
patch. Although the patch is shown in a specific location and angle
in FIGS. 5-8, it could be placed in any position on the torso in
the vicinity of the heart preferably with one finger electrode is
visibly at a higher elevation than the other finger electrode.
[0166] In order to carry maximum diagnostic information, the XYZ
leads may be as close to orthogonal as possible (e.g., three vector
axes with 90 degrees angle between each of them). The opposite to
orthogonal is the case of three coplanar vectors, that is three
vectors in the same plane, in which case the diagnostic information
corresponding to the axis perpendicular to that plane is completely
missing.
[0167] The four recording electrodes configuration described above
having two chest and two finger electrodes fulfill the requirement
of high orthogonality. As described above, a simple way to fulfill
this requirement is to record signals in three main body
directions: lateral (left arm-right arm), sagittal (back-front) and
caudal (head-toes). For example, the signal in the lateral
direction is obtained by measuring the lead between left and right
hand, the signal in the caudal direction is obtained by measuring
the lead between the two chest electrodes, with the condition that
the vertical distance between the chest electrodes is at least 5 cm
(and preferably greater than about 10 cm), in order to be greater
than the approximate diameter of the heart muscle. In an ideal
case, the signal in the sagittal direction would be measured
between the back and the chest of the patient, which is not
possible with the constraint of using only finger and chest
electrodes. To overcome this, a simple resistive network is used to
make a reference point that is close to the heart electrical
center, as described below. See also U.S. Pat. No. 10,117,592 B2,
herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0168] The above description may explain why for the maximum
orthogonality of recorded signals preferred attached position of
the patch is that electrodes are approximately straight above each
other (vertical position of the patch). This can be ensured by the
use of a built-in accelerometer, as mentioned. This position of the
patch on patient's torso is illustrated in FIG. 19. While
compactness of the XYZ patch dictates that the finger electrodes be
placed on the top or side surface of the patch, in some examples
the finger electrodes can be engineered to be part of a separate
pair of electrodes attached to the chest and to the patch.
Alternatively, as will be described below in FIGS. 21A-21C,
additional adhesive electrodes may be place on the limbs (as limb
electrodes, e.g., on or near the shoulders) and may be used without
the requirement for finger electrodes.
[0169] Any method of attaching finger electrodes to the patch may
be used as long as two fingers are used in addition to two chest
patch electrodes. The XYZ patches described herein may enable
real-time or nearly real-time analysis of symptomatic evens. Unlike
prior art devices in which an entire set of multi-week recordings
are sent for analysis after the device is removed from the
patient's chest, the apparatuses described herein may be operated
in more real-time. These apparatuses may allow for the shortest
time for analysis and possible diagnosis and intervention when
reviewing a potentially symptomatic event. In some examples
descriptions and corresponding ECG waveforms may be wirelessly sent
in real time or nearly real time for a professional medical
evaluation. As used herein, real time may include near real time
(e.g., within a few minutes).
[0170] FIG. 20A schematically illustrates one illustration of a
system, shown as a system flow chart for an example of an XYZ
patch. In FIG. 20A, ECG signal sampling 2001, processing 2003
buffering 2005 and/or compression 2007 may be done in any standard
way from the signal(s) detected by the various electrode pairs
(chest/chest, chest/left-finger, chest/right-finger, center
point/left-finger, center point right-finger, etc.). For example,
the sample signals may be stored and/or processed on the on-board
circuitry (e.g., memory). In some examples, before a sample is
written into the onboard flash memory it may be classified as part
of a symptomatic episode or part of a routine non symptomatic
single lead ECG recording section. The determination if a sample is
part of a symptomatic episode could be made based on whether the
patient pressed a "symptoms present" dedicated button or simply by
detecting skin contacts on both finger electrodes (as shown in FIG.
18). In the latter case, patients may be instructed to touch finger
electrodes and keep fingers on the finger electrodes while symptoms
are present (e.g., by a signal, such as a tone or other sound, one
or more LEDs, etc.). While the patient's fingers are touching
finger electrodes the system may record 3 channels: X, Y and Z
components of the heart vector. Alternatively or additionally, in
some examples the apparatus can detect a dangerous heart rhythm
(e.g., using just the two or more chest electrodes, such as 1-lead
electrodes) while periodically or continuously monitoring the
patient. If dangerous or irregular cardiac signal (e.g., irregular
rhythms, AMI, tachycardia, etc.) are detected the apparatus may
alert the user (via tone, text/SMS, vibration, etc.) to place their
figures on the electrodes (indicating "symptoms present" 2011), as
described in greater detail below. Thus, in general any of these
apparatuses and methods may include ongoing, either periodic or
continuous monitoring by the system.
[0171] In some examples, digital samples may be written into the
onboard flash memory. Once the flash memory is removed from the
patch it could be physically or electronically shared with a
facility where the totality of the recording can be analyzed. Of
special interest are signal sections of signals that may be
associated symptomatic episodes. These episodes may feature XYZ
signals and are converted from XYZ signals to 12-lead ECG signals
and then analyzed.
[0172] All or some ECG signal samples may be streamed in real time
to a communication device, such as a smartphone, that in turn
communicates with the server, or with the help of a built-in
communication module that communicates directly with a cloud-based
server. This system is capable of transferring the totality of
recorded signals in real time. As emphasized above, of particular
interest are symptomatic episodes for the recording performed with
a patch.
[0173] For example, returning to FIG. 20A, the methods described
herein may detect that fingers are present on the electrodes 2011,
as discussed above 2011, and may indicate (e.g., may flag 2015)
that the signal is being recorded and flagged as potentially
including an episode of cardiac difficulty or not 2013. As
mentioned, the signal(s) may be annotated (e.g., with date, time,
skin impedance data, etc.) and stored in device memory storage
(such as a flash memory 2017) and/or processed 2019 as discussed
above.
[0174] In some examples, in order to conserve power and/or time,
the system may store all samples associated with a symptomatic
episode in a dedicated memory sector or be able to extract it from
the memory based on the particular symptomatic episode's unique
flag. These samples may be buffered 2021, and/or transmitted 2023
via the onboard (to the patch) communication hardware and software
in real time. For example, a Bluetooth connection from the patch to
a patient's smart phone can be used for symptomatic session signal
transmission and phone's Internet connectivity for the transfer on
to the cloud. Initial automated diagnostic signal analysis can be
performed in the cloud and from the cloud transferred to an
analysis facility for a timely analysis by professional medical
staff.
[0175] The methods and apparatuses (e.g., systems) described herein
may sample the ECG (and in some examples perform an analysis) and
transfer the samples (and/or the analysis) in real time for review
by physicians, rather than downloading all signal samples after a
delay (e.g., two weeks or more) and then sending them for analysis.
This real time symptomatic episodes analysis is an improvement over
current practice.
[0176] For every symptomatic session, a patient may be asked to
report associated symptoms. This could be accomplished by voice
recording and/or a form with standard questions or even a free
format form written report by the patient on their smart
phones.
[0177] FIG. 20A also describes real time analysis of symptomatic
episodes. Recorded XYZ signals 2025 in a symptomatic session may be
marked as symptomatic by setting the symptoms flag (e.g., to 1). In
the next step they may be sent to the cloud where they are
converted to a derived 12-lead ECG 2027. Typically, an automated
diagnostic analysis 2029 that is performed in cloud follows.
Alternatively or additionally, both derivation of the 12-lead and
diagnostic analysis may be performed by the software that resides
on the patient's smart phone. An integral part of signal analysis
may review the recorded ECG signals by trained medical
professionals after computerized analysis is done.
[0178] FIG. 20B illustrates another example of a method of
operating an apparatus as described herein, and in particular, a
method of operating an adhesively-attached apparatus that includes
one or more arm electrodes, as described in FIGS. 21A-21C,
described in greater detail below. In these examples the apparatus
may not need finger contact to derive 12-lead ECG signals.
[0179] For example, in FIG. 20B, the apparatus may be configured to
periodically or continuously monitor electrical signals from the
two or more chest electrodes and the one or more arm electrodes on
the adhesive patch (such as the adhesive patches shown in FIGS.
12A-12C). In one variation the system may monitor for activation of
a user-activated "symptoms present" button and may then detect ECG
signals that may be constructed into 12-lead ECG signals. In FIG.
20B, as described for FIG. 20A, ECG signal sampling 2051,
processing 2053 buffering 2055 and/or compression 2057 may be done
in any standard way from the signal(s) detected by the various
electrode pairs (chest/chest, chest/left-arm, chest/right-arm,
center point/left-arm, center point right-arm, etc.). For example,
the sample signals may be stored and/or processed on the on-board
circuitry (e.g., memory). In some examples, before a sample is
written into the onboard flash memory it may be classified as part
of a symptomatic episode or part of a routine non symptomatic
single lead ECG recording section. The determination if a sample is
part of a symptomatic episode could be made based on whether the
patient pressed a "symptoms present" dedicated button.
[0180] The patient/user may activate the symptoms detected control
("symptoms detected button") when she or he experiences symptoms of
a cardiac event 2061. As mentioned above, the apparatus may
continuously or periodically (e.g., every few seconds, every 10
seconds, every 15 seconds, every 30 seconds, every minute, every 2
minutes, every 5 minutes, every 7 minutes, every 8 minutes, every 9
minutes, every 10 minutes, every 15 minutes, every 30 minutes,
etc.) monitor the patient wearing the device and may detect an
irregular cardiac signal (e.g., AMI, tachycardia, etc.). In some
cases if the apparatus automatically detects an irregular cardiac
signal the patient may be instructed to touch the symptoms present
indicator (button, control, dial, etc.) when symptoms are present.
Alternatively, when a patch with front finger electrodes is used,
the detection of irregular cardiac signals may prompt the patient
to touch with their fingers onto the finger electrodes (as shown in
FIG. 18). Alternatively or additionally, in some examples the
apparatus can detect a dangerous heart rhythm while periodically or
continuously monitoring the patient. If dangerous rhythms (e.g.,
irregular rhythms, AMI, tachycardia, etc.) are detected the
apparatus may flag the particular detected signal as potentially
showing symptoms (e.g., by tripping the symptoms flag 2065) and/or
alerting a caregiver and/or the user (via tone, text/SMS,
vibration, etc.). Particularly, a patch such as that shown in FIG.
21C, may be employed for continuous monitoring of patient's cardiac
activity with a goal to detect AMI. The orthogonal lead system
described above can be readily acquired by the patch FIG. 21C on a
periodic or continuous basis. Algorithms described herein can then
be employed to detect occurrence of AMI events and trigger
appropriate alerts. Thus, in general any of these apparatuses and
methods may include ongoing, either periodic or continuous
monitoring by the system.
[0181] If the system does not either detect an irregular cardiac
signal and/or the user is not actuating the symptoms present
button, the apparatus may set the symptoms flag to null 2063, and
in some cases may take a baseline signal 2068. The baseline may be
used by the system in a patient-specific manner to refine the
detection of irregular cardiac signals and/or the 12-lead ECG.
Baseline signals may be determined at some frequency (e.g., every
minute, every few minutes, every 2 minutes, every 5 minutes, every
10 minutes, every 15 minutes, every 20 minutes, every 30 minutes,
every 45 minutes, every hour, every 2 hours, every 4 hours, every 8
hours, every 12 hours, every day, every 2 days, every 5 days, every
7 days, etc.).
[0182] As mentioned, digital samples may be written into the
onboard flash memory 2067 and/or transmitted 2073 (e.g., after
signal processing, such as buffering 2071, etc.). Once the flash
memory is removed from the patch it could be physically or
electronically shared with a facility where the totality of the
recording can be analyzed. Of special interest are signal sections
of signals that may be associated symptomatic episodes. The signals
may be used to generate 12 lead ECG signals from the subset of
leads recorded 2075. Signal analysis may be used to interpret the
12-lead ECG signals 2077, including detecting a cardiac episode.
These episodes may feature XYZ signals and are converted from XYZ
signals to 12-lead ECG signals and then analyzed.
[0183] All or some ECG signal samples may be streamed in real time
or near-real time (or after storage) 2073 to a communication
device, such as a smartphone, that in turn communicates with the
server, or with the help of a built-in communication module that
communicates directly with a cloud-based server. This system is
capable of transferring the totality of recorded signals in real
time. As emphasized above, of particular interest are symptomatic
episodes for the recording performed with a patch.
[0184] For example, in FIG. 20B, the methods described herein may
detect and record a signal and may flag one or more signals as
potentially including an episode of cardiac difficulty 2063 (or may
flag it as not indicating cardiac difficulty). As mentioned, the
signal(s) may be annotated (e.g., with date, time, skin impedance
data, etc.) for transmission and/or stored in device memory storage
(such as a flash memory 2067) and/or processed 2069 as discussed
above.
[0185] In some examples, in order to conserve power and/or time,
the system may store all samples associated with a symptomatic
episode in a dedicated memory sector or be able to extract it from
the memory based on the particular symptomatic episode's unique
flag. These samples may be buffered 2061, and/or transmitted 2063
via the onboard (to the patch) communication hardware and software
in real time. For example, a Bluetooth connection from the patch to
a patient's smart phone can be used for symptomatic session signal
transmission and phone's Internet connectivity for the transfer on
to the cloud. Initial automated diagnostic signal analysis can be
performed in the cloud and from the cloud transferred to an
analysis facility for a timely analysis by professional medical
staff.
[0186] Once the patient finishes wearing the patch that the
totality of a multi-day recording can be analyzed in many different
ways. While the real time transmission and analysis of signals
associated with symptomatic episodes is highly desirable, it is not
mandatory, and it could be postponed to the time when the patch is
removed from the patient's body.
[0187] As mentioned, the patch apparatuses described herein may use
a simple resistive network to make a central point (CP) that is
close to the heart electrical center. For recording a lead in
approximately sagittal direction, we record the voltage of the
lower chest electrode with respect to a central point (CP),
obtained using two hand electrodes and two resistors. The two
resistors may be equal, approximately 5 kOhm (k.OMEGA.) each, or
unequal, the first one approximately 5 kOhm (k.OMEGA.) between the
left-hand electrode and the CP, and the second one approximately 10
kOhm (k.OMEGA.) between the right-hand electrode and the CP. This
asymmetry reflects the left-side position of the heart in the
torso, thus shifting the CP at the approximate electrical center of
the heart. In this way, we obtain a three-lead system that are
substantially orthogonal. Other lead configurations with or without
CP may also be used.
[0188] The XYZ patch may incorporate cardiac signal recording
circuitry including amplifiers and AD convertor for amplifying the
signals detected by the electrodes, data storage circuitry (e.g.,
memory) for storing the recording signal, communication circuitry
operating on GSM, WWAN, or a similar telecommunication standard for
communication with the remote processor (e.g., PC computer, pad,
smartphone, etc.) and circuitry (e.g. screen, speaker, etc.) for
communicating diagnostic information to the user in the form of
visual and/or audio output.
[0189] The hand-held device with special electrode configurations
is capable of recording three orthogonal cardiac lead signals in an
orientation-specific manner, and transmitting these signals to a
processor (e.g., PC or other computing device). The remote
processor may be configured to diagnose/detect AMI and transmit the
diagnostic information back to the hand-held device.
[0190] A remote processor may be equipped with diagnostic software
for processing the received cardiac signals, producing diagnostic
information and for transmitting the information back to the
hand-held device for communicating the diagnostic information to
the patient. The device may be capable of performing automated
detection of a cardiac condition on the basis of a 3-lead system
and may not require interpretation of the processed diagnostic
information by a specialist.
[0191] The signal processing and diagnostic software can also be
run on the processor (e.g., microprocessor) integrated in the
casing of the hand-held device for processing the recorded cardiac
signals and producing diagnostic information. When the diagnostic
processing is carried out by a remote processor, a backup version
of the software running on the microprocessor may be integrated in
the hand-held device and may be used in situations when the user is
in a zone without wireless network coverage.
[0192] The device may be communicating with the remote processor
via integrated communication circuitry. The remote processor may
communicate with the hand-held device via integrated communication
module. The created diagnostic information may be transmitted from
the remote processor (e.g., a PC computer, server, etc.) to the
device memory via commercial communication network. The hand-held
device may communicate the diagnostic information to the patient
via characteristic sounds via acoustic sensor producing
characteristic sounds, voice massages or in the form of graphical
information via a display integrated in the device.
[0193] In general, the analysis may include the analysis of a
baseline. A baseline ECG (e.g., a baseline heart vector) may be
taken at the time the patient first subscribes and/or purchases the
apparatus. The baseline signal may be vetted by the system. For
example, the baseline signal may be examined to confirm that it is
within some predefined `normal` range of parameters. For example,
the patent's baseline signal may be determined by doing a
differential vector analysis of the baseline heart vector
determined from the three orthogonal leads of the signal collection
device. Multiple baseline measurements may be made and averaged, or
the best one may be selected. Patients may be rejected as poor
candidates where the baseline does not fall within expected
parameters, e.g., because they have an irregular heart vector for
some reason (including concurrent, undetected cardiac event). The
system may periodically prompt the user to provide updated baseline
signals.
[0194] In some variations the application software may provide
quality control (QC) to check signals (e.g., a QC agent, a software
agent, etc.), which may indicate that the baseline heart vector is
sufficient or not; this may be done in real time, and may include
both a signal quality check, which may be done at either or both
the signal collection device and the mobile communications device
(e.g., smartphone) and/or at the remote server. The QC agent may
look for clarity of signal and/or may also confirm that the patient
is not having heart attack. This may be part of a final level
quality check.
[0195] The application software/firmware may also acquire risk
factors from the patient. This may advantageously be done at the
time of subscription. The patient may be prompted with a series of
questions and/or may provide access to electronic medical records,
indicating risk factors that are associated with a heart disorder
(e.g., heart attack, etc.). Information may include
patient-specific information (age, gender, weight, height,
ethnicity, cholesterol level(s), blood pressure, etc.). The inquiry
may be ordered and weighted. A minimum entry of risk factor
information may be permitted (e.g., just age, just age and gender,
etc.); if the minimum is not entered, the patient may not be
permitted to subscribe.
[0196] As mentioned, the application may prompt the patient to
update the baseline periodically (e.g., weekly, bimonthly, monthly,
etc.) by sending messages (SMS/text messages) in an associated
application software (app) or without the app (from the remote
server).
[0197] In some variations a report may be made to a physician that
may then interpret the results manually or semi-manually, including
the risk factors and symptoms, and may contact the patient
directly, including through the app.
[0198] For example, a mobile three-lead cardiac monitoring device
having a first compact and undeployed configuration and a second
deployed configuration as described herein may be configured to be
operated by a patient when cardiac symptoms occur. The device may
include a storage (e.g., memory) for storing data on patient's
cardiac risk factors and other data, cardiac signals recording
components (e.g., electrodes, circuitry, controller) for recording
a patient's cardiac signals; the recording components may be
similar to those disclosed in WO2016/164888A1, Bojovic et al,
mentioned above. Patient related data (risk factors and current
symptoms) may be entered, and diagnostic message may be
communicated to the patient, by equipping the device with a
graphical user interface (e.g., touch screen or screen and a
keyboard, etc.). The diagnostic information can also or
alternatively be communicated to the patient via speaker through
characteristic sounds or voice messages. The communication may
occur via wired or wireless connection to a separate user-operated
device, such as a smartphone or tablet, etc.
[0199] As mentioned, in some examples the four recording electrode
configuration (e.g., having two chest and two finger electrodes)
may fulfill the condition of high orthogonality, e.g., by recording
signals in three main body directions: lateral (left arm-right
arm), sagittal (back-front) and caudal (head-toes). For example,
the signal in the lateral direction may be obtained by measuring
the lead between left and right hand. The signal in the caudal
direction may be obtained by measuring the lead between the two
chest electrodes, with the condition that the distance between the
chest electrodes in caudal direction is at least 5 cm, preferably
greater than about 10 cm, in order to be greater than the
approximate diameter of the heart muscle. In an ideal case, the
signal in the sagittal direction would be measured between the back
and the chest of the patient, using a simple resistive network to
make a central point (CP) that is close to the heart electrical
center. For recording a lead in approximately sagittal direction,
we record the voltage of the lower chest electrode with respect to
a central point (CP), obtained using two hand electrodes and two
resistors. The two resistors may be equal, approximately 5 kOHM
each, or unequal, the first one approximately 5 kOHM between the
left-hand electrode and the CP, and the second one approximately 10
kOHM between the right-hand electrode and the CP. This asymmetry
reflects the left-side position of the heart in the torso, thus
shifting the CP at the approximate electrical center of the heart.
In this way, we obtain a three-lead system that are substantially
orthogonal.
[0200] Other similar lead configurations with the same CP may be
chosen using the same set of two chest and two hand electrodes.
Such a lead configuration may be substantially orthogonal, for
example when both chest electrodes are used to record leads with
the reference pole at the CP. Another possibility to define CP is
using three electrodes, two hand electrodes and one chest
electrode, and 3 resistors connected in a Y (star)
configuration.
[0201] Other lead configurations without CP may also be used, like
the configuration recording the signal of two chest electrodes and
right-hand electrode with respect to left hand electrode. Such
configurations without resistors or CP are more noise resistant to,
for example, 50-60 Hz electrical noise, but have less orthogonal
lead directions than the described ones using a CP. Generally, any
other lead configuration using the same four described electrodes
(a total of 20 configurations without a CP) results in leads that
are non-coplanar and as such capture diagnostic signal in all three
directions, but may lack a high degree of orthogonality. However,
these configurations may have different levels of orthogonality,
depending on the use of the right-hand electrode. The configuration
using the right-hand electrode as the common reference pole in all
3 leads may have the lowest orthogonality, since the right-hand
electrode is farthest from the heart among the four electrodes, and
thus the angles between the vectors corresponding to the three
leads are the smallest. However, this configuration with the lowest
orthogonality is optimal for reconstruction of 12 leads ECG based
on 3 lead signal, due to its small non-dipolar content.
Nevertheless, the signals obtained using this configuration may be
used with or without 12 leads reconstruction.
[0202] The effectiveness of the described solution is not affected
if one or more chest electrodes are added on the back side of the
device, and one or more corresponding additional leads are recorded
and used in diagnostic algorithms. Also, the effectiveness will not
be affected if front electrodes are pressed with palms or any other
part of hands instead with the fingers.
[0203] For example, the apparatuses described herein may be used
for remote diagnostics of cardiac conditions, such as acute
myocardial infarction (AMI), atrial fibrillation (AFib), or the
like. In particular, described herein are handheld devices with
special electrode configurations capable of recording three
orthogonal cardiac lead signals in an orientation-specific manner,
and transmitting these signals to a processor (e.g., PC or other
computing device). The processor may be configured to
diagnose/detect AMI and transmit the diagnostic information back to
the handheld device. The handheld device may communicate the
diagnostic information to the patient via characteristic sounds,
voice messages or via a graphical display. The processor may be
configured via hardware, software, firmware, or the like, and may
process the signals received to produce a difference signal and
extract information reliably related to detection of AMI (and
additional information of clinical relevance). Thus, these
apparatuses and methods may perform automated detection of cardiac
conditions on the basis of a 3-lead system, without the necessity
for 12L ECG reconstruction, reducing or eliminating the need for
medical personnel to interpret the ECG, unlike prior art systems,
which typically rely on medical personnel for such decisions. The
automated diagnostic methods described herein, in combination with
the improved handheld cardiac devices, address many of the needs
and problems present in other systems.
[0204] The patch devices described herein may be positioned on the
chest with the center of the device on the left side of the chest
approximately above the center of the heart muscle. In this
position, the chest electrodes are approximately on the
midclavicular line, the vertical line passing through the midpoint
of the clavicle bone, same as for the V4 electrode of the
conventional ECG, and the lower chest electrode is at about the
level of the lower end of the sternum. A signal in the lateral
direction may be obtained by measuring the lead between left and
right hand. The signal in the caudal direction may be obtained by
measuring the lead between the two chest electrodes, with the
condition that the distance between the chest electrodes in caudal
direction is at least 5 cm, preferably greater than about 10 cm, in
order to be greater than the approximate diameter of the heart
muscle.
[0205] As already described above, the example in FIG. 3A shows a
simple electrical scheme for obtaining a central point CP by
connecting the electrodes of both hands via a simple resistive
network with two resistors. Alternatively, the op-amp scheme in
FIG. 3B can be used. The same configuration shown and described
above in FIGS. 3, 4A-4G may be used with any of the adhesive
devices described herein. For example, for recording a lead in
approximately sagittal direction, the voltage of the lower chest
electrode B with respect to a central point CP may be obtained
using the hand electrodes C, D and two resistors R1, R2. The two
resistors R1, R2 can be equal, approximately 5 k.OMEGA. each, or
unequal, approximately 5 k.OMEGA. between the left-hand electrode
and the CP, and 10 k.OMEGA. between the right-hand electrode and
the CP. This asymmetry may reflect the left-side position of the
heart in the torso, thus putting the CP point at the approximate
electrical center of the heart. In this way a substantially
orthogonal three lead configuration may be obtained.
EXAMPLES
[0206] FIG. 21A illustrates another example of a patch (e.g.,
adhesive) apparatus for long-term monitoring and detection of
12-lead equivalent ECGs. In FIG. 21, rather than all of the finger
electrodes being coupled to the same housing, the patient (or a
caregiver or medical professional) may separately attach the
housing having at least two skin-contacting ("chest") electrodes
2105 that may be coupled by a wire 2108 connecting the chest
electrodes 2117, 2119 (and one or more finger electrodes 2121) to a
separate patch 2107 that includes a second finger electrode and/or
an arm electrode 2125. In some examples the separate patch may be
adhesively secured to the shoulder or arm (e.g., left shoulder/arm)
and used instead of the derived arm lead. The second finger
electrode 2123 in this example may be omitted or may be used as a
reference.
[0207] FIG. 21B shows another example of a patch device with a
center, heart, patch region 2105' that is electrically coupled via
a pair of tethers 2108, 2108' to a pair of separate finger or arm
patches 2107', 2107''. In this example, each arm patch may be
attached to the subject's shoulders or arms for measuring leads
from each arm, rather than deriving this from finger electrodes.
Optional finger electrodes 2123', 2123'' may also be included. In
FIGS. 21A-21B the thicknesses of the patches are not shown to scale
but are shown schematically exaggerated. The patches may be made of
a flexible and relatively thin material.
[0208] In some variations it may be beneficial to include a single
piece that adhesively attaches to the skin, rather than two or more
separate adhesive patches. For example, FIG. 21C illustrates an
example of a patch device that may include extensions (arms, wings,
etc.) for adhesively securing arm electrodes on the right and left
arm (e.g., shoulder) regions. In FIG. 21C the bottom of the device
is shown, showing the electrodes, including the chest electrodes
2117'', 2119'', left arm electrode 2123' and right arm electrode
2123''''. The housing portion 2135 of the device may be offset
relative to the two arm electrodes (e.g., so as to be positioned
over the heart region of the chest when worn). In some examples the
device may also include one or more controls, e.g., buttons, that
may be on the non-adhesive side (not shown) that may allow the
device to be triggered to record or to associate a recording as an
event. The examples shown in FIGS. 21A-21C may allow for continuous
or periodic 12-lead ECG detection without requiring the user to
touch finger electrodes. Thus, baseline 12-lead ECG measurements
may be taken and used to normalize or adjust the measurements to
increase accuracy. The device shown in FIG. 21C may be provided in
a variety of predetermined sizes (e.g., small, medium, large)
and/or may adjustable.
[0209] The example shown in FIG. 21C is a continuous patch in which
the arm extensions 2130, 2132 extend from a central chest region
that is applied as described above. As mentioned, in some examples
the left arm extension 2130 may be shorter or longer than the right
arm extension 2132 or they may be the same size. For example, in
some cases the left arm extension (to be worn on the left side of
the patient's chest) is shorter, so that the chest electrodes may
be positioned more closely over the heart. The chest arm extensions
may be between, e.g., 2 inches and 12 inches long; the total length
(from left arm electrode to right arm electrode) may be between 6
and 16 inches (e.g., between 8 and 16 inches, between 6 and 15
inches, between 7 and 14 inches, etc.).
[0210] As described above, an adhesive patch device such as the one
shown in FIG. 21C may be operated as described in FIG. 20B,
above.
[0211] A clinical study was done to evaluate the diagnostic
accuracy of the methods described above for detecting myocardial
ischemia provoked by balloon inflation in coronary arteries during
a PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) procedure. A device
similar to that shown in FIG. 2C was used.
[0212] In this example, data was acquired continuously. Continuous
data from standard 12 lead ECG with additional three special leads
were obtained from each patient during the entire period of balloon
occlusion, and for a short period before and after. Target duration
for balloon occlusion was at least 90 sec if the patient is stable.
In each patient, one baseline recording was taken prior to the
beginning of the PCI procedure, and one pre-inflation during the
procedure, prior to first balloon insertion. In each
lesion/intervention site, one inflation recording was taken just
before the balloon deflation. The analyzed data set contains ECG
recordings of 66 patients and 120 balloon occlusions (up to three
arteries inflated per patient).
[0213] Data was analyzed by the methods described above (using the
embodiment with a linear combination of STVM and "Clew" markers),
and results were compared to the interpretation of the same data
set by three experienced cardiologists (one interventional
cardiologist, two cardiac electrophysiologists), blinded to any
clinical data. All inflation recordings were assumed to be
ischemia-positive and all pre-inflation recordings to be
ischemia-negative. The study data set was divided into two sets of
approximately same sizes, learning and test sets (using a random
number generator). The markers for ischemia detection were chosen
and marker thresholds tuned on the learning set before the
algorithm was applied to the test set.
[0214] Table 1, below illustrates the results of this study,
comparing automatically scored readings with readings scored by
human (e.g., cardiologist), showing a greater success rate using
the automatic methods described herein compared to those of trained
human experts (human reader's average).
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the
automated method compared to human expert reading. SEN [%] SPE [%]
ACC [%] Automated method 89.06 91.18 89.80 Human readers 76.11
64.14 71.86 Difference 12.95 27.04 17.93
[0215] The results given in Table 1 show the superiority of using
the availability of the reference baseline cardiac recording for
distinguishing new from old ST deviation.
[0216] Another clinical study was done to evaluate the diagnostic
accuracy of the algorithm based on 3 orthogonal cardiac leads in
detecting Atrial Fibrillation. The data set included 453 recordings
from 25 patients after Pulmonary Vein Isolation (227 recordings
with sinus rhythm and 226 with Atrial Fibrillation). The "Clew"
marker was applied to the P wave, combined with commonly used RR
interval marker. Table 1, below illustrates the results of this
study.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Performance of the automated method in
detecting Atrial Fibrillation SEN [%] SPE [%] ACC [%] Automated
method 99.12 92.04 95.58
[0217] Any of the methods (including user interfaces) described
herein may be implemented as software, hardware or firmware, and
may be described as a non-transitory computer-readable storage
medium storing a set of instructions capable of being executed by a
processor (e.g., computer, tablet, smartphone, etc.), that when
executed by the processor causes the processor to perform any of
the steps, including but not limited to: displaying, communicating
with the user, analyzing, modifying parameters (including timing,
frequency, intensity, etc.), determining, alerting, or the
like.
[0218] When a feature or element is herein referred to as being
"on" another feature or element, it can be directly on the other
feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also
be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to
as being "directly on" another feature or element, there are no
intervening features or elements present. It will also be
understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being
"connected", "attached" or "coupled" to another feature or element,
it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other
feature or element or intervening features or elements may be
present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as
being "directly connected", "directly attached" or "directly
coupled" to another feature or element, there are no intervening
features or elements present. Although described or shown with
respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described
or shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be
appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a
structure or feature that is disposed "adjacent" another feature
may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent
feature.
[0219] Terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. For example, as used herein, the singular forms "a",
"an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further
understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when
used in this specification, specify the presence of stated
features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do
not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups
thereof. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all
combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may
be abbreviated as "/".
[0220] Spatially relative terms, such as "under", "below", "lower",
"over", "upper" and the like, may be used herein for ease of
description to describe one element or feature's relationship to
another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It
will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended
to encompass different orientations of the device in use or
operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.
For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements
described as "under" or "beneath" other elements or features would
then be oriented "over" the other elements or features. Thus, the
exemplary term "under" can encompass both an orientation of over
and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees
or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors
used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms
"upwardly", "downwardly", "vertical", "horizontal" and the like are
used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically
indicated otherwise.
[0221] Although the terms "first" and "second" may be used herein
to describe various features/elements (including steps), these
features/elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the
context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish
one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first
feature/element discussed below could be termed a second
feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed
below could be termed a first feature/element without departing
from the teachings of the present invention.
[0222] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow,
unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and
variations such as "comprises" and "comprising" means various
components can be co-jointly employed in the methods and articles
(e.g., compositions and apparatuses including device and methods).
For example, the term "comprising" will be understood to imply the
inclusion of any stated elements or steps but not the exclusion of
any other elements or steps.
[0223] In general, any of the apparatuses and methods described
herein should be understood to be inclusive, but all or a sub-set
of the components and/or steps may alternatively be exclusive, and
may be expressed as "consisting of" or alternatively "consisting
essentially of" the various components, steps, sub-components or
sub-steps.
[0224] As used herein in the specification and claims, including as
used in the examples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all
numbers may be read as if prefaced by the word "about" or
"approximately," even if the term does not expressly appear. The
phrase "about" or "approximately" may be used when describing
magnitude and/or position to indicate that the value and/or
position described is within a reasonable expected range of values
and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may have a value
that is +/-0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/-1% of
the stated value (or range of values), +/-2% of the stated value
(or range of values), +/-5% of the stated value (or range of
values), +/-10% of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any
numerical values given herein should also be understood to include
about or approximately that value, unless the context indicates
otherwise. For example, if the value "10" is disclosed, then "about
10" is also disclosed. Any numerical range recited herein is
intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein. It is also
understood that when a value is disclosed that "less than or equal
to" the value, "greater than or equal to the value" and possible
ranges between values are also disclosed, as appropriately
understood by the skilled artisan. For example, if the value "X" is
disclosed the "less than or equal to X" as well as "greater than or
equal to X" (e.g., where X is a numerical value) is also disclosed.
It is also understood that the throughout the application, data is
provided in a number of different formats, and that this data,
represents endpoints and starting points, and ranges for any
combination of the data points. For example, if a particular data
point "10" and a particular data point "15" are disclosed, it is
understood that greater than, greater than or equal to, less than,
less than or equal to, and equal to 10 and 15 are considered
disclosed as well as between 10 and 15. It is also understood that
each unit between two particular units are also disclosed. For
example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are
also disclosed.
[0225] Although various illustrative embodiments are described
above, any of a number of changes may be made to various
embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as
described by the claims. For example, the order in which various
described method steps are performed may often be changed in
alternative embodiments, and in other alternative embodiments one
or more method steps may be skipped altogether. Optional features
of various device and system embodiments may be included in some
embodiments and not in others. Therefore, the foregoing description
is provided primarily for exemplary purposes and should not be
interpreted to limit the scope of the invention as it is set forth
in the claims.
[0226] The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way
of illustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in
which the subject matter may be practiced. As mentioned, other
embodiments may be utilized and derived there from, such that
structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made
without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Such
embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to
herein individually or collectively by the term "invention" merely
for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the
scope of this application to any single invention or inventive
concept, if more than one is, in fact, disclosed. Thus, although
specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein,
any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be
substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is
intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various
embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other
embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to
those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
* * * * *