Method and apparatus for monitoring cardiac patients for T-wave alternans
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting TWA in potential cardiac patients comprising:
- a sensor adapted to sense an ECG from a patient;
a T wave detector adapted to detect a plurality of T waves in said ECG;
an analyzer adapted to perform at least one of the statistical tests and a periodicity transform on characteristics of said T waves to make a decision on whether TWA are present or not.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system to detect the presence or absence of T wave alternans is described based on statistical tests and periodicity transform. T wave and ST segment boundaries are detected in multi-lead ECG signals acquired from the regular clinical leads. Once the fiducial point and the above boundaries are delineated, computation of regular parameters like T wave amplitude, area under the T waves or segments of T wave, ST segment slope and/or the curvature of T wave are performed. Each parameter forms a rolling array of values with each successive beat. The array of values, or the time series, is used to make the decision about the T wave alternans. Two different methods are employed based on periodicity transforms and statistical tests. A set of numerical values (e.g. norm of the projection on to p-2 space, sums of adjacent terms after the trend removal, t-value, and number of deviations from alternans pattern) are all computed and compared to threshold values. Threshold values are computed from past information and experience with clinical databases and simulations. Final system comprises a software module, which can be part of the existing ECG monitoring programs as well as external defibrillator modules, apart from being stand-alone algorithms.
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting TWA in potential cardiac patients comprising:
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a sensor adapted to sense an ECG from a patient;
a T wave detector adapted to detect a plurality of T waves in said ECG;
an analyzer adapted to perform at least one of the statistical tests and a periodicity transform on characteristics of said T waves to make a decision on whether TWA are present or not. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for detecting TWA in potential cardiac patients comprising:
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a sensor adapted to sense an ECG from a patient;
a T wave detector adapted to detect a plurality of T waves in said ECG;
an analyzer adapted to perform a periodicity transform on characteristics of said T waves to make a decision on whether TWA are present or not. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of detecting the presence of TWA in a cardiac patient comprising the steps of:
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detecting an ECG from the patient;
sensing a plurality of T waves in said ECG;
determining a characteristic of said T waves;
performing a periodic transform on said characteristics;
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of detecting the presence of TWA in a cardiac patient comprising the steps of:
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detecting an ECG from the patient;
sensing a plurality of T waves in said ECG;
determining a characteristic of said T waves;
performing a statistical test on said characteristics;
making a decision about the presence of TWA based on said statistical tests.
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Specification