Pulse detection method and apparatus using patient impedance
First Claim
1. A method of determining the presence of a cardiac pulse in a patient, comprising:
- (a) obtaining impedance signal data from the patient;
(b) analyzing the impedance signal data for a feature indicative of the presence of a cardiac pulse; and
(c) determining whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient based on the feature in the impedance signal data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The presence of a cardiac pulse in a patient is determined by evaluating fluctuations in an electrical signal that represents a measurement of the patient'"'"'s transthoracic impedance. Impedance signal data obtained from the patient is analyzed for a feature indicative of the presence of a cardiac pulse. Whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient is determined based on the feature in the impedance signal data. Electrocardiogram (ECG) data may also be obtained in time coordination with the impedance signal data. Various applications for the pulse detection of the invention include detection of PEA and prompting PEA-specific therapy, prompting defibrillation therapy and/or CPR, and prompting rescue breathing depending on detection of respiration.
61 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of determining the presence of a cardiac pulse in a patient, comprising:
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(a) obtaining impedance signal data from the patient;
(b) analyzing the impedance signal data for a feature indicative of the presence of a cardiac pulse; and
(c) determining whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient based on the feature in the impedance signal data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of determining the presence of a cardiac pulse in the patient, comprising:
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(a) obtaining impedance signal data from the patient;
(b) obtaining electrocardiogram (ECG) data from the patient;
(c) determining the presence of a QRS complex in the ECG data;
(d) analyzing the impedance signal data for a feature indicative of the presence of a cardiac pulse based on a relationship between the presence of a QRS complex in the ECG data and amplitude changes in the impedance signal data; and
(e) determining whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient based on the feature in the impedance signal data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A medical device, comprising:
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(a) electrodes adapted to communicate an impedance-sensing signal through a patient;
(b) a conversion circuit in communication with the electrodes for converting the impedance-sensing signal received from the patient into digital impedance signal data; and
(c) a processing unit in communication with the conversion circuit for processing the impedance signal data, wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze the impedance signal data for a feature indicative of the presence of a cardiac pulse in the patient and determine the presence of a cardiac pulse in the patient based on the feature in the impedance signal data.
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24. A medical device, comprising:
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(a) electrodes adapted to communicate an impedance-sensing signal through a patient and further to sense electrocardiogram (ECG) signals in the patient;
(b) a conversion circuit in communication with the electrodes for converting the impedance-sensing signal and ECG signal received from the patient into digital impedance signal data and ECG data, respectively; and
(c) a processing unit in communication with the conversion circuit for processing the impedance signal data, wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze the ECG data, determine the presence of a QRS complex in the ECG data, and select a segment of impedance signal data corresponding in time with the QRS complex, the processing unit further configured to analyze the segment of impedance signal data for a feature indicative of the presence of a cardiac pulse in the patient and determine the presence of a cardiac pulse in the patient based on the feature in the impedance signal data.
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Specification