Novel utilization of heart rate variability in animals

• US 20040019289A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christine Ross
• Original Assignee: Christine Ross
• Inventors: Ross, Christine
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/519
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system

Abstract

Provided is a method for detection of a preselected condition such as subclinical stress or pain in a subject animal using heart rate variability. The method comprises the steps of determining a heart rate and/or inter-beat interval for the subject animal over a preselected period of time to determine the subject animal'"'"'s heart rate data. The method further comprises analyzing the heart rate or inter-beat data from the subject animal to identify a set of heart rate variability data for the subject animal for a selected heart rate variability parameter such as a frequency domain or time domain parameter such as LF/HF ratio. The heart rate variability data from the selected animal can be compared to substantially normal values established for the selected animal species or compared to the subject animal'"'"'s own previously identified substantially normal values or HRV pattern over a period of time and thereby determine whether the preselected condition exists.

Claims

1. A method for detection of a preselected condition in a subject animal from a preselected animal species using heart rate variability analysis comprising the steps of:

a. Determining a heart rate for the subject animal over a preselected period of time to determine the subject animal'"'"'s heart rate data; and

b. Analyzing the determined heart rate data from the subject animal to identify the subject animal'"'"'s heart rate variability data for a selected heart rate variability parameter and thereby determine whether the preselected condition exists.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the analyzing step the method further comprises the step of establishing a substantially normal range of values for the selected heart rate variability parameter for the preselected animal species.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined heart rate data is analyzed via a spectral analysis to determine heart rate variability data for at least one selected heart rate variability parameter

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the selected heart rate variability parameter is selected from the group consisting of a frequency domain parameter and a time domain parameter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selected heart rate variability parameter is a time domain parameter selected from the group consisting of:

heart rate (HR);

mean inter-beat interval (NN);

standard deviation of the inter-beat interval (SDNN); and

the square root of the mean squared differences of successive inter-beat intervals (RMS-SD).

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the selected heart rate variability parameter is a frequency domain parameter selected from the group consisting of:

total power (TP);

very low frequency (VLF);

low frequency (LF);

high frequency (HF);

low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio);

normalized low frequency (LF norm); and

normalized high frequency (HF norm).

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of comparing the substantially normal range of values for the selected heart rate variability parameter for the preselected animal species to the analyzed heart rate variability data for the selected heart rate variability parameter of the subject animal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the analyzing step the method further comprises the step of establishing a substantially normal range of values for the selected heart rate variability parameter for the subject animal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of comparing the substantially normal range of values for the selected heart rate variability parameter for the subject animal to the analyzed heart rate variability data for the selected heart rate variability parameter from the selected animal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the preselected animal species is selected from the group consisting of:

canine, feline, ovine, equine, bovine, caprine, and avian.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the preselected animal species is an exotic animal species.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the preselected animal species is a fish.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the preselected animal is an animal in captivity or confinement.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the preselected condition is stress.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the preselected condition is pain.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein an etiologic agent producing stress is identified and substantially attenuated or removed from the subject animal to thereby substantially eliminate stress in the subject animal.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein an etiologic agent producing pain is identified and substantially attenuated, removed or a therapeutic administered to the subject animal to thereby substantially eliminate pain in the subject animal.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the analyzing step the method further comprises recording the determined heart rate data of the subject animal for the preselected period of time.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the analyzing step the method further comprises the step of establishing an expected range of values for the selected heart rate variability parameter for preselected condition when present in the preselected animal species.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal is a preselected sentinel animal in a group of animals.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the preselected condition is a subclinical condition.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the preselected period of time is from between about 15 seconds to about 20 minutes, but is especially about 10 minutes.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the preselected period of time is from between about 6 hours and about 36 hours, but is especially about 24 hours.