Method and system for determination of pulse rate

• US 20040186386A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Hersh, Lawrence T., Medero, Richard, Kolluri, Sai
• Granted Patent: US 7,198,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02225 using the oscillometric method

Abstract

A method and system for determining pulse rate of a patient are disclosed. The method and system include acquiring measured information for at least one pulse at a pressure step, determining and storing quality values for the at least one pulse at the pressure step, analyzing pulse matching criteria for the pressure step, and determining pulse rate based on the measured information, quality values, and pulse matching criteria.

Claims

1. A method of determining a pulse rate of a patient comprising:

acquiring measured information for at least one pulse at a pressure step;

determining and storing quality values for the at least one pulse at a pressure step;

analyzing pulse matching criteria for the pressure step; and

determining pulse rate based on the measured information, quality values, and pulse matching criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring measured information for one or more pulses comprises determining at least one of the following measurements:

(a) amplitude, (b) cuff pressure, and (c) presence of an irregular rhythm.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining and storing quality values for one or more pulses at the pressure step comprises calculating at least one of the following:

(a) a peak match quality value, (b) an envelope quality value, and (c) a pulse period quality value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein analyzing matching criteria for the pressure step includes evaluating criteria for qualifying data for at least one of the following types of matched pulses:

(a) consecutive, (b) non-consecutive, and (c) across step.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein pulse periods are determined from pulses that have quality values greater than a predetermined amount and amplitudes greater than a threshold amount.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising displaying pulse rate.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining blood pressure based on quality values and matching criteria.

8. A method of determining pulse rate of a patient comprising:

determining pulse period data from pulses that meet predetermined criteria, wherein the predetermined criteria are selected so that a minimum number of pulse periods can be used to determine pulse rate;

evaluating the pulse period data; and

determining the pulse rate from the pulse period data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pulse period data is determined from pulses that meet predetermined criteria including being grouped as at least one of the following types of matched pulses:

(a) consecutive;

(b) non-consecutive; and

(c) across step.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined criteria includes having quality values greater than a predetermined amount and amplitudes greater than a threshold amount.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining whether an existing ECG rhythm is irregular.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein determining pulse period data further includes determining a median pulse period.

13. The method claim 12, wherein evaluating the pulse period data further includes evaluating whether an earlier pulse period is within a predetermined threshold of the median pulse period.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein evaluating the pulse period data further includes identifying pulse periods that are equal to half or double the median pulse period.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein evaluating the pulse period data further includes determining whether the median pulse period is within a tolerance of a valuation of other pulse periods.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein evaluating the pulse period data further includes obtaining pulse period data from across steps and eliminating double or half period data corresponding to criteria that is satisfied.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein evaluating the pulse period data further includes obtaining pulse period data from across steps and either multiplying the across step pulse period data by 2 or {fraction (1/2)}.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining pulse period data includes determining pulse periods from pulses that are at least one of the following:

(a) consecutive, (b) non-consecutive, and (c) across step.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining pulse period data further includes dividing pulse periods by an integral number to match stored pulse period data at a previous pressure step.

20. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining an overall quality of determination for the pulse rate.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

storing the pulse period data for use in subsequent determinations if the overall quality of determination is greater than a predetermined threshold; and

displaying the pulse rate.

22. The method of claim 8, wherein determining pulse period data from pulses comprises determining at least one of the following:

(a) amplitude, (b) cuff pressure, and (c) presence of irregular rhythm.

23. The method of claim 8, wherein determining pulse period data from pulses comprises calculating at least one of the following:

(a) a peak match quality value, (b) an envelope quality value, and (c) a pulse quality value.

24. The method of claim 8, wherein evaluating the pulse period data includes storing criteria satisfied to qualify and accept data for at least one of the following types of matched pulses:

(a) consecutive, (b) non-consecutive, and (c) across step.

25. An apparatus for determining the pulse rate of a patient comprising:

an inflatable cuff;

a pressurizing apparatus coupled to the cuff for selectively applying pressure by inflating or deflating the cuff;

a cuff pressure sensor coupled to the cuff for sensing cuff pressure and blood pressure oscillations;

a programmed control device configured to control the pressure cuff and pressurizing apparatus, acquire measured information for at least one pulse at a pressure step, determine and store quality values for the at least one pulse at the pressure step, analyze matching criteria for the pressure step, and determine pulse rate based on the measured information, quality values, and pulse matching criteria.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the measured information that the programmed control device is configured to acquire includes at least one of the following measurements:

(a) pulse amplitude, (b) cuff pressure, and (c) presence of an irregular rhythm.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the programmed control device is configured to determine and store quality values including at least one of the following quality values:

(a) a peak match quality value, (b) an envelope quality value, and (c) a pulse period quality value.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the programmed control device is configured to evaluate criteria for qualifying data for at least one of the following types of matched pulses:

(a) consecutive, (b) non-consecutive, and (c) across step.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the programmed control device is further configured to display pulse rate and determine blood pressure based on the measured information, quality values, and matching criteria.

30. A system for determining a pulse rate of a patient comprising:

means for acquiring measured information for at least one pulse at a pressure step;

means for determining and storing quality values for the at least one pulse at the pressure step;

means for analyzing matching criteria for the pressure step; and

means for determining pulse rate based on the measured information, quality values, and pulse matching criteria.

31. A computer program product comprising:

a computer useable medium having computer logic for enabling at least one processor in a computer system to determine a pulse rate of a patient;

means for analyzing measured information for at least one pulse at a pressure step;

means for determining and storing quality values for the at least one pulse at the pressure step;

means for analyzing matching criteria for the pressure step; and

means for determining pulse rate based on the measured information, quality values, and pulse matching criteria.