Use of external respiratory therapy device to detect cardiac electrical activity

• US 20050076905A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stahmann, Jeffrey E., Hartley, Jesse W., Lee, Kent, Ni, Quan
• Granted Patent: US 7,364,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.140
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0809 by impedance pneumography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/285 Endotracheal, oesophageal or gastric probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/363 Detecting tachycardia or bradycardia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 : Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 : Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 : with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 : including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 : Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 : with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 : in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 : in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 : Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 : Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 : partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/435 : partial O2 pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 : Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 : for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 : controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36592 : controlled by the heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 : Monitoring; Protecting

Abstract

Methods and systems provide an integrated approach to respiratory and cardiac monitoring, diagnosis and/or therapy. A medical system includes one or more cardiac electrodes coupled to an external respiratory therapy device. The cardiac electrodes sense cardiac electrical activity that is used to generate an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. Cardiac events, such as arrhythmia, myocardial infarction and/or ischemia, may be detected based on the sensed cardiac electrical activity.

Claims

1. A medical system, comprising:

one or more cardiac electrodes coupled to an external respiratory therapy device, the one or more cardiac electrodes configured to sense cardiac electrical activity; and

circuitry configured to generate an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal based on the sensed cardiac electrical activity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the external respiratory therapy device comprises a positive airway pressure device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the external respiratory therapy device comprises a respiratory therapy mask and the one or more cardiac electrodes are mechanically coupled to the respiratory therapy mask.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the external respiratory therapy device comprises a strap for securing a respiratory mask to a patient and the one or more cardiac electrodes are mechanically coupled to the respiratory mask strap.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more cardiac electrodes are configured to be disposed on a thorax of a patient; and

the circuitry configured to generate the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal is configured as a component of the external respiratory therapy device and is disposed within an external respiratory therapy device housing.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display device configured to display information associated with the ECG signal.

7. A medical system, comprising:

one or more sensors coupled to an external respiratory therapy device, the one or more sensors configured to sense electrical activity of a heart and to generate a cardiac electrical signal based on the sensed electrical activity; and

a cardiac event detector coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to detect one or more cardiac events based on the sensed electrical activity.

8. The medical system of claim 7, wherein the one or more sensors are mechanically coupled to an external respiratory therapy mask assembly.

9. The medical system of claim 7, wherein the cardiac event detector is disposed within a housing of the external respiratory therapy device.

10. The medical system of claim 7, wherein the one or more sensors are communicatively coupled to the cardiac event detector through a wireless communication link.

11. The medical system of claim 7, wherein the cardiac event detector is configured to detect myocardial ischemia.

12. The medical system of claim 7, wherein the cardiac event detector is configured to detect myocardial infarction.

13. The medical system of claim 7, wherein the cardiac event detector is configured to detect arrhythmia.

14. The medical system of claim 7, further comprising an alarm unit coupled to the cardiac event detector, the alarm unit configured to generate an alarm responsive to the detection of the one or more cardiac events.

15. The medical system of claim 7, further comprising a display unit coupled to the cardiac event detector and configured to display information about the cardiac events.

16. The medical system of claim 7, wherein the external respiratory therapy device further comprises a respiratory event detector configured to detect one or more respiratory events.

17. The medical system of claim 16, further comprising an event processor coupled to the cardiac event detector and the respiratory event detector, the event processor configured to detect relationships between the cardiac events and the respiratory events.

18. A method, comprising:

sensing cardiac electrical activity using one or more cardiac electrodes coupled to an external respiratory therapy device; and

generating an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal based on the sensed cardiac electrical activity.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein sensing the cardiac electrical activity comprises sensing the cardiac electrical activity using the one or more cardiac electrodes mechanically coupled to a respiratory mask assembly.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein sensing the cardiac electrical activity comprises sensing the cardiac electrical activity using the one or more cardiac electrodes disposed on a patient and communicatively coupled to the external respiratory therapy device control unit.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising displaying the ECG signal.

22. A method, comprising:

sensing cardiac electrical activity using one or more cardiac electrodes coupled to an external respiratory therapy device; and

detecting cardiac events based on the sensed cardiac electrical activity.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein detecting the cardiac events based on the sensed cardiac electrical activity comprises detecting arrhythmia.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

detecting respiratory events; and

controlling respiratory therapy delivered by the respiratory therapy device based on the detected respiratory events.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

detecting respiratory events; and

determining relationships between the detected respiratory events and the detected cardiac events.

26. A system, comprising:

means for sensing cardiac electrical activity;

means for generating an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal based on the sensed cardiac electrical activity; and

means for delivering an external respiratory therapy to a patient, wherein the means for delivering the external respiratory therapy are coupled to the means for sensing the cardiac electrical activity.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising means for displaying the ECG signal.

28. A system, comprising:

means for sensing cardiac electrical activity; and

means for detecting cardiac events based on the sensed cardiac electrical activity; and

means for delivering an external respiratory therapy to a patient, wherein the means for sensing the cardiac electrical activity is coupled to the means for detecting the cardiac events.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

means for detecting respiratory events; and

means for using the detected respiratory events to control the means for delivering the external respiratory therapy.

30. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

means for detecting respiratory events; and

means for determining relationships between the detected respiratory events and the detected cardiac events.