Cardiac rhythm monitoring device

• US 20060106323A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edward T. Bischoff, Gary D. Menszer
• Original Assignee: Edward T. Bischoff, Gary D. Menszer
• Inventors: Bischoff, Edward T., Menszer, Gary D.
• Application Number:
  US11/286,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106323A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/515
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/352 Detecting R peaks, e.g. for synchronising diagnostic apparatus; Estimating R-R interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/364 Detecting abnormal ECG interval, e.g. extrasystoles, ectopic heartbeats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices

Abstract

The present invention is a cardiac rhythm-monitoring device, which allows patients to perform a preliminary screening for supraventricular arrhythmia. The device detects beat-to-beat heart rhythms (i.e. the R-R interval between individual heart beats) and performs a screening test to determine if there are indications of arrhythmia. The test looks for variance in the R-R interval that is outside of the normal range, either using a pre-constructed chart based upon general population studies to determine the normal range of variance or using normal distribution analysis of the patient'"'"'s own heart rhythm to determine the normal range of variance for determining irregular heartbeats, and if there are multiple irregularities within the sensed time frame, the patient is warned of potential supraventricular arrhythmia. By sensing both electrical impulses form the heart and mechanical responses to the heartbeat, the device may augment its analysis.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a means for sensing beat-to-beat heartbeat intervals;

a means for storing beat-to-beat heartbeat interval data;

a means for analyzing beat-to-beat heartbeat interval data to determine if there are indications of possible arrhythmia.

2. A device as in claim 1 further comprising an output device and a power source.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said means for analyzing beat-to-beat heartbeat interval data further comprises a processing unit and an arrhythmia detection algorithm.

4. A device as in claim 2 wherein said means for analyzing beat-to-beat heartbeat interval data further comprises a processing unit and an arrhythmia detection algorithm, and wherein said means for storing beat-to-beat heartbeat interval data is an array.

5. A device as in claim 3 wherein said means for sensing beat-to-beat heartbeat intervals is non-invasive.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein said means for sensing beat-to-beat heartbeat intervals further comprises two conductive electrodes.

7. A device as in claim 6 further comprising a second means for sensing beat-to-beat heartbeat intervals, wherein said second means for sensing beat-to-beat heartbeat intervals senses a patient'"'"'s mechanical heartbeat indications.

8. A device as in claim 4 wherein said means for sensing beat-to-beat heartbeat intervals further comprises two conductive electrodes.

9. A device as in claim 3 wherein said arrhythmia detection algorithm monitors for irregular variance in the R-R interval between heartbeats outside of the normal range of variance in the R-R interval between heartbeats, and wherein the normal range of variance is determined from general population studies.

10. A device as in claim 9 further comprising an output device, wherein said arrhythmia detection algorithm further counts the number of irregular variances in the R-R interval between heartbeats outside of the normal range and directs said processing unit to transmit a signal to said output device warning of a potential arrhythmia in the event that the number of irregular variances in the R-R interval between heartbeats outside of the normal range exceeds a pre-set criteria indicating likely arrhythmia.

11. A device as in claim 9 wherein the normal range of variance in the R-R interval between heartbeats is less than or equal to approximately 125 milliseconds, such that any variance in the R-R interval between heartbeats which is greater than approximately 125 milliseconds is an irregular variance in R-R interval between heartbeats outside of the normal range.

12. A device as in claim 11 wherein said processing unit executes said arrhythmia detection algorithm to monitor for irregular variance in the R-R interval between heartbeats outside of the normal range and counts the number of irregular variances in the R-R interval between heartbeats outside of the normal range.

13. A device as in claim 12 further comprising an output device, wherein said processing unit transmits a signal to said output device warning of a potential arrhythmia in the event that the number of irregular variances in the R-R interval between heartbeats outside of the normal range exceeds a pre-set criteria indicating likely arrhythmia.

14. A device as in claim 3 wherein said arrhythmia detection algorithm normalizes said sensed beat-to-beat heartbeat interval data and employs statistical normal distribution analysis to classify heartbeat intervals as indicative of instability.

15. A device as in claim 14 further comprising an output device, wherein said arrhythmia detection algorithm further counts the number of normalized heartbeat intervals indicating instability and directs said processing unit to transmit a signal to said output device warning of a potential arrhythmia in the event that the number of normalized heartbeat intervals indicating instability exceeds a pre-set criteria indicating likely arrhythmia.

16. A device as in claim 14 wherein a normalized beat-to-beat heartbeat interval indicates instability if it falls outside the range from approximately 0.95 to 1.05.

17. A device as in claim 14 wherein said arrhythmia detection algorithm indicates an unstable heart rhythm possibly indicative of arrhythmia if the number of normalized heartbeat intervals indicating instability exceeds the number of normalized heartbeat intervals indicating stability.

18. A device as in claim 17 wherein said sensed beat-to-beat heartbeat interval data is normalized by dividing each sensed beat-to-beat heartbeat interval by the succeeding sensed beat-to-beat heartbeat interval.

19. A device as in claim 17 wherein said sensed beat-to-beat heartbeat interval data is normalized by dividing each sensed beat-to-beat heartbeat interval by the average beat-to-beat heartbeat interval.

20. A device as in claim 17 further comprising an output device, wherein said processing unit executes said arrhythmia detection algorithm and transmits an output signal warning of possible arrhythmia to said output device in the event that said algorithm indicates an unstable heart rhythm.

21. A device as in claim 4 wherein said processing unit and said power source are located within said housing, wherein said output device is further comprised of a display located atop said housing, wherein said means for sensing beat-to-beat heartbeat intervals is further comprised of two conductive electrodes, and wherein one of said conductive electrodes is located on each side of said housing.

22. A device as in claim 4 further comprising one or more sensor housings, a data transmission means, and a data receiving means, and wherein said means for sensing beat-to-beat heartbeat intervals is further comprised of two conductive electrodes.