METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS

• US 20060217623A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Research Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: E Research Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Morganroth, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 7,654,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof

Abstract

In a method and system for processing an electrocardiogram (ECG), digital ECG data are received. The digital ECG data evinces a plurality of a patient'"'"'s heartbeats detected during an ECG. Digital annotation data are generated representing marking to be shown on an ECG tracing of the plurality of heartbeats. An annotated ECG tracing image is produced using the digital ECG data and the digital annotation data.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of processing electrocardiograms (ECGs), comprising the steps of:

receiving ECG data for a plurality of ECGs to be evaluated by a plurality of evaluators, said ECGs being associated with a plurality of different clinical trials; and

assigning ECGs from said plurality of ECGs to respective evaluators, said assigning step comprising;

identifying said ECGs in at least one queue accessible to said evaluators; and

receiving a selection of an individual ECG for evaluation by an evaluator from said plurality of evaluators; and

assigning said selected ECG and related ECGs to said evaluator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said selected ECG and related ECGs are related as being for the same patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said selected ECG and related ECGs are related as being for the same clinical trial.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said related ECGs; and

providing said related ECGs to a queue associated with said evaluator.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said evaluator'"'"'s queue comprises a plurality of ECGs from different clinical studies and is organized as a list of ECGs ready for evaluation, said method comprising the step of ordering said list based on respective due dates for said ECGs in said evaluator'"'"'s queue.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said ordering step comprises the step of:

receiving contract data representing contractual terms of said clinical studies;

comparing respective date data associated with said ECGs in said evaluator'"'"'s queue against said contact data to determine a respective time by which each respective ECG should be evaluated; and

ordering said list based at least in part on said determined respective times.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of grouping at least some of said ECGs in said list based on patient identifiers.

8. A computer implemented method of processing electrocardiograms (ECGs) for a clinical trial, comprising the steps of:

receiving ECG data and date data for an ECG test to be evaluated of a patient associated with said clinical trial;

evaluating said ECG;

receiving protocol data for said at least one critical trial, said protocol data including visit schedule data for patients in said clinical trial;

identifying based on said protocol data and date data at least one date range for a subsequent ECG test of said patient; and

if ECG data are not received for said subsequent ECG test by a selected date within said date range, automatically generating a reminder relating to said subsequent ECG test.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said reminder is sent to an ECG study site and/or a sponsor based on contact data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said visit schedule data comprises deadline data for ECG testing in said clinical trial.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a plurality of ECGs are evaluated, said method further comprising the steps of identifying from ECG evaluation data ECGs that indicate an abnormal condition and automatically reporting based on said identifying step evaluations for said identified ECGs,

12. A computer implemented method of processing electrocardiograms (ECGs), comprising the steps of:

receiving protocol data for a first clinical trial;

receiving and storing ECG data for a plurality of ECGs;

processing said ECGs in accordance with said protocol data for said first trial;

receiving protocol data for a second clinical trial;

processing said ECGs in accordance with said protocol data for said second clinical trial.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

receiving modified protocol data for said first clinical trial;

comparing said modified protocol data against said ECG data for ECGs processed in accordance with the protocol data for said first clinical trial to identify ECGs requiring processing; and

processing said identified ECGs in accordance with said modified protocol data.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

receiving ECG data for additional ECGs for evaluation after said processing of said identified ECGs step; and

processing said additional ECGs in parallel in accordance with said protocol data for said first clinical trial and protocol data for said second clinical trial.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

receiving modified demographic data associated with said ECG data for at least one ECG;

comparing said modified demographic data against said protocol data for said first clinical trial and second clinical trial to identifying if said ECG requires processing with said protocol data for said first and/or second clinical trial;

processing said ECG if said identifying comparing step identifies said ECG as requiring processing.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said processing step comprises:

measuring a plurality of intervals for at least one lead of said ECG;

receiving a cardiological evaluation of said ECG; and

automatically generating a report relating to said evaluation.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said receiving protocol data for said first clinical trial step comprises the step of identifying a sponsor of said first clinical trial, retrieving a protocol template associated with said sponsor and customizing said protocol template for said first clinical trial.