DETECTION OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL CARDIO-VASCULAR ACTIVITIES

• US 20100217118A1
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Pinter, Robert, Thijs, Jeroen Adrianus Johannes, Muhlsteff, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/425
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0507 using microwaves or terahertz waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1102 Ballistocardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]

Abstract

The invention relates to the detection of electrical and mechanical cardio-vascular activities of a patient, especially to early decompensation detection of congestive heart failure patients (CHF). The device according to the invention comprises a transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic signals of a predefined frequency into the chest of the patient, a Doppler radar sensor 1 for detecting a Doppler radar signal reflected in the patient'"'"'s chest, and an ECG unit 3 for capturing an ECG signal of the patient'"'"'s heart. This device allows for simultaneous detection of electrical and mechanical cardio-vascular activities of a patient which can be used in an easy and reliable way and which allow for implementation in a hand-held or wearable device.

Claims

1. A device for detection of electrical and mechanical cardio-vascular activities of a patient, comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic signals of a predefined frequency into the chest of the patient,

a receiver for receiving reflected Doppler frequency shifted electromagnetic waves, and an ECG unit (2) for capturing an ECG signal of the patient'"'"'s heart.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an acceleration sensor (5) for posture and/or activity detection of the patient.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless interface (8) for wireless data communication with an external sender and/or receiver (12).

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning indicator (18) for indicating a correct position of the device on the patient'"'"'s chest and/or for indicating necessary movements of the device in order to achieve the correct position, based on an ECG signal and/or on an acceleration sensor signal.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a posture indicator (19) for indicating a correct posture of the patient and/or for indicating necessary movements of the patient in order to achieve the correct posture, based on an ECG signal and/or on an acceleration sensor signal.

6. The device according to any of claim 1, further comprising

a storage (6) for successively storing at least one parameter of the Doppler radar signal and/or the ECG signal,

a monitoring unit (7) for monitoring and analyzing the stored parameters, and

a warning unit (10) for generating a warning signal if analysis of the stored parameters indicates a critical health situation of the patient.

7. A method for cardiac decompensation detection, comprising the steps of

transmitting electromagnetic signals of a predefined frequency into the chest of the patient,

detecting a Doppler radar signal reflected in the patient'"'"'s chest, and

capturing an ECG signal of the patient'"'"'s heart.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the Doppler radar signal and the ECG signal are captured simultaneously.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein for each of multiple Doppler signal and an ECG signal measurements, at least one parameter of the Doppler radar signal and/or the ECG signal are stored,

the stored parameters are monitored and analysed, especially with respect to their trend, and

a warning signal is generated if analysis of the stored parameters indicates a critical health situation of the patient.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein at least one parameter of a first Doppler signal measurement and/or of a first ECG signal measurement are stored as template measurement data, wherein subsequent Doppler signal measurements and ECG signal measurements are compared with the template measurement data.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein for comparison with subsequent Doppler signal measurements and ECG signal measurements, respectively, the template data is corrected for the actual heart rate using the actual ECG signal of the respective subsequent measurement.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein for comparison with subsequent Doppler signal measurements and ECG signal measurements, respectively, the template data is corrected for actual posture of the patient using the acceleration signals from the activity sensor.