Alarm Processor for Detection of Adverse Hemodynamic Effects of Cardiac Arrhythmia

• US 20130158375A1
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lawrence A. Lynn
• Original Assignee: Lawrence A. Lynn
• Inventors: Lynn, Lawrence A.
• Application Number:
  US13/769,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20130158375A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/366 Detecting abnormal QRS complex, e.g. widening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to an apparatus and method for providing a warning. In one example, an apparatus includes a sensor, which is configured to be coupled to a body of a patient and to output a photoplethysmograph signal, which is indicative of pulse waveforms in the body. The apparatus also includes a processor, which is coupled to process the photoplethysmograph signal so as to identify sequential pulse waveforms in the signal, the processor detecting a cardiac arrhythmia based on identifying a shape feature of the pulse waveform occurring simultaneously with a change in rate or rhythm of the pulse waveforms or an electrocardiographic waveform, and to output a warning responsive to the simultaneous occurrence.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a warning, comprising:

a sensor, which is configured to be coupled to a body of a patient and to output a photoplethysmograph signal, which is indicative of pulse waveforms in the body; and

a processor, which is coupled to process the photoplethysmograph signal so as to identify sequential pulse waveforms in the signal, the processor detecting a cardiac arrhythmia based on identifying a shape feature of the pulse waveform occurring simultaneously with a change in rate or rhythm of the pulse waveforms, and to output a warning responsive to the simultaneous occurrence.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the change in shape feature comprises at least one of a fall in the amplitude, an upstroke, or an area under a curve of the pulse waveforms.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in shape feature comprises the occurrence of an irregular pattern of the amplitude, an upstroke, or an area under a curve of the pulse waveforms.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to convert the signal into a time series of sequential objects.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to generate a time series of sequential objects comprising sequential positive reciprocations indicative of the sequential pulse waveforms each sequential positive reciprocation being comprised of a rise object coupled to a fall object.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the detection comprises detecting a precipitous increase in frequency of the reciprocations associated with a fall in an amplitude, an area under the curve, or a slope of rise events of the reciprocations.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection comprises detecting sequential positive reciprocations comprised of a rise object coupled to fall object, the detection comprising detecting an irregular pattern of the reciprocations associated with a variable amplitude of the reciprocations.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cardiac arrhythmia comprises wide complex tachycardia.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a display of an indication of cardiac arrhythmia based at least in part on the determined cardiac arrhythmia.

10. An apparatus for providing a warning, comprising:

a sensor, which is configured to be coupled to a body of a patient and to output a photoplethysmograph signal, which is indicative of sequential blood pulses in the body; and

a processor, which is coupled to process the photoplethysmograph signal so as to identify at least one irregularity in a sequential pulse rhythm of the patient, to make a record indicating a time of occurrence of the at least one irregularity, and to process the record so as to provide a warning responsive to the occurrence.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pulses define photoplethysmographic peaks separated by peak to peak intervals, and photoplethysmographic areas under the pulses and the irregularity comprises a sudden decrease in the peak-to-peak intervals or increase in pulse rate in association with a sudden decrease in the photoplethysmographic areas.

12. An apparatus for providing a warning, comprising:

a sensor, which is configured to be coupled to a body of a patient and to output a photoplethysmograph signal, which is indicative of sequential blood pulses in the body; and

a processor, which is coupled to process the photoplethysmograph signal so as to generate a transformed signal based at least in part on a transformation of the photoplethysmograph signal, the processor being programmed to detect a change in a feature of the transformed signal;

identify information indicative of a pulse rhythm abnormality based at least in part on the detected change in the feature of the transformed signal; and

to identify the presence of a cardiac arrhythmia in a subject based at least in part on the information indicative of the pulse rhythm abnormality.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transformation of the photoplethysmograph signal comprises a time series objectification.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transformed signal comprises a time series of sequential objects.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is programmed to generate a time series of sequential objects comprising sequential positive reciprocations indicative of the sequential pulse waveforms each sequential positive reciprocation being comprised of a rise object coupled to a fall object.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the time series of sequential objects comprises sequential positive reciprocations comprised of a rise object coupled to a fall object, and the detection comprises detecting a precipitous increase in frequency of the reciprocations associated with a fall in an amplitude, an area under a curve, or a slope of rise events of the reciprocations.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the time series of sequential objects comprise sequential positive reciprocations comprised of a rise object coupled to a fall object, the detection comprising detecting an irregular pattern of the reciprocations associated with a variable amplitude of the reciprocations.

18. An apparatus for providing a warning, comprising:

a sensor, which is configured to be coupled to a body of a patient and to output a photoplethysmograph signal, which is indicative of sequential pulse waveforms in the body; and

a processor programmed to detect a change in the sequential pulse waveforms indicative of a diminution in the pulse waveform occurring in association with a change in pulse rate and to output an warning responsive to the detected association.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the change in pulse rate occurs slowly.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the change in pulse rate occurs precipitously.

21. An apparatus for providing a warning, comprising:

a first sensor, which is configured to be coupled to a body of a patient and to output a photoplethysmograph signal, which is indicative of sequential pulse waveforms in the body;

a second sensor configured to be coupled to the body of a patient and to output an electrocardiograph signal generating QRS complexes; and

a processor programmed to compare the signals and to detect the association of a change in the electrocardiographic signal and a substantially simultaneous change in the pulse waveforms and to output an indication responsive to the association.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the occurrence comprises a diminution of pulse waveforms occurring in association with a change in the QRS complexes of the electrocardiographic signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the change in the QRS complexes comprises a widening of the QRS complexes.