METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS CARDIAC MONITORING OF AN INDIVIDUAL

• US 20130237861A1
• Filed: 06/28/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quoretech SA
• Original Assignee: Corcam Tecnologia S.A.
• Inventors: MARGARIDA, Cesar Claudio, RORIZ, Marcelo de Campos Jr., NETO, Antonio Andre
• Granted Patent: US 9,144,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/483
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• 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 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method, a system and an apparatus for remotely monitoring a cardiac condition in an individual in which there is provided a non-invasive, mobile and portable solution including hardware, software, and a back-office application allowing an autonomous and smart remote monitoring. Two-way communication is provided between the cardiac monitoring apparatus and a monitoring center, which allows sending of data of the patient being monitored to the monitoring center, as well as allowing the monitoring center or a clinician to request a new exam on demand.

Claims

1. A method of remotely monitoring a cardiac condition of an individual using electrocardiogram equipment connected to the individual, comprising:

establishing a two-way communication between the electrocardiogram equipment located at a first location and a remote monitoring center located at a second location different than the first location, the two way communication allowing requests and data to be reciprocally communicated between the electrocardiogram equipment at the first location and the monitoring center at the second location; and

transmitting a monitoring request from the remote monitoring center to the first location to automatically trigger a monitoring action by the electrocardiogram equipment or to automatically trigger the sending of data from the electrocardiogram equipment to the second location relating to the cardiac condition of the individual.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a remote communication between the monitoring center and a Rescue/Assistance Unit;

establishing a remote communication between the monitoring center and a hospital unit;

establishing a remote communication between the individual whose cardiac condition is being monitored and a medical staff; and

establishing a data interface that is remotely accessible to registered users.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two-way communication is a GSM communication.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrocardiogram equipment comprises an accelerometer configured to detect falls of the individual, and sending data regarding a detected fall of the individual to the monitoring center together with the location of the individual and an ECG exam.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising continuously reading the ECG of the individual using the electrocardiogram equipment.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising triggering a user assistance provision protocol upon detection of an intercurrence in the cardiac condition of the individual, the user assistance provision protocol including a monitored profile of the individual and the individual'"'"'s location.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising establishing a data interface that is accessible through registration and which allows access to profile information of the individual for emergency situations and routine control.

8. A system for remotely monitoring the cardiac condition of an individual, comprising a main branch associated with electrocardiogram equipment connected to the individual, the main branch includes:

a main module that is configured to perform activation functions of the electrocardiogram equipment for monitoring the cardiac condition of the individual;

an ECG module that is configured to carry out ECG exams and check cardiac intercurrences;

a GSM module that is configured to perform communications via GSM/GPRS and output sound through a buzzer;

a GPS module that is configured to read GPS data from the electrocardiogram equipment and retrieve latitude and longitude coordinates;

an XYZ module that is configured to read and evaluate coordinates of an accelerometer;

a DNA module that is configured to detect intercurrences via a probabilistic neural network.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the probabilistic neural network operates in a non-supervised mode.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the probabilistic neural network includes an input layer that comprises ECG data of the individual and an output layer that comprises categories of cardiac intercurrences.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein a solution achieved by the probabilistic neural network comprises a customized profile of the individual.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the main module is configured to perform the following routines:

initializing the electrocardiogram equipment and executing the other modules;

checking an SOS/help button;

checking a battery level;

communicating and exchanging information between all the modules;

requesting the execution of an ECG;

requesting transfer of a data file to a data server;

requesting a download of a data file from the data server;

requesting the sending of a SMS text message;

requesting the electrocardiogram equipment monitor to vibrate as a warning;

requesting a buzzer to emit sound as a warning; and

requesting an emergency call and/or sending an SMS text message and location warning upon detecting a fall of the individual.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein the ECG module is configured to answer requests from the main module with respect to execution of ECG'"'"'s and reading of battery levels.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein the GSM module is configured to control communications via hands-free phone calling and by sending and receiving SMS text messages.

15. The system according to claim 8, wherein the GSM module is configured to mutually perform the transfer of files and data from the electrocardiogram equipment to the data server and to forward SMS text message communications that are received to the main module.

16. The system according to claim 8, wherein the GPS module is configured to transmit position coordinates to the main module which in turn is configured to forward the position coordinates to the ECG module.

17. The system according to claim 8, wherein the XYZ module is configured to detect when the electrocardiogram equipment is moved or falls and is configured to notify the main module.

18. The system according to claim 8, wherein the cardiac condition is one selected from arrhythmia and ischaemia.

19. A system for remotely monitoring the cardiac condition of an individual, comprising a managing branch associated with a data interface, the managing branch includes:

a monitoring module that is configured with routines for individual assistance, clinical research and individual monitoring history;

a configuration module that is configured to classify intercurrence types and intercurrence groups, and includes routines of actions to be carried out, steps to be performed dining assistance, and a general symptoms record;

a network module that includes routines for user interaction, screens/modes and access profiles;

a medical record module that includes routines for recording administered pharmaceuticals and medical specialties;

a product module that includes monitoring routines of a monitoring center;

a cooperative and affiliated members register module that includes routines for personnel management and registration.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the cardiac condition is one selected from arrhythmia and ischaemia.

21. An apparatus for remotely monitoring a cardiac condition of an individual, comprising:

a GSM antenna configured as a vertically polarized dipole system;

a GPS antenna configured as a horizontally polarized helical system;

a hands-free set provided with an omni-directional electret microphone;

a loudspeaker;

a set of electrode cables;

a plug for connecting each of the electrode cables to the apparatus, the plug configured as P2 stereo type;

a tactile-switch type button;

a side volume control; and

circuits with diodes and transistors.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising an accelerometer to permit detection of falls, and a GPS module.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the cardiac condition comprises arrhythmias and ischaemias.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a two-way communication device configured to receive and send communication signals.