METHOD OF DETECTING AND PREDICTING NEUROCARDIOGENIC SYNCOPE

• US 20150148698A1
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physiovoyance, LLC
• Original Assignee: Physiovoyance, LLC
• Inventors: LeLorier, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,070,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0809 by impedance pneumography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• 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

Abstract

A method of detecting an early onset of neurocardiogenic syncope in a patient uses respiratory functions as a predictor of the syncope. According to the method, at least one sample of baseline minute ventilation, tidal volume and respiratory rate of the patient is obtained. The detection unit is set to detect an increase in tidal volume and in minute ventilation over a predetermined respiratory period. The detecting unit also detects any rate of change in respiratory rate and sends a signal to a microprocessor to determine whether the increase in minute ventilation is a sole function of increased tidal volume. The impending syncope is diagnosed if variance in respiratory rate is less than 25% in relation to the sampled baseline during the predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A method of detecting an impending neurocardiogenic syncope in a patient, comprising the steps of:

obtaining at least one sample of baseline minute ventilation, tidal volume and respiratory rate of the patient;

detecting an increase in tidal volume;

detecting an increase in minute ventilation over a predetermined respiratory period;

detecting any rate of change in respiratory rate;

determining whether the increase in minute ventilation is a sole function of increased tidal volume; and

diagnosing impending syncope if variance in respiratory rate is less than 25% in relation to the sampled baseline during the predetermined period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising a step of storing at least one data associated with the increase in minute ventilation.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising a step of generating an alarm signal after the impending syncope is diagnosed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the increase in minute ventilation is a sole function of increased tidal volume is performed using data of fixed respiratory rate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining at least one sample of baseline minute ventilation, tidal volume and respiratory rate of the patient is performed by measuring transthoracic impedance or directly by exhaled volumes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the increase in tidal volume is defined as being more than a 75% increase from baseline.

7. A computer readable medium for storing instructions for performing the method of claim when executed.

8. An apparatus for detecting an impending neurocardiogenic syncope in a patient, comprising a means for obtaining at least one sample of baseline minute ventilation, tidal volume and respiratory rate of the patient;

a means for detecting an increase in tidal volume;

a means for detecting an increase in minute ventilation over a predetermined respiratory period;

a means for detecting any rate of change in respiratory rate;

a means for determining whether the increase in minute ventilation is a sole function of increased tidal volume; and

a means for generating an alarm signal when variance in respiratory rate is less than 25% in relation to the sampled baseline during the predetermined period of time.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising a microprocessor unit operationally connected to the a means for obtaining at least one sample of baseline minute ventilation, tidal volume and respiratory rate of the patient, to the means for detecting an increase in tidal volume, to the means for detecting an increase in minute ventilation over a predetermined respiratory period, to the means for detecting any rate of change in respiratory rate, to the means for determining whether the increase in minute ventilation is a sole function of increased tidal volume, and to the means for generating an alarm signal.