Method and instrument for examination of heart/arteries using microphones

• US 6,152,884 A
• Filed: 10/19/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bj.O Slashed.Rgaas, Per Samuel
• Original Assignee: Bj.O Slashed.Rgaas, Per Samuel
• Inventors: Bj.o slashed.rgaas, Per Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, CARL HERNANDZ
• Application Number:
  US09/171,559
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 600/528, 600/586, 600/513
• US Class Current: 600/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/341 Vectorcardiography [VCG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R

Abstract

A method for examination of heart/arteries to obtain information in form of measurement results as a basis for exact diagnosis, where electrodes are placed on suitable areas of the body to provide signals, and where, by signal processing, a three-dimensional ECG vector cardiogram is obtained, which is illustrated by a three-dimensional picture of the heart. According to the invention, sound from--say--three places over a period of time is registered, as the signal fluctuations which are synchronized with the heartbeats are calculated, so that sounds from other sources i.e. intestines, lungs are eliminated. The heart'"'"'s arteries electromagnetic movements are illustrated in order to visualize its pathology. The instrument comprises preferably three or more microphones in addition to poles for electromagnetic registration, attached to a preferably battery operated converter, arranged to receive pulses and send on signals to a computer, the computer being programmed to--on the basis of the different part-diversions--calculate and screen a three-dimensional picture of the depolarization (the electromagnetic movement in the heart).

Claims

1. An instrument for examining the heart and arteries comprising:

sound recording means for recording sound from two or more mutually different measuring points on a patient'"'"'s body as sound signals;

comparing means for comparing said sound signals received from a measuring point other than the measuring point assigned the heart region with sound signals from the heart region;

determining means for determining the possibly regularly repeatability of said sound signals and non regularly repeatablity of said sound signals;

calculating means for calculating a possible location for a contraction from said sound signals; and

eliminating means for eliminating said non regularly repeated sound signals as non interesting sound signals,

wherein said sound recording means comprise two or more microphones assignable to mutually different measuring points on the patient'"'"'s body.

2. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising:

electrodes for electromagnetic recording assignable to said different measuring points on said patient'"'"'s body; and

converter means connected to said electrodes for converting pulses received from said electrodes into electromagnetic signals, said converter means being programmed to calculate and display on the basis of various partial diversions;

means for producing a three-dimensional ECG vector cardiogram from said sound signals and said electromagnetic signals; and

means for illustrating said three-dimensional cardiogram to provide a three-dimensional image of the heart.

3. The instrument of claim 2, wherein a three-dimensional image of the heart depolarization is illustrated and at the same time said location of said contraction is illustrated.