Method and apparatus for evaluating myoelectric signals and identifying artifact

• US 6,351,665 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3CPM Company
• Original Assignee: Kenneth L. Koch
• Inventors: Koch, Kenneth L
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/547,140
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 600/546, 600/547, 600/593
• US Class Current: 600/546
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/392 Detecting gastrointestinal contractions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/18 by plotting the signal segments against each other, e.g. analysing scattergrams

Abstract

An apparatus and method of identifying artifacts in signals indicative of detected myoelectrical activity is provided. The method includes providing electrodes to obtain a plurality of first signals over time. The first signals are produced from an internal organ in the abdominal cavity of a living being. The first signals include spurious signals as a result of artifact. A sensor obtains a plurality of second signals simultaneously as the first signals are obtained. The second signals are indicative of a respiratory function of the living being and include spurious signals indicative of artifact. The first and second signals are recorded simultaneously. The occurrence of artifacts is identified by noting irregularities in both the recorded first and second signals during a particular time frame.

Claims

1. A system for processing signals indicative of detected myoelectrical activity, the system comprising:

electrodes to obtain first signals over time from a gastrointestinal organ in the abdominal cavity of a living being, the first signals including spurious signals as a result of artifact,

a sensor to obtain second signals simultaneously as the first signals are obtained, the second signals being indicative of a respiratory function of the living being and include spurious signals indicative of artifact, and

a processor containing software to analyze the first signals which occur at times when artifact is determined to not be present in both of the first and second signals.

2. The system according to claim 1, further including a recorder to receive and display simultaneously, the first and second signals including the spurious signals thereof.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said recorder is a strip chart recorder.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is a computer.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first signals are analog signals and the method including converting the analog signals to digital signals with the processor analyzing the digital signals.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein an analog-to-digital converter converts the analog signals.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second signals are analog signals and the method including converting the analog second signals to digital signals.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is part of a respiratory belt constructed and arranged to be fitted to a chest of the living being.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least three electrodes are provided.

10. The system according to claim 1, further including amplifiers to amplify the first and second signals.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the stomach.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the duodenum.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the small intestine.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the colon.

11. A method of identifying artifacts in signals indicative of detected myoelectrical activity, the method including:

providing electrodes to obtain first signals over time from a gastrointestinal organ in the abdominal cavity of a living being, the first signals including spurious signals as a result of artifact,

providing a sensor to obtain second signals simultaneously as the first signals are obtained, the second signals being indicative of a respiratory function of the living being and include spurious signals indicative of artifact,

recording the first and second signals simultaneously,

identifying when artifacts occur by noting irregularities in both the recorded first and second signals during a particular time frame.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of obtaining the first signals includes obtaining myoelectric signals from the stomach.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the recording step includes recording the first and second signals on a strip chart recorder.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sensor is provided in a respiration belt coupled to a chest of the living being.

29. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of obtaining the first signals includes obtaining myoelectric signals from the duodenum.

30. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of obtaining the first signals includes obtaining myoelectric signals from the small intestine.

31. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of obtaining the first signals includes obtaining myoelectric signals from the colon.

15. A method of analyzing signals indicative of detected myoelectrical activity, the method including:

providing electrodes to obtain first analog signals over time from an internal organ of a living being, the first analog signals including spurious signals as a result of artifact,

providing a sensor to obtain second analog signals simultaneously as the first analog signals are obtained, the second analog signals being indicative of a respiratory function of the living being and include spurious signals indicative of artifact,

recording the first and second analog signals simultaneously,

identifying when artifacts occur by noting irregularities in both the recorded first and second analog signals during a particular time frame,

converting the first analog signals to digital signals, and

analyzing the digital signals which occur at times when artifact is not present, wherein the digital signals are analyzed by software wherein only digital signals which occur when no artifacts are present are analyzed.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of obtaining the first signals includes obtaining signals of the stomach.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the recording step includes recording the first and second signals on a strip chart recorder.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the sensor is provided in a respiration belt coupled to a chest of the living being.

19. A method of monitoring myoelectrical activity of the stomach of a person comprising:

mounting electrodes on the abdomen of the person to obtain first analog signals from the stomach over time, the first analog signals including spurious signals as a result of artifact,

mounting a sensor to the person to obtain a plurality of second analog signals simultaneously as the first analog signals are obtained, the second analog signals being indicative of a respiratory function of the person and include spurious signals indicative of artifact,

consuming, by the person, water in a specific time frame until the stomach is substantially full to stimulate gastric electro-contractile activity while recording the first and second analog signals simultaneously,

continuing to record the first and second analog signals simultaneously for a period of time after consumption of water,

identifying, during the recording of the first and second signals, the occurrence of artifacts by noting irregularities in both the first and second analog signals during a particular time frame,

converting the first analog signals to digital signals, and

analyzing the digital signals which occur at times when artifact is not present.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the time frame is about five minutes.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first and second signals are recorded on a chart of a strip chart recorder, the method includes marking the start and finish time of the water consumption and the amount of water consumed on the chart.

22. A kit for use in recording myoelectric activity of the stomach of a person, the kit comprising:

a plurality of disposable electrodes,

a visual analog scale for scoring an intensity of selected symptoms at various times, and

two, one liter bottles of spring water, each bottle being scored with ml marks for accurate measurement of the volume of water consumed from the bottle.

23. The kit according to claim 22, wherein five electrodes are provided.

24. The kit according to claim 22, wherein each bottle includes a tear-off adhesive label to record volume of water consumed from the bottle.