System and method of serial comparison for detection of long QT syndrome (LQTS)

• US 7,593,764 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Rowlandson, Ian, Xue, Joel, Kohls, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow; Scott M
• Application Number:
  US11/538,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 600/509, 600/516
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/36 Detecting PQ interval, PR interval or QT interval

Abstract

The present disclosure includes a system and method of detecting LQTS in a patient by comparing a collected set of ECG data from the patient to a plurality of databases of collected ECG data. The plurality of databases will include a database containing previous ECGs from the patient, a known acquired LQTS characteristics database, and a known genetic LQTS characteristics database. Comparing the patients ECG to these databases will facilitate the detection of such occurrences as changes in QT interval from success of ECGs, changes in T-wave morphology, changes in U-wave morphology and can match known genetic patterns of LQTS. The system and method is sensitive to patient gender and ethnicity, as these factors have been shown to effect LQTS, and is furthermore capable of matching a QT duration to a database of drug effects. The system and method is also easily integrated into current ECG management systems and storage devices.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a long QT syndrome in a patient, the method comprising:

acquiring a set of ECG data from the patient;

comparing the set of ECG data to a set of ECG characteristic data stored in a plurality of databases, wherein the comparing step is configured to identify any characteristics in the set of ECG data in any of the plurality of databases that are emblematic of LQTS, and further wherein the plurality of databases includes a previous ECG database, wherein the previous ECG databases includes a set of previous ECG data of the patient, and further wherein the comparing step includes identifying any significant change in a QT interval; and

adjusting an interpretation of the set of ECG data after comparing the ECG data to any of the plurality of databases when a characteristic is found in the set of ECG data in any of the plurality of databases, such that the adjustment corresponds to the characteristic.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising making the interpretation prior to the adjusting step.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending the set of ECG data to a centralized storage system.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of databases includes a known acquired LQTS characteristics database, wherein the comparing step includes identifying a significant characteristic in the set of ECG data with respect to a known acquired characteristic.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of databases includes a known genetic LQTS characteristics database, wherein the comparing step includes identifying a significant characteristic in the set of EGC data with respect to a known genetic characteristic.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising updating the interpretation in the centralized storage system.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adding the set of ECG data to any of the plurality of databases.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising outputting the interpretation to a user.

9. A system for detecting a long QT syndrome in a patient, the system comprising:

an ECG acquisition system configured to collect a set of ECG data from the patient;

a storage media for storing a computer application;

a processor coupled to the ECG acquisition system and the storage media, and configured to execute the computer application, and further configured to receive the set of ECG data from the ECG acquisition system,

wherein when the computer application is executed, the set of ECG data is compared to a set of ECG characteristic data in each of a plurality of databases, and when any characteristics in the set of ECG data that are emblematic of LQTS, an interpretation of the set of ECG data is adjusted, such that the adjustment corresponds to the characteristic, further wherein the adjustment is made after the set of ECG data is compared to each one of the plurality of databases, and further wherein the plurality of databases includes a previous ECG database, wherein the previous ECG databases includes a set of previous ECG data of the patient, and further wherein when the computer application is executed, any significant change in a QT interval is identified.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the interpretation is made prior to the adjusting step.

11. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a centralized storage system wherein the set of ECG data is sent to the centralized storage system.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of databases includes a known acquired LQTS characteristics database, wherein when the computer application is executed, a significant characteristic in the set of ECG data with respect to a known acquired characteristic is identified.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of databases includes a known genetic LQTS characteristics database, wherein when the computer application is executed, a significant characteristic in the set of EGC data with respect to a known genetic characteristic is identified.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the interpretation is updated in the centralized storage system.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the set of ECG data is added to any of the plurality of databases.

16. The system according to claim 9, further comprising an output device configured for outputting the interpretation to a user.

17. A method of detecting a long QT syndrome in a patient, the method comprising:

acquiring a set of ECG data from the patient;

comparing the set of ECG data to a first set of ECG characteristic data stored in a previous ECG database, wherein the previous ECG databases includes a set of previous ECG data of the patient, and further wherein comparing the set of ECG data to the first set of ECG characteristic data identifies any significant change in a QT interval;

comparing the set of ECG data to a second set of ECG characteristic data stored in a known acquired LQTS characteristics database, wherein comparing the set of ECG data to the second set of ECG characteristics data identifies a significant characteristic in the set of ECG data with respect to a known acquired characteristic;

comparing the set of ECG data to a third set of ECG characteristic data stored in a known genetic LQTS characteristics database, wherein comparing the set of ECG data to the third set of ECG characteristic data identifies a significant characteristic in the set of ECG data with respect to a known genetic characteristic; and

adjusting an interpretation of the set of ECG data when a characteristic is found in any of the sets of ECG data, such that the adjustment corresponds to the characteristic, and further wherein the adjustment is made after each comparison step.