Non-invasive heart monitoring apparatus and method

• US 8,197,415 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Centre de Recherche Public Henri Tudor
• Original Assignee: Centre de Recherche Public Henri Tudor
• Inventors: Rösch, Norbert, Harpes, Patrick, Wagner, Daniel, Plumer, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Toth, Karen
• Application Number:
  US11/573,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,520 Days
• Field of Search: 600/481
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02125 of pulse wave propagation time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0285 Measuring or recording phase velocity of blood waves

Abstract

The present invention discloses an apparatus for non-invasive heart monitoring comprising a pulse wave transit time (PWTT) determining device for determining a PWTT at predefined intervals, a first storing means for storing PWTT values resulting of the determining, a blood pressure measuring device for measuring a blood pressure close in time with the determining and a second storing means for storing blood pressure values resulting of the measuring. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a cardiovascular dynamic change calculating device for calculating a relative change of the PWTT values and the blood pressure values as a function of time. The apparatus further comprises an alarm emitting device for emitting an alarm if the blood pressure values are substantially constant as a function of time and the PWTT values decrease as a function of time. A method for non-invasive heart monitoring is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for non-invasive heart monitoring comprising:

(a) a pulse wave transit time (PWTT) determining device for determining a PWTT at predefined intervals;

(b) a first storing means for storing resulting PWTT values;

(c) a blood pressure measuring device for measuring a blood pressure close in time with said determining; and

(d) a second storing means for storing resulting blood pressure values,

wherein, said apparatus further comprises;

(e) a cardiovascular dynamic change calculating device for calculating a relative change of said PWTT values and said blood pressure values as a function of time; and

(f) an alarm emitting device for emitting an alarm when said blood pressure values are substantially constant as a function of time and said PWTT values decrease as a function of time.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is connected to a host system for remotely monitoring said relative change.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a human weight measuring device for measuring a human weight, a breathing frequency measuring device for measuring a breathing frequency, a heart rate variability measuring device for measuring a heart rate variability, a blood sugar level measuring device for measuring a blood sugar level, a blood oxygen saturation measuring device for measuring a blood oxygen saturation and/or a pulmonary function measuring device for measuring a pulmonary function.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse wave transit time determining device comprises a heart rhythm measuring system and a pulse wave measuring device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said heart rhythm measuring system comprises:

(a) an electrocardiogram measuring device and a QRS-wave detecting device, (b) an impedance plethysmograph or (c) a phonocardiograph.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said pulse wave measuring device is a photoplethysmograph based on a SpO2 measuring device.

7. A method for non-invasive heart monitoring comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a pulse wave transit time (PWTT) at predefined intervals;

(b) storing PWTT values resulting from said determining;

(c) measuring a blood pressure close in time with said determining of said PWTT; and

(d) storing blood pressure values resulting from said measuring,

wherein, the method further comprises the steps of;

(e) calculating a relative change of said PWTT values and said blood pressure values as a function of time; and

(f) emitting an alarm when said blood pressure values are substantially constant as a function of time and said PWTT values decrease as a function of time.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein human weight is included as additional physiological observation parameter.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein breathing frequency is included as additional physiological observation parameter.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein heart rate variability is included as additional physiological observation parameter.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein blood sugar level is included as additional physiological observation parameter.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein blood oxygen saturation is included as additional physiological observation parameter.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein pulmonary function is included as additional physiological observation parameter.

14. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of applying said method to patients with congestive heart failure.

15. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of applying said method to athletes and/or astronauts.

16. The method according to claim 7, wherein said PWTT is derived by means of a heart rhythm measuring system and a pulse wave measuring device.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said heart rhythm measuring system comprises:

(a) an electrocardiogram measuring device and a QRS-wave detecting device, (b) an impedance plethysmograph or (c) a phonocardiograph.