System and method for wireless generation of standard ECG leads and an ECG sensing unit therefor

• US 8,315,695 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novosense AB
• Original Assignee: Novosense AB
• Inventors: Sebelius, Fredrik, Tilly, Jonas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US12/279,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20100234746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• Field of Search: 600/509
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/308 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/327 Generation of artificial ECG signals based on measured signals, e.g. to compensate for missing leads
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead comprises a plurality of electrodes for application to a subject at separate points thereof and a remote receiver station for generating at least one standard ECG lead from signals detected by a first group of said plurality of electrodes. The system further comprises a wireless sensing unit for generating at least two non-standard ECG signals from bipolar signals detected by a second group of the plurality of electrodes, a processor in the remote receiver station for calculation of a transform synthesizing each generated standard ECG lead from at least two of the non-standard ECG signals, a disconnection unit for disconnection of the first group of electrodes from the subject following the calculation, and a transfer unit for wireless transferring of the non-standard ECG signals to the remote receiver station following the disconnection of the first group of electrodes.

Claims

1. system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead, comprising

a plurality of electrodes for application to a subject at separate points thereof, said plurality of electrodes being grouped into a first group and a second group;

connections allowing physical and electrical connection and disconnection of electrodes of said first group of electrodes with each other and from each other;

a remote receiver station;

a generator for generating a standard ECG lead from signals detected by said first group of said plurality of electrodes;

a plurality of wireless ECG sensing units each comprising;

a radio module for communication with said remote receiver station, and

at least three non-linearly arranged and closely located electrodes belonging to said second group of said plurality of electrodes, wherein said at least three non-linearly arranged and closely located electrodes are arranged for detecting two local bipolar signals,

wherein each of said wireless ECG sensing units is arranged to generate at least two non-standard ECG signals from said bipolar signals, and

wherein said radio module of each of said wireless ECG sensing units is arranged for wireless transferring of said non-standard ECG signals to said remote receiver station,

wherein the system further comprises a computation module in said remote receiver station for calculation of a transform synthesizing said generated standard ECG lead from at least two of said non-standard ECG signals,

wherein said computation module is further arranged to synthesize said standard ECG lead from said non-standard ECG signals solely using said transform following a disconnection of electrodes of said first group of electrodes from each other,

whereby said at least one standard ECG lead is wireless generated by said synthesizing following the disconnection of electrodes of said first group of electrodes from each other.

2. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes of each of said plurality of wireless ECG sensing units are arranged along two orthogonal lines.

3. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 1, wherein said radio module of each wireless ECG sensing unit is arranged to be activated by said remote receiver station.

4. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 1, wherein each of said wireless ECG sensing unit further comprises a differential amplifier for each bipolar signal and a data processor connected between said differential amplifiers and said radio module and adapted for digital storing of the non-standard ECG signals.

5. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 4, wherein each of said wireless ECG sensing units further comprises at least one further differential amplifier having inputs connectable to separate ones of said plurality of electrodes and an output connected to said data processor.

6. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 5, wherein said connections allowing physical and electrical connection and disconnection of said electrodes of said first group of electrodes comprises wires connected to the electrodes in said first group of said plurality of electrodes and a switch for selecting the electrodes to be connected to said at least one further differential amplifier.

7. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 6, wherein said connections allowing physical and electrical connection and disconnection of said electrodes of said first group of electrodes also comprises wires each connected to one electrode in a separate wireless ECG sensing unit.

8. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 6, wherein each wireless ECG sensing unit comprises a controller for controlling the switch.

9. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 1, comprising a synchronizing unit in said remote receiver station for synchronizing data flow from the wireless ECG sensing units.

10. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of wireless ECG sensing units further comprises a cable connection allowing physical and electrical connection and disconnection of said wireless ECG sensing unit with another wireless ECG sensing unit.

11. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least three non-linearly arranged and closely located electrodes of at least two of said plurality of wireless ECG sensing unit belongs to said first group of electrodes.

12. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 1, wherein said generator for generating a standard ECG lead from signals detected by said first group of said plurality of electrodes is located in said remote receiver station.

13. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of wireless ECG sensing units comprises said generator for generating a standard ECG lead from signals detected by said first group of said plurality of electrodes.