ECG sensing apparatuses, systems and methods
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- first and second electrodes configured and arranged to sense ECG signals from a subject; and
an circuitry including;
a digitizing circuit configured and arranged to receive and digitize the ECG signals sensed by the electrodes;
an audio circuit including a microphone configured and arranged to capture voice sounds from the subject traveling through air, the audio circuit being configured and arranged to convert the captured voice sounds into electrical audio signals that can be reproduced for regenerating the voice sounds and therein providing audibly discernable speech;
a processing circuit configured and arranged with the electrodes and digitizing circuit to digitize the ECG signals and to process each digitized ECG signal by at least one of;
removing noise from the digitized ECG signal, storing the digitized ECG signal in a memory circuit, detecting a QRS complex in the digitized ECG signal, evaluating quality of the digitized ECG signal, and detecting arrhythmia in the digitized ECG signal;
an input circuit configured and arranged to receive an input from the subject and including at least one manual switch configured and arranged to provide the input in response to the subject manually activating the at least one switch, the processing circuit and audio circuit being respectively configured and arranged with the input circuit to initiate recording of at least one of the ECG signals and the sound in response to the input; and
a communication circuit configured and arranged to communicate the processed digitized ECG signals and the audio signals for receipt by an external device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to processing ECG signals from a subject. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, respective electrodes sense ECG signals from a subject, and the ECG signals are digitized and processed, such as to remove noise, detect a QRS complex, evaluate quality, detect arrhythmia and/or to store the signals. In response to an input from the subject, one or more of the ECG signals is recorded along with sound from the user, such as to concurrently record the user'"'"'s voice for describing conditions in connection with the recording of the ECG signals. This approach can be carried out in an enclosed housing, operated adjacent the subject'"'"'s thorax. The processed digitized ECG signals and the audio signals are then communicated for receipt by an external device.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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first and second electrodes configured and arranged to sense ECG signals from a subject; and an circuitry including; a digitizing circuit configured and arranged to receive and digitize the ECG signals sensed by the electrodes; an audio circuit including a microphone configured and arranged to capture voice sounds from the subject traveling through air, the audio circuit being configured and arranged to convert the captured voice sounds into electrical audio signals that can be reproduced for regenerating the voice sounds and therein providing audibly discernable speech; a processing circuit configured and arranged with the electrodes and digitizing circuit to digitize the ECG signals and to process each digitized ECG signal by at least one of;
removing noise from the digitized ECG signal, storing the digitized ECG signal in a memory circuit, detecting a QRS complex in the digitized ECG signal, evaluating quality of the digitized ECG signal, and detecting arrhythmia in the digitized ECG signal;an input circuit configured and arranged to receive an input from the subject and including at least one manual switch configured and arranged to provide the input in response to the subject manually activating the at least one switch, the processing circuit and audio circuit being respectively configured and arranged with the input circuit to initiate recording of at least one of the ECG signals and the sound in response to the input; and a communication circuit configured and arranged to communicate the processed digitized ECG signals and the audio signals for receipt by an external device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus comprising:
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first and second electrodes configured and arranged to sense ECG signals from a subject; and an circuitry including; a digitizing circuit configured and arranged to receive and digitize the ECG signals sensed by the electrodes; an audio circuit configured and arranged to capture sounds from the subject and to convert the sound into electrical audio signals; a processing circuit configured and arranged with the electrodes and digitizing circuit to digitize the ECG signals and to process each digitized ECG signal, by evaluating the quality of the digitized ECG signal and providing an indication that at least one of the first and second electrodes is disconnected from the subject, and placing the apparatus in a low power mode in response thereto; an input circuit configured and arranged to receive an input from the subject, the processing circuit and audio circuit being respectively configured and arranged with the input circuit to initiate recording of at least one of the ECG signals and the sound in response to the input; and a communication circuit configured and arranged to communicate the processed digitized ECG signals and the audio signals for receipt by an external device.
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25. A method comprising:
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sensing ECG signals from a subject via first and second electrodes; and within a housing constructed primarily of a non-conductive material, receiving and digitizing the ECG signals sensed by the electrodes via a digitizing circuit; using an audio circuit, capturing sounds from the subject and converting the sound into electrical audio signals; in a processing circuit operable with the electrodes and digitizing circuit, digitizing the ECG signals and processing each digitized ECG signal by at least one of;
removing noise from the digitized ECG signal, storing the digitized ECG signal in a memory circuit, detecting a QRS complex in the digitized ECG signal, evaluating quality of the digitized ECG signal, and detecting arrhythmia in the digitized ECG signal;in response to receiving an input from the subject via an input circuit, recording at least one of the ECG signals and the sound via the processing circuit and the audio circuit; communicating each processed digitized ECG signal and a corresponding one of the audio signals, via a communication circuit, for receipt by an external device; and supporting the housing near the subject'"'"'s thorax. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method comprising:
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sensing ECG signals from a subject via first and second electrodes; receiving and digitizing the ECG signals sensed by the electrodes via a digitizing circuit; using an audio circuit, capturing sounds from the subject and converting the sound into electrical audio signals; in a processing circuit operable with the electrodes and digitizing circuit, digitizing the ECG signals and processing each digitized ECG signal, wherein processing each digitized ECG signal includes evaluating the signal quality of the digitized ECG signal by; decomposing the digitized ECG signal into subcomponents, computing a statistical variance of the subcomponents over a time interval, and assessing signal quality based upon the statistical variance of the subcomponents; in response to receiving an input from the subject via an input circuit, recording at least one of the ECG signals and the sound via the processing circuit and the audio circuit; and communicating each processed digitized ECG signal and a corresponding one of the audio signals, via a communication circuit, for receipt by an external device.
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Specification