SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS GENERATION OF STANDARD ECG LEADS AND AN ECG SENSING UNIT THEREFOR

• US 20100234746A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novosense AB
• Original Assignee: Novosense AB
• Inventors: Sebelius, Fredrik
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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. A 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;

a remote receiver station for generating at least one standard ECG lead from signals detected by a first group of said plurality of electrodes,

wherein said 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 said plurality of electrodes substantially simultaneously with the signal detection by said first group of said plurality of electrodes, said second group of said plurality of electrodes comprising at least one subset having at least three closely located electrodes arranged non-linearly for detecting two local bipolar signals;

a processor in said remote receiver station for calculation of a transform synthesizing each generated standard ECG lead from at least two of said non-standard ECG signals;

a disconnection unit for disconnection of said first group of electrodes from said subject following said calculation, said processor thereafter synthesizing said standard ECG lead from said non-standard ECG signals solely using said transform; and

a transfer unit for wireless transferring of said non-standard ECG signals to said remote receiver station (200) following said disconnection of said first group of electrodes,

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

2. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes of said subset 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 subset of said second group of electrodes are elements of a wireless ECG sensing unit, which further comprises a radio module for communication with said remote receiver station when activated thereby.

4. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 3, wherein said wireless 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 said wireless sensing unit 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 disconnection unit 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 disconnection unit also comprises wires each connected to one electrode in a separate wireless sensing unit.

8. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 6, wherein each wireless 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 3, comprising at least one further wireless sensing unit, and a synchronizing unit in said remote receiver station for synchronizing data flow from the sensing units.

10. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 1, wherein said substantially simultaneously generated non-standard ECG signals are generated synchronous with the signal detection by said first group of said plurality of electrodes.

20. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 2, wherein said subset of said second group of electrodes are elements of a wireless sensing unit, which further comprises a radio module for communication with said remote receiver station when activated thereby.

21. A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead according to claim 4, comprising at least one further wireless sensing unit, and a synchronizing unit in said remote receiver station for synchronizing data flow from the sensing units.

11. An ECG sensing unit, comprising:

at least three electrodes for application to a subject and generating bipolar signals;

a radio module for communication with a remote receiver station;

a differential amplifier for each bipolar signal for generating a non-standard ECG signal; and

a data processor connected between said differential amplifiers and said radio module for digital storing of the non-standard ECG signals;

said ECG sensing unit further comprising;

at least one further differential amplifier having inputs connectable to separate ones of a plurality of further electrodes, at least one of the inputs of each further differential amplifier being connectable to a separate electrode external to said ECG sensing unit, and an output connected to said data processor.

12. An ECG sensing unit according to claim 11, wherein said electrodes are arranged along two non-parallel lines.

13. An ECG sensing unit according to claim 12, wherein said two non-parallel lines are orthogonal.

14. A method of wireless generating a standard ECG lead, comprising the steps of

generating a standard ECG lead using electrodes for application to a subject at standard positions thereof;

substantially simultaneously generating at least two non-standard ECG signals from bipolar signals detected by a further group of at least three electrodes for application to a subject at adjacent positions;

calculating a transform synthesizing said standard ECG lead from said non-standard ECG signals;

interrupting the generation of said standard ECG lead following said calculation;

transferring said non-standard ECG signals wireless at least following said interruption; and

thereafter generating said standard ECG lead solely using said calculated transform on said non-standard ECG signals.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said generating of the standard ECG lead comprises using wires connected to the corresponding electrodes and said interrupting comprises detaching these electrodes and wires.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said non-standard ECG signals are transferred wireless at all times by means of a radiomodule.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said wires are connected to the radio module for wireless transfer of said standard ECG lead.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein said substantially simultaneous generation of the non-standard ECG signals is a synchronous generation.

19. A method according to claim 14, wherein said calculation is based upon digitally stored representations of said standard ECG lead and said non-standard ECG signals.