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Publication Number
US-10945624-B2
Publication Date
2021-03-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A wireless cardiac sensor is provided. The sensor may be utilized by a patient, on themselves, in an at home or other non-clinical environment. A sensor housing contains ECG electrodes and an audio transducer to simultaneously capture heart sound and ECG data with a single device. The ECG electrodes may be positioned on opposite sides of, and preferably adjacent to, an audio transducer sensor, for placement against a user's chest. The wireless cardiac sensor may include a button on a surface opposite the ECG electrodes and audio sensor, facilitating one-handed operation by a patient. The sensor transmits acquired data to a personal electronic device, such as a smartphone, via a wireless communication link. The personal electronic device may in turn transmit data to a centralized server and/or health care provider devices, via a wide area network.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a wireless, chest-worn cardiac sensor for at-home or non-clinical use that integrates ECG electrodes and an audio transducer to capture both ECG data and heart-sound data. The sensor includes a sensor housing with a front surface positioned against a user's chest and an audio transducer sensor exposed on the front surface. ECG transducers are exposed on the front surface as well and are positioned adjacent to opposite sides of the audio transducer sensor, forming a sensor package occupying only a portion of the front surface.
The ECG transducer includes two electrodes positioned on opposite sides of, and adjacent to, the audio transducer sensor so that the ECG transducer electrodes and the audio transducer sensor form a sensor package. The audio transducer sensor is circular, and the ECG transducer electrodes each have an edge extending across a diameter of the transducer. The sensor housing configuration also includes a user button exposed on a back surface and positioned centered directly above the sensor package, enabling one-handed initiation while pressing the electrodes and audio transducer against the user's skin.
The sensor wirelessly transmits both the ECG data and the heart-sound data to a personal electronic device that is proximate the sensor. The personal electronic device includes a graphical display screen user interface and a user interface that provides placement instructions and audio/visual feedback during acquisition, along with near-real-time streaming and diagnostic display. The document further describes prompts and alerts related to transmission and clinician/physician review using a centralized server and healthcare provider devices over a wide area network.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims and a system claim. The coverage centers on an ECG transducer and an audio transducer sensor packaged in a chest-contact housing, wireless transmission to a proximate personal electronic device, and user prompting or feedback for positioning and clinician-related review or alerts.
Wireless cardiac sensor with ECG and circular audio transducer packaged on a chest-contact housing
A wireless cardiac sensor comprising a sensor housing having a first side for positioning against a user's chest; a battery within the sensor housing; an ECG transducer within the sensor housing with plurality of electrodes exposed on the first side for recordation of ECG data; an audio transducer within the sensor housing with an audio transducer sensor exposed on the first side for recordation of heart sound data; wherein the ECG transducer comprises two electrodes positioned on opposite sides of, and adjacent to, the audio transducer sensor such that the ECG transducer electrodes and audio transducer sensor form a sensor package occupying only a portion of the first side, wherein the audio transducer sensor is circular and wherein the two electrodes each have an edge extending across a diameter of the transducer.
Wireless transmission of ECG and heart-sound data to a proximate personal electronic device
The wireless cardiac sensor further comprises a wireless transceiver adapted for transmitting the ECG data recorded by the ECG transducer and the heart sound data recorded by the audio transducer to a personal electronic device proximate the sensor.
Rectangular cuboid chest-contact housing with near-real-time wireless transmission and button over the sensor package
A wireless cardiac sensor comprising a sensor housing having a first rectangular side for positioning against a user's chest, the sensor housing being a rectangular cuboid with long rounded edges and short rounded edges; a battery within the sensor housing; an ECG transducer within the sensor housing with plurality of electrodes exposed on a first side for recordation of ECG data; an audio transducer within the sensor housing with an audio transducer sensor exposed on the first side for recordation of heart sound data, wherein the ECG transducer electrodes and the audio transducer sensor collectively form a sensor package on the first side and wherein the first curved and linear edges of first and second transducers extend across the diameter of the audio transducer; and a wireless transceiver adapted for transmitting the ECG data and the heart sound data to a personal electronic device in near-real time.
User button exposed on the second side directly above the sensor package
The sensor housing also has a second side opposite the first side, the sensor further comprising a button for actuation by a user, the button exposed on the second side of the sensor housing and positioned directly above the sensor package.
Wireless chest-worn system with PED rendering diagnostic information and visually prompting positioning
A wireless system comprising a sensor housing having a first side for positioning against a user's chest; a battery within the sensor housing; an ECG transducer with plurality of electrodes exposed on the first side for recordation of ECG data; an audio transducer with an audio transducer sensor exposed on the first side for recordation of heart sound data; wherein the ECG transducer comprises two electrodes positioned on opposite sides of, and adjacent to, the audio transducer sensor such that the ECG transducer electrodes and audio transducer sensor form a sensor package occupying only a portion of the first side, wherein the audio transducer sensor is circular and wherein the two electrodes each have an edge extending across a diameter of the transducer; a wireless transceiver adapted for transmitting the ECG data and the heart sound data to a personal electronic device proximate the sensor; and the personal electronic device comprising a PED wireless transceiver configured for communication with the sensor wireless transceiver to convey cardiac data therebetween, and a user interface comprising a graphical display screen configured to render displays conveying diagnostic information derived from cardiac data received by the PED wireless transceiver, wherein the user interface is configured to visually prompt the user regarding positioning of the housing.
Across the independent claims, the document covers a chest-contact wireless cardiac sensor that packages an ECG transducer and a circular audio transducer sensor on a portion of the housing, transmits ECG data and heart-sound data wirelessly to a proximate personal electronic device, and at the system level supports a graphical display user interface that renders diagnostic information and visually prompts the user regarding positioning. A further independent claim adds a rectangular cuboid housing configuration and a user-actuatable button arrangement with near-real-time transmission.
Stated Advantages
Provides near-real time transmission of ECG data and heart sound data to a personal electronic device.
Provides audio/visual feedback and diagnostic display on a personal electronic device.
Visually prompts the user regarding positioning of the housing.
Supports prompting/alerts related to clinician/physician review and data transmission over a wide area network (WAN).
Documented Applications
At-home or non-clinical use for a chest-worn cardiac sensor that captures ECG data and heart-sound data and transmits data to a personal electronic device for diagnostic display and clinician-related review/alerts.
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