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Publication Number
US-11712190-B2
Publication Date
2023-08-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided are a method and systems for measuring an electrocardiogram (ECG) using a wearable device. An example system includes the wearable device in a shape of a band worn on a limb (e.g., a wrist) of a patient. The wearable device includes an electrical sensor. The wearable device is operable to record, via the at least one electrical sensor, an electrical signal from the limb of the patient. The wearable device is operable to split the electrical signal into segments based on a reference signal. The reference signal includes an indication of onset times of heart beats. The segments are averaged to derive average ECG data of low signal-to-noise ratio. The wearable device includes an optical sensor operable to measure skin color beneath a pulsating artery of the limb. The reference signal includes a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal recorded via the optical sensor simultaneously with the electrical signal.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a wearable device configured to record an electrical signal from a single wrist of a patient at substantially the same time. The electrical signal includes an ECG component and a noise component, and it is recorded via at least a first input plate and a second input plate of at least one electrical sensor placed in contact with opposite sides of the single wrist. In addition, the wearable device records a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal using a PPG optical sensor associated with the wearable device at the same wrist location.
The invention generates electrical signal segments from the recorded electrical signal by utilising the PPG signal as a reference signal. The electrical signal segments are time-locked to the PPG signal by utilising the PPG signal as a reference signal. The method then sums the electrical signal segments in a given time period and divides by a number of segments to produce an average ECG waveform based on a subset of the electrical signal segments.
By summing and dividing the time-locked electrical signal segments, the invention reduces an uncorrelated noise component of the electrical signal and extracts the average ECG waveform from the electrical signal during the time period. Further processing is described that analyzes average ECG waveforms to detect changes over time and to determine trends over an extended period. The resulting trends are used to identify possible symptoms and probable progression of chronic heart disease, and a report and/or a warning message may be generated based on those trends.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are present: clm-00001 (a method) and clm-00010 (a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium). Across these independent claims, there are four core inventive features.
Opposite-side input plates for single-wrist electrical signal
Recording, via at least a first input plate and a second input plate of at least one electrical sensor associated with a wearable device, an electrical signal from a single wrist of a patient, the electrical signal including an ECG component and a noise component, wherein the first input plate and the second input plate are placed in contact with opposite sides of the single wrist of the patient.
Simultaneous PPG optical sensor at the same single wrist
Detecting a pulse of the patient and recording a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal, via a PPG optical sensor associated with the wearable device, the electrical signal and the PPG signal being simultaneously measured at the single wrist of the patient.
Time-locked electrical signal segments using PPG reference signal
Generating, by a processor from the recorded electrical signal, electrical signal segments of the recorded electrical signal, the electrical signal segments being time-locked to the PPG signal by utilising the PPG signal as a reference signal.
Averaging time-locked segments in a given time period
Summing the electrical signal segments in a given time period and dividing by a number of segments to produce an average ECG waveform based on a subset of the electrical signal segments, resulting in a reduction of an uncorrelated noise component of the electrical signal and an extraction of the average ECG waveform from the electrical signal during the time period.
The independent claims cover a single-wrist wearable architecture that simultaneously measures ECG and a PPG signal, uses the PPG signal to time-lock ECG segments, and produces an average ECG waveform by summing and dividing selected segments over a time period to reduce uncorrelated noise and extract the average ECG waveform. Dependent claims further refine the PPG reference signal options and extend analysis over time to detect changes and trends.
Stated Advantages
Reduces an uncorrelated noise component of the electrical signal.
Extracts the average ECG waveform from the electrical signal during the time period.
Enables trend analysis of average ECG waveforms over an extended period.
Supports identifying possible symptoms and probable progression of chronic heart disease.
Provides a report and/or a warning message about possible symptoms and probable progression.
Documented Applications
Trend detection and analysis of average ECG waveforms over an extended period to identify possible symptoms and probable progression of chronic heart disease, with a report and/or a warning message.
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