Coronary artery disease detection signal processing system and method

Inventors

Zhou, Jun • ISLAM, Md Shahidul • ZENG, Jikang • LABONTÉ, Daniel • Martin, Simon • LASKA, Brady • TELENKOV, Sergey A.

Assignees

Ausculsciences Inc

Abstract

An auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor electronic test signal applied to a sound generator generates an acoustic sound signal, responsive to which an auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor in proximity to the sound generator generates a corresponding auscultatory sound signal. The auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor electronic test signal incorporates a plurality of frequency components, each frequency component of which incorporates an integral number of wavelengths and is terminated following a duration of time corresponding to the integral number of wavelengths after that frequency component is applied to the corresponding sound generator. A determination of whether or not the auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor is functioning properly is made responsive to an analysis of a Fourier Transform of the auscultatory sound signal.

Core Innovation

A coronary artery disease detection system uses at least one auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor placed in proximity to a corresponding sound generator to receive auscultatory sound signals. The system applies an auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor electronic test signal to the corresponding sound generator to generate an acoustic sound signal. The electronic test signal comprises a plurality of frequency components.

Each frequency component includes an integral number of wavelengths, and each frequency component is deterministically terminated following a duration of time corresponding to the integral number of wavelengths after application to the sound generator. In this way, the acoustic response recorded by the sensors is generated in a manner suitable for Fourier-based analysis.

Sensor functionality is assessed by determining whether or not the sensor is functioning properly responsive to an analysis of a Fourier Transform of the corresponding auscultatory sound signal. The analysis includes Fourier-transform-based analysis that uses Short Time Fourier Transform framing, spectral power at the test frequencies, averaging across frames, and comparison to GOOD/BAD thresholds, with pass/fail determination based on threshold comparisons.

Claims Coverage

The provided independent claims cover a sensor-integration test method and a further method refinement for generating an STFT frame-synchronized, integral-wavelength multi-frequency test signal. Each inventive feature centers on deterministic frequency-component termination, acoustic generation for sensor exposure, and Fourier-transform-based determination of sensor functioning properly.

Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage is directed to driving a corresponding sound generator with an electronic test signal whose frequency components satisfy an integral number of wavelengths with deterministic termination, generating an acoustic sound signal for sensor exposure, and determining sensor functioning properly based on Fourier Transform analysis. A further independent claim set adds real-time STFT frame-synchronized sinusoidal test frequencies and a specific sampling/STFT point relationship to maintain the integral-wavelength condition within STFT time-frame intervals.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications