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Publication Number
US-11931155-B2
Publication Date
2024-03-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided are systems for measuring an electrocardiogram (ECG) using a wearable device. An example system includes the wearable device. The wearable device has a means for recording an electrical signal from a single wrist of a patient. The wearable device also has a means for detecting a pulse of the patient and recording a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal, via a PPG optical sensor associated with the wearable device. The wearable device further has a means for generating the electrical signal segments being time-locked to the PPG signal by utilizing the PPG signal as a reference signal. Furthermore, the wearable device has a means for summing the electrical signal segments in a given time period and dividing by the number of segments to produce an average ECG waveform.
Core Innovation
The wearable device system records, via at least a first input plate placed in contact on a single wrist and a second input plate placed in contact with an opposite side of the single wrist, at least one electrical sensor signal including an ECG component and a noise component. The electrical signal and the ECG component are recorded at the single wrist of a patient without requiring patient participation for manual steps, and the recorded electrical signal is used to extract an average ECG waveform. In parallel, the wearable device simultaneously records a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal via a PPG optical sensor associated with the wearable device.
The system detects a pulse of the patient and records the PPG signal while simultaneously measuring the electrical signal at the single wrist. The electrical signal segments generated from the recorded electrical signal are time-locked to the PPG signal by utilizing the PPG signal as a reference signal. In some implementations, the reference signal is the first derivative of the PPG signal, and the PPG optical sensor can measure a color of skin above a pulsating artery in the single wrist.
From the recorded electrical signal, the system generates electrical signal segments and sums the electrical signal segments in a given time period, dividing by a number of segments to produce an average ECG waveform based on a subset of the electrical signal segments. This processing is described as resulting in a reduction of an uncorrelated noise component of the electrical signal and an extraction of the average ECG waveform during the time period. The document further describes analyzing average ECG waveforms over extended periods and determining trends in ECG parameters, with reporting and warning messages, including possible symptom and probable progression of chronic heart disease.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are directed to a wearable device and a system for measuring ECG at a single wrist by simultaneously recording electrical ECG and PPG, time-locking electrical signal segments to a PPG reference, and averaging selected segments to reduce an uncorrelated noise component and extract an average ECG waveform. The inventive features include simultaneous ECG/PPG acquisition at opposite sides of a single wrist, PPG-referenced time-locked segmentation, and summed/normalized averaging of a subset of segments in a time period.
Single-wrist simultaneous electrical ECG and PPG recording with wrist electrode plates
The wearable device records, via at least a first input plate placed in contact on a single wrist and a second input plate placed in contact with an opposite side of the single wrist, an electrical signal including an ECG component and a noise component, while simultaneously recording a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal via a PPG optical sensor at the single wrist.
Time-locked ECG segment generation using PPG as a reference signal
The wearable device generates electrical signal segments of the recorded electrical signal, with the electrical signal segments being time-locked to the PPG signal by utilizing the PPG signal as a reference signal.
Average ECG waveform extraction by summing and dividing selected time-locked segments
The wearable device 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, resulting in reduction of an uncorrelated noise component of the electrical signal and extraction of the average ECG waveform from the electrical signal during the time period.
System-level ECG measurement with processor-based summation and averaging
The system includes a wearable device and a processor that records the electrical signal including an ECG component and a noise component at a single wrist, records the PPG signal via a PPG optical sensor simultaneously, generates time-locked electrical signal segments using the PPG signal as a reference signal, and sums/divides the segments over a given time period to produce an average ECG waveform with reduced uncorrelated noise.
Across the independent claims, the core claim scope centers on simultaneous single-wrist electrical ECG and PPG acquisition, PPG-referenced time-locking of ECG segments, and processor-based summing and dividing of selected segments over a time period to reduce an uncorrelated noise component and extract an average ECG waveform.
Stated Advantages
Reduction of an uncorrelated noise component of the electrical signal.
Extraction of the average ECG waveform from the electrical signal during the time period.
Documented Applications
Analyzing average ECG waveforms over a predetermined time period to determine trends in ECG parameters.
Using the determined trends to identify possible symptoms or probable progression of chronic heart disease.
Providing reports and warning messages related to the possible symptom and probable progression of chronic heart disease.
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