Body-worn sensor for characterizing patients with heart failure
Inventors
Banet, Matthew • Pede, Susan Meeks • Dhillon, Marshal Singh • Hunt, Kenneth Robert
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12343131-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention provides a sensor for measuring both impedance and ECG waveforms that is configured to be worn around a patient's neck. The sensor features 1) an ECG system that includes an analog ECG circuit, in electrical contact with at least two ECG electrodes, that generates an analog ECG waveform; and 2) an impedance system that includes an analog impedance circuit, in electrical contact with at least two (and typically four) impedance electrodes, that generates an analog impedance waveform. Also included in the neck-worn system are a digital processing system featuring a microprocessor, and an analog-to-digital converter. During a measurement, the digital processing system receives and processes the analog ECG and impedance waveforms to measure physiological information from the patient. Finally, a cable that drapes around the patient's neck connects the ECG system, impedance system, and digital processing system.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a sensor worn on a patient for measuring fluid and blood pressure. The sensor includes first and second electrode holders configured to adhere to the patient, with first and second electrodes disposed within the respective holders, and each of the first and second electrodes is removable from its respective electrode holder.
An impedance-measuring system is configured to receive electrical signals from the first and second electrodes and process them to determine a first impedance signal and a second impedance signal. The first impedance signal comprises a baseline that varies with fluid in the patient, and the second impedance signal comprises heartbeat-induced pulses measured directly from the patient.
A data-processing system processes the impedance signals using a computer algorithm. The computer algorithm processes the first impedance signal to determine fluid in the patient, processes the second impedance signal to determine a transit time, and determines blood pressure from the transit time.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. The main inventive features are a wearable, adherent electrode-holder structure, impedance signal processing that yields a fluid-varying baseline and heartbeat-induced pulses, and transit-time-based blood pressure determination from those pulses.
Removable electrode holders for impedance sensing
A first electrode holder and a second electrode holder configured to adhere to the patient, with a first electrode disposed within the first electrode holder and a second electrode disposed within the second electrode holder, and each of the first and second electrodes removable from its respective electrode holder.
Impedance-measuring system producing fluid-varying baseline and heartbeat-induced pulses
An impedance-measuring system worn on the patient and configured to receive electrical signals from the first and second electrodes and process them to determine a first impedance signal comprising a baseline that varies with fluid in the patient, and a second impedance signal comprising heartbeat-induced pulses measured directly from the patient.
Transit-time-based blood pressure determination from impedance pulses
A data-processing system worn on the patient and configured to process the first impedance signal to determine fluid in the patient, the second impedance signal to determine a transit time, and the transit time to determine blood pressure.
Current-injecting and voltage-measuring electrodes in adherent holders
A first electrode holder and a second electrode holder configured to adhere to the patient, wherein the first electrode holder includes a first current-injecting electrode and a first voltage-measuring electrode, and the second electrode holder includes a second current-injecting electrode and a second voltage-measuring electrode.
The independent claims are directed to a patient-worn sensor that adheres using electrode holders, produces impedance signals including a fluid-varying baseline and heartbeat-induced pulses, and applies a computer algorithm to determine fluid, compute a transit time, and determine blood pressure.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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