US5146926A
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US
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Method and apparatus for imaging electrical activity in a biological system
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
•
Filing: 1990-10-26
•
Granted: 1992-09-15
•
Expires: 2010-10-26
Abstract
Abstract An array of electrodes is applied to an internal or external surface of a biological system such as a human being. The electrodes generate signals which are processed to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations within a given time epoch. The signal processing is repeated for multiple sequential time epochs and an image is constructed from the surface differential of the surface potential for each time epoch. Thereafter, the sequential images corresponding to sequential time epochs are displayed. The two-dimensional image changes as the distribution of bioelectric sources evolves so as to provide a motion picture of electrical activity.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Cohen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/282; G; G06; G06F; G06F2218/00; G06F2218/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 76
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
Method for imaging electrical activity in a biological system comprising: applying an array of electrodes to a surface of the biological system to generate signals; processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations within a given time epoch; repeating the processing for multiple sequential time epochs; constructing a two-dimensional projection image of the electrical activity from the surface differential of the surface potential for sequential time epochs; and displaying sequential images corresponding to sequential time epochs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
Method for imaging electrical activity in a biological system comprising: applying an array of electrodes to a surface of the biological system to generate signals; processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations within a given time epoch; repeating the processing for multiple sequential time epochs; constructing a two-dimensional projection image of the electrical activity from the surface differential of the surface potential for sequential time epochs; and displaying sequential images corresponding to sequential time epochs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the surface differential of the surface potential is a two-dimensional Laplacian of the surface potential.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the electrodes in the array of electrodes in the applying step are bipolar having an outer ring conductor and a separate central conductor, whereby the two-dimensional Laplacian of the surface potential is obtained.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 or 3 wherein the electrical activity imaged in the constructing step originates in the heart.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical activity imaged in the constructing step originates in the brain.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical activity imaged in the constructing step originates in skeletal muscle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 wherein cardiac electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array in the applying step to the anterior chest wall overlying the heart.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein cardiac electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array in the applying step to the posterior chest wall overlying the heart.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the cardiac electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array in the applying step to the lateral chest wall overlying the heart.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4 wherein cardiac electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array in the applying step to the epicardial surface of the heart.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4 wherein cardiac electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array in the applying step to the endocardial surface of the heart.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein brain electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array in the applying step to the surface of the head.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein brain electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array in the applying step to the surface of the brain.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the image is displayed in the displaying step on an array of pixels wherein the magnitude of the surface differential of the surface potential is encoded on a gray scale.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the image is displayed in the displaying step on an array of pixels wherein the magnitude of the surface differential of the surface potential is encoded on a color scale.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the processing step further includes application of a smoothing and interpolation algorithm applied to smooth contours of the image and to reduce pixel size.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 wherein skeletal muscle electrical activity is imaged in the constructing step by applying an electrode array on the skin overlying the muscle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the signals recorded from the electrodes are digitized and stored.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the images are displayed in the displaying step in real time by displaying 8 to 32 frames per second.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the images are displayed in the displaying step off-line at a rate slower than real time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for imaging electrical activity in a biological system comprising: an array of electrodes adapted to be applied to a surface of the biological system; apparatus for processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multipicity of spatial locations within a given time epoch and repeating this processing for multiple sequential time epochs, the apparatus further adapted to construct a two-dimensional projection image of the electrical activity from the surface differential of the surface potential for sequential time epochs; and display apparatus for displaying sequential images corresponding to sequential time epochs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for imaging electrical activity in a biological system comprising: an array of electrodes adapted to be applied to a surface of the biological system; apparatus for processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multipicity of spatial locations within a given time epoch and repeating this processing for multiple sequential time epochs, the apparatus further adapted to construct a two-dimensional projection image of the electrical activity from the surface differential of the surface potential for sequential time epochs; and display apparatus for displaying sequential images corresponding to sequential time epochs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the surface differential of the surface potentials is a two-dimensional Laplacian of the surface potential.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the electrodes in the array are bipolar having an outer ring conductor and a separate central conductor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 21 or 23 wherein the electrical activity imaged originates in the heart.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the electrical activity imaged originates in the brain.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the electrical activity imaged originates in skeletal muscle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein cardiac electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array to the anterior chest wall overlying the heart.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein cardiac electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array to the posterior chest wall overlying the heart.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein cardiac electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array to the lateral chest wall overlying the heart.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein cardiac electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array to the epicardial surface of the heart.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein cardiac electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array to the endocardial surface of the heart.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein brain electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array to the surface of the head.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein brain electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array to the surface of the brain.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the image is displayed on an array of pixels wherein the magnitude of the surface differential of the surface potential is encoded on a gray scale.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the image is displayed on an array of pixels wherein the magnitude of the differential of the surface potential is encoded on a color scale.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein a smoothing and interpolation algorithm is applied to smooth the contours of the image.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein skeletal muscle electrical activity is imaged by applying the electrode array to skin overlying the muscle.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the digitized signals are stored in a storage medium.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the image is displayed in real time by displaying 8 to 32 frames per second.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the images are displayed off-line from a storage medium at a rate slower than real time.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
65 words
Method for imaging electrical activity in a biological system comprising: applying an array of electrodes to an external surface of the biological system; processing the signals recorded from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations substantially simultaneously; and constructing a two-dimensional projection image of the electrical activity from the surface differential of the surface potential.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
65 words
Method for imaging electrical activity in a biological system comprising: applying an array of electrodes to an external surface of the biological system; processing the signals recorded from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations substantially simultaneously; and constructing a two-dimensional projection image of the electrical activity from the surface differential of the surface potential.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the electrical activity imaged in the constructing step originates in the heart.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the electrical activity imaged in the constructing step originates in the brain.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the electrical activity imaged in the constructing step originates in skeletal muscle.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 41 or 42 wherein the surface differential of the surface potential is a two-dimensional Laplacian of the surface potential.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 45 wherein the electrodes in the array of electrodes in the applying step are bipolar having an outer ring conductor and a separate central conductor whereby the two-dimensional Laplacian of the surface potential is obtained.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus for imaging electrical activity in a biological system comprising: an array of electrodes for application to an external surface of the biological system; apparatus for processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations substantially simultaneously; and apparatus for constructing an image from the surface differential of the surface potential.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus for imaging electrical activity in a biological system comprising: an array of electrodes for application to an external surface of the biological system; apparatus for processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations substantially simultaneously; and apparatus for constructing an image from the surface differential of the surface potential.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the surface differential of the surface potential is a two-dimensional Laplacian of the surface potential.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the electrodes in the array are bipolar having an outer ring conductor and a separate central conductor.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step of the sequential images creates a motion picture.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sequential images in the displaying step are displayed one at a time.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein sequential images in the displaying step may be displayed to create a motion picture.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein sequential images in the displaying step may be displayed one at a time.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
84 words
Method for imaging electrical activity originating in a heart comprising: applying an array of electrodes to a surface for receiving electrical signals from the heart; processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations within a given time epoch; repeating the processing for multiple sequential time epochs; constructing an image from the surface differential of the surface potential for sequential time epochs; and displaying the sequential images corresponding to sequential time epochs.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
84 words
Method for imaging electrical activity originating in a heart comprising: applying an array of electrodes to a surface for receiving electrical signals from the heart; processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations within a given time epoch; repeating the processing for multiple sequential time epochs; constructing an image from the surface differential of the surface potential for sequential time epochs; and displaying the sequential images corresponding to sequential time epochs.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for imaging electrical activity originating in a heart comprising: an array of electrodes adapted to be applied to a surface for receiving electrical signals from the heart; apparatus for processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations within a time epoch and repeating this processing for multiple sequential time epochs, the apparatus further adapted to construct an image from the surface differential of the surface potential for sequential time epochs; and display apparatus for displaying sequential images corresponding to sequential time epochs.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for imaging electrical activity originating in a heart comprising: an array of electrodes adapted to be applied to a surface for receiving electrical signals from the heart; apparatus for processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations within a time epoch and repeating this processing for multiple sequential time epochs, the apparatus further adapted to construct an image from the surface differential of the surface potential for sequential time epochs; and display apparatus for displaying sequential images corresponding to sequential time epochs.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
55 words
Method for imaging electrical activity originating in a heart comprising: applying an array of electrodes to an external surface; processing the signals recorded from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations substantially simultaneously; and constructing an image from the surface differential of the surface potential.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
55 words
Method for imaging electrical activity originating in a heart comprising: applying an array of electrodes to an external surface; processing the signals recorded from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations substantially simultaneously; and constructing an image from the surface differential of the surface potential.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus for imaging electrical activity originating in a heart comprising; an array of electrodes adapted to be applied to an external surface; apparatus for processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations substantially simultaneously; and apparatus for constructing an image from the surface differential of the surface potential.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus for imaging electrical activity originating in a heart comprising; an array of electrodes adapted to be applied to an external surface; apparatus for processing the signals from the electrodes to compute a surface differential of the surface potential at a multiplicity of spatial locations substantially simultaneously; and apparatus for constructing an image from the surface differential of the surface potential.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
40 words
Method for recording electrical activity on a surface comprising: applying an array of bipolar electrodes to a surface, the electrodes having an outer ring conductor and a separate central conductor whereby the two-dimensional Laplacian of the surface potential is obtained.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
40 words
Method for recording electrical activity on a surface comprising: applying an array of bipolar electrodes to a surface, the electrodes having an outer ring conductor and a separate central conductor whereby the two-dimensional Laplacian of the surface potential is obtained.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 or 4 or 41 or 46 or 54 or 56 further comprising the step of identifying reentrant loops of activity.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 or 4 or 41 or 46 or 54 or 56 further comprising the step of localizing sites of abnormal impulse initiation.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 or 4 or 41 or 46 or 54 or 56 further comprising the step of diagnosing localized areas of ischemia.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 or 4 or 41 or 46 or 54 or 56 further including the step of diagnosing localized areas of infarction.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 or 4 or 41 or 46 or 54 or 56 further including the step of using the image to guide the placement of an artificial pacemaker.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 or 4 or 41 or 46 or 54 or 56 comprising the further step of assessing the functioning of artificial pacemakers.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 or 4 or 41 or 46 or 54 or 56 comprising the further step of diagnosing abnormalities in cardiac conduction processes.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 or 4 or 41 or 46 or 54 or 56 further comprising the step of noninvasively monitoring abnormalities in cardiac conduction processes.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 or 4 or 41 or 46 or 54 or 56 further comprising the step of treating abnormalities in cardiac conduction processes.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-15 | 1996-03-16 | 1996-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-15 | 2000-03-16 | 2000-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-15 | 2004-03-16 | 2004-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |