US5311867A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Detection and grouping analysis of cardiac cycles
Assignee: Biomagnetic Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1993-01-04
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Granted: 1994-05-17
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Expires: 2013-01-04
Abstract
Abstract The physiology of the heart is analyzed by measuring a series of cardiac cycles using a biomagnetometer or other device capable of detecting cardiac cycles, classifying the cardiac cycles into groups according to the degree of correlation with a template cardiac cycle for the group, and associating the cardiac cycles of the groups with an origin location within the subject. The classifying operation preferably includes selecting a template cardiac cycle against which other previously ungrouped cardiac cycles are to be correlated, performing a correlation analysis of all previously ungrouped cardiac cycles with the template cardiac cycle, and associating with the template cardiac cycle all previously ungrouped cardiac cycles having at least a preselected degree of correlation, to form a group.
Inventors
- 👤 David Kynor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/72; A61B5/7235; A61B5/7264; A61B5/24; A61B5/242; A61B5/243; G; G16; G16H; G16H50/00; G16H50/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
Apparatus for measuring the physiology of the heart, comprising: means for detecting a series of cardiac cycles of a subject; means for storing the patterns of the series of cardiac cycles detected by the means for detecting; means for performing correlation analysis of cardiac cycles in the series of cardiac cycles; and means for classifying groupings of cardiac cycles, the means for classifying comprising means for identifying a first template cardiac cycle, means for forming a first selected group of cardiac cycles from among those of the series of cardiac cycles having at least a first preselected degree of correlation with the first template cardiac cycle, and leaving a first ungrouped group of cardiac cycles having a correlation less than the first preselected degree of correlation, means for selecting a second template cardiac cycle from the first ungrouped group of cardiac cycles, and means for forming a second group of cardiac cycles from among the first ungrouped group of cardiac cycles having at least a second preselected degree of correlation with the second template cardiac cycle, and leaving a second ungrouped group of cardiac cycles having a correlation less than the second preselected degree of correlation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
Apparatus for measuring the physiology of the heart, comprising: means for detecting a series of cardiac cycles of a subject; means for storing the patterns of the series of cardiac cycles detected by the means for detecting; means for performing correlation analysis of cardiac cycles in the series of cardiac cycles; and means for classifying groupings of cardiac cycles, the means for classifying comprising means for identifying a first template cardiac cycle, means for forming a first selected group of cardiac cycles from among those of the series of cardiac cycles having at least a first preselected degree of correlation with the first template cardiac cycle, and leaving a first ungrouped group of cardiac cycles having a correlation less than the first preselected degree of correlation, means for selecting a second template cardiac cycle from the first ungrouped group of cardiac cycles, and means for forming a second group of cardiac cycles from among the first ungrouped group of cardiac cycles having at least a second preselected degree of correlation with the second template cardiac cycle, and leaving a second ungrouped group of cardiac cycles having a correlation less than the second preselected degree of correlation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting includes a biomagnetometer that detects the magnetic fields produced by cardiac cycles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for classifying further includes means for selecting a further template cardiac cycle from among those not previously selected, and means for forming a further group of cardiac cycles from among the those not previously selected having at least a preselected degree of correlation with the further template cardiac cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including means for averaging, on a point-by-point basis, all of the cardiac cycles in a group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for selecting a second template includes means for selecting the cardiac cycle having a lowest degree of correlation with the first template.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for measuring the physiology of the heart, comprising: biomagnetometer means for detecting magnetic fields produced by a beating heart of a subject; means for storing the patterns of a series of cardiac cycles detected by the biomagnetometer means; means for performing correlation analysis of cardiac cycles in the series of cardiac cycles; and means for classifying the series of cardiac cycles into a plurality of groups, the means for classifying including means for identifying each group, including means for identifying a group template cardiac cycle, and means for forming a group of cardiac cycles from among those of the series of cardiac cycles not previously classified into a group and having at least a preselected degree of correlation with the template cardiac cycle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for measuring the physiology of the heart, comprising: biomagnetometer means for detecting magnetic fields produced by a beating heart of a subject; means for storing the patterns of a series of cardiac cycles detected by the biomagnetometer means; means for performing correlation analysis of cardiac cycles in the series of cardiac cycles; and means for classifying the series of cardiac cycles into a plurality of groups, the means for classifying including means for identifying each group, including means for identifying a group template cardiac cycle, and means for forming a group of cardiac cycles from among those of the series of cardiac cycles not previously classified into a group and having at least a preselected degree of correlation with the template cardiac cycle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus further includes means for averaging, on a point-by-point basis, all of the cardiac cycles in a group.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further including means for identifying a group containing an anomalous cardiac cycle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each succeeding template cardiac cycle is selected as the remaining ungrouped cardiac cycle having the lowest degree of correlation with the last-selected template cardiac cycle.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for measuring the physiology of the heart, comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus that detects cardiac cycles of a subject; detecting magnetic signals corresponding to a time sequence of a plurality of cardiac cycles of a subject, utilizing the apparatus; and classifying the series of cardiac cycles into a number of groups according to the degree of correlation of each cardiac cycle with a template cardiac cycle for each group.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for measuring the physiology of the heart, comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus that detects cardiac cycles of a subject; detecting magnetic signals corresponding to a time sequence of a plurality of cardiac cycles of a subject, utilizing the apparatus; and classifying the series of cardiac cycles into a number of groups according to the degree of correlation of each cardiac cycle with a template cardiac cycle for each group.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10, including the additional step, after the step of classifying, of associating the cardiac cycles of at least one group with a physical condition of the subject.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the step of classifying includes the substeps of selecting a template cardiac cycle against which other previously ungrouped cardiac cycles are to be correlated; performing a correlation analysis of all previously ungrouped cardiac cycles with the template cardiac cycle; and associating with the template cardiac cycle all previously ungrouped cardiac cycles having at least a preselected degree of correlation therewith, to form a group.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12, including the further step of repeating the steps of selecting, performing, and associating until all cardiac cycles have been associated with a group.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the template cardiac cycle for each succeeding group is that previously ungrouped cardiac cycle having the lowest degree of correlation with the previous template cardiac cycle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12, further including a step, after the step of associating, of identifying a group containing an anomalous cardiac cycle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12, further including a step, after the step of associating, of averaging, on a point-by-point basis, all of the cardiac cycles in a group.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is a biomagnetometer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is an electrocardiograph.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-16 | 1997-11-15 | 1998-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-16 | 2001-11-15 | 2002-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-16 | 2005-11-15 | 2006-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |