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Method and apparatus for analyzing the electrical activity of the heart

Assignee: Technion Research and Development Foundation Ltd
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Filing: 1992-05-21
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Granted: 1996-01-16
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Expires: 2012-05-21
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for analyzing the electrical activity of the heart by Body Surface Potential Mapping (BSMP) in which an array of electrodes are applied over the thoracic region of a subject's body for producing measurements of the electrical signals generated in the thoracic region, and the measurements are processed for indicating certain electrical events in the subject's body. The array of electrodes are utilized to measure only the times of crossing of the electrical signals over a preset threshold.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dan Adam
  • 👤 Ilia Vitsnudel
  • 👤 Shlomo Gilat
  • 👤 Samuel Sideman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 09:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6802; A61B5/6804; A61B5/6805; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/282; A61B5/72; A61B5/7232

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 77 words
A method of analyzing the electrical activity of the heart by Body Surface Potential Mapping (BSMP), comprising, applying an array of electrodes over the thoracic region of a subject's body for producing measurements of the electrical signals generated in said thoracic region, and processing said measurements for indicating certain electrical events in the subject's body; characterized in utilizing said array of electrodes to measure only the times of crossing of the electrical signals over a preset threshold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 77 words
A method of analyzing the electrical activity of the heart by Body Surface Potential Mapping (BSMP), comprising, applying an array of electrodes over the thoracic region of a subject's body for producing measurements of the electrical signals generated in said thoracic region, and processing said measurements for indicating certain electrical events in the subject's body; characterized in utilizing said array of electrodes to measure only the times of crossing of the electrical signals over a preset threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 77 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing of said measurements includes the following steps: (a) estimating the covariance matrix of random processes from the measurements by said array of electrodes; (b) decomposing said covariance matrix into the eigenfunction basis; (c) evaluating, from a partial set of said measurements for the respective subject, the coefficent of a linear combination of computed eigenfunctions; and (d) expanding said computed eigenfunctions to obtain a complete reconstruction of the BSPM.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the reconstruction of the BSPM in step (d) is performed by dividing the array of electrodes into a plurality of intermittent grids, and utilizing a corresponding number of the threshold levels, one for each of said grids.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said reconstruction is performed by dividing the array of electrodes into four intermittent grids and utilising four threshold levels, one for each of said grids.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 127 words
A method analyzing the electrical activity of the heart by Body Surface Potential Mapping (BSMP), comprising, applying an array of electrodes over the thoracic region of a subject's body for producing measurements of the electrical signals generated in said thoracic region, and processing said measurements for indicating certain electrical events in the subject's body; characterized in that the processing of said measurements incudes the following steps: (a) estimating the covariance matrix of random processes from the measurements by said array of electrodes; (b) decomposing said covariance matrix into the eigenfunction basis; (c) evaluating from a partial set of said measurements for the respective subject, the coefficient of a linear combination of computed eigenfunctions; and (d) expanding said computed eigenfunctions to obtain a complete reconstruction of the BSPM.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 127 words
A method analyzing the electrical activity of the heart by Body Surface Potential Mapping (BSMP), comprising, applying an array of electrodes over the thoracic region of a subject's body for producing measurements of the electrical signals generated in said thoracic region, and processing said measurements for indicating certain electrical events in the subject's body; characterized in that the processing of said measurements incudes the following steps: (a) estimating the covariance matrix of random processes from the measurements by said array of electrodes; (b) decomposing said covariance matrix into the eigenfunction basis; (c) evaluating from a partial set of said measurements for the respective subject, the coefficient of a linear combination of computed eigenfunctions; and (d) expanding said computed eigenfunctions to obtain a complete reconstruction of the BSPM.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method according to claim 5, further characterized in that said array of electrodes are utilized to measure only the times of crossing of the electrical signals over a preset threshold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein said reconstruction of the BSPM is performed by dividing the array of electrodes into a plurality of intermittent grids, and utilizing a corresponding number of the threshold levels, one for each said grids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein said reconstruction is performed by dividing the array of electrodes into four intermittent grids and using four threshold levels, one for each of said grids.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said measurements of the thoracic region of the subject's body, and said reconstruction of the BSPM, are thresholded twice at two chosen levels, and annuli are calculated for storage, display, and further processing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 93 words
Apparatus for analyzing the electrical activity of the heart by Body Surface Potential Mapping (BSPM), comprising: an array of electrodes placeable over the thoracic region of a subject's body; measuring means for producing measurements of the electrical signals generated in said thoracic region as detected by said array of electrodes; and processor means for procesing said measurements for indicating certain electrical events in the subject's body; characterized in that said measurement means measures only the times of crossing of the electrical signals over a preset threshold as detected by said array of electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 93 words
Apparatus for analyzing the electrical activity of the heart by Body Surface Potential Mapping (BSPM), comprising: an array of electrodes placeable over the thoracic region of a subject's body; measuring means for producing measurements of the electrical signals generated in said thoracic region as detected by said array of electrodes; and processor means for procesing said measurements for indicating certain electrical events in the subject's body; characterized in that said measurement means measures only the times of crossing of the electrical signals over a preset threshold as detected by said array of electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 80 words
The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said processor means includes: (a) means for estimating the covariance matrix of random processes from the measurements by said array of electrodes; (b) means for decomposing said covariance matrix into the eigenfunction basis; (c) means for evaluating, from a partial set of said measurements for the respective subject, the coefficent of a linear combination of computed eigenfunctions; and (d) means for expanding said computed eigenfunctions to obtain a complete reconstruction of the BSPM.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 39 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means (d) performs said reconstruction by dividing the array of electrodes into a plurality of intermittent grids and utilizing a corresponding number of threshold levels, one for each of said grids.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said reconstruction is effected by four intermittent grids and by utilizing four threshold levels, one for each of said grids.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 142 words
Apparatus for analyzing the electrical activity of the heart by Body Surface Potential Mapping (BSPM), comprising: an array of electrodes placeable over the thoracic region of a subject's body; measuring means for producing measurements of the electrical signals generated in said thoracic region as detected by said array of electrodes; and processor means for processing said measurements for indicating certain electrical events in the subject's body; characterized in that said processor means includes: (a) means for estimating the covariance matrix of random processes from the measurements by said array of electrodes; (b) means for decomposing said covariance matrix into the eigenfunction basis; (c) means for evaluating, from a partial set of said measurements for the respective subject, the coefficent of a linear combination of computed eigenfunctions; and (d) means for expanding said computed eigenfunctions to obtain a complete reconstruction of the BSPM.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 142 words
Apparatus for analyzing the electrical activity of the heart by Body Surface Potential Mapping (BSPM), comprising: an array of electrodes placeable over the thoracic region of a subject's body; measuring means for producing measurements of the electrical signals generated in said thoracic region as detected by said array of electrodes; and processor means for processing said measurements for indicating certain electrical events in the subject's body; characterized in that said processor means includes: (a) means for estimating the covariance matrix of random processes from the measurements by said array of electrodes; (b) means for decomposing said covariance matrix into the eigenfunction basis; (c) means for evaluating, from a partial set of said measurements for the respective subject, the coefficent of a linear combination of computed eigenfunctions; and (d) means for expanding said computed eigenfunctions to obtain a complete reconstruction of the BSPM.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, further characterized in that said electrical measuring circuit for each electrode measures only the times of crossing of the electrical signals over a preset threshold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 39 words
The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said means (d) performs said reconstruction by dividing the array of electrodes into a plurality of intermittent grids and utilizing a corresponding number of threshold levels, one for each of said grids.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said reconstruction is effected by four intermittent grids and by utilizing four threshold levels, one for each of said grids.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4665485A Cited
US4924875A Cited
US4974598A Cited
US5046504A Cited
US5146926A Cited
US5161539A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-01-15 1999-07-17 2000-01-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-01-15 2003-07-17 2004-01-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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