US6490479B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Atrial fibrillation detection method and apparatus
Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 2000-12-28
•
Granted: 2002-12-03
•
Expires: 2020-12-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus to detect irregular heart activity based upon a ventricular activity analysis, P wave activity, similarities in R wave to R wave intervals, and a state evaluation. The invention includes a beat classification module that receives ECG information as an input. The beat classification module determines whether the heart beat being analyzed falls within classifications that are suitable for use in analyzing whether an irregular condition exists. If the beat falls within a class suitable for analysis, the ECG information is fed to an interval calculator. The interval calculator determines the interval between successive R waves. The information from the interval calculator is provided to a probability engine and to a contextual analysis module. The probability engine is designed to detect atrial fibrillation based upon beat classification and RR interval values from the interval calculator. The probability engine outputs a state variable that indicates a probability of whether an irregular condition is present. The contextual analysis module matches predefined maps to a running map of the current ECG information. The contextual analysis module also determines the similarity between consecutive RR intervals and checks for sequences of matching classes. ECG information is also supplied to a P wave detection module to detect the presence of P waves. Information from the probability analysis engine, the contextual analysis module, and the P wave detection module is then provided to a state evaluation module. The state evaluation module uses the outputs of the three modules to determine whether an irregular condition exists.
Inventors
- 👤 Elizabeth Anne Bock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/02; A61B5/024; A61B5/02405; A61B5/24; A61B5/316; A61B5/318; A61B5/346; A61B5/349; A61B5/361; A61B5/72; A61B5/7235; A61B5/7264; G; G16; G16H; G16H50/00; G16H50/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An arrhythmia detection apparatus comprising: a beat classification module having an input to receive ECG information; an interval calculator coupled to the beat classification module and operable to calculate an interval between recurring events; a probability engine coupled to the interval calculator and operable to output a state variable; a contextual analysis module coupled to the interval calculator and operable to match predefined maps to a current beat map and to generate a contextual output; a P wave detection module coupled to the beat classification module and operable to produce a detection output; and a state evaluation module coupled to the probability engine, the contextual analysis module, and the P wave detection module and operable to determine an arrhythmia condition based on the state variable, the contextual output, and the detection output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
An arrhythmia detection apparatus comprising: a beat classification module having an input to receive ECG information; an interval calculator coupled to the beat classification module and operable to calculate an interval between recurring events; a probability engine coupled to the interval calculator and operable to output a state variable; a contextual analysis module coupled to the interval calculator and operable to match predefined maps to a current beat map and to generate a contextual output; a P wave detection module coupled to the beat classification module and operable to produce a detection output; and a state evaluation module coupled to the probability engine, the contextual analysis module, and the P wave detection module and operable to determine an arrhythmia condition based on the state variable, the contextual output, and the detection output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interval calculated by the interval calculator is an interval between successive R waves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the probability engine implements an HMM analysis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the probability engine is operable to classify intervals between recurring events using prematurity ratio thresholds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the P wave detection module implements a sixth difference analysis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the state evaluation module is operable to generate output in the form of alarm information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the state evaluation module delays the output of alarm information until an alarm condition has existed for a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the state evaluation module is operable to generate output in the form of trend information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contextual analysis module includes a buffer of interval values.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the contextual analysis module generates the contextual output based on a percentage of similarity of the intervals.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of detecting an arrhythmia from ECG information, the method comprising: classifying the ECG information; determining intervals between recurring events in the ECG information; determining a probability that an irregular condition exists based on classifying the ECG information and determining an interval between recurring events; generating a state variable based upon the determined probability; generating a contextual output based on similarities in intervals between recurring events; determining the presence of a P wave in the ECG information; generating a detection output based on determining the presence of a P wave; and determining the existence of the irregular condition based on the state variable, the contextual output, and the detection output.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of detecting an arrhythmia from ECG information, the method comprising: classifying the ECG information; determining intervals between recurring events in the ECG information; determining a probability that an irregular condition exists based on classifying the ECG information and determining an interval between recurring events; generating a state variable based upon the determined probability; generating a contextual output based on similarities in intervals between recurring events; determining the presence of a P wave in the ECG information; generating a detection output based on determining the presence of a P wave; and determining the existence of the irregular condition based on the state variable, the contextual output, and the detection output.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein classifying ECG information includes detecting and correlating beats based on morphology.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein generating a state variable based upon the determined probability includes using a lookup table.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein determining a probability that an irregular condition exists includes maintaining a plurality of structures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein generating a contextual output includes matching predefined maps to a current map of the ECG information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein generating a contextual output includes performing a percent similarity test.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein determining the presence of a P wave includes calculating sixth differences of the ECG information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
131 words
A physiological condition detection apparatus comprising: a classification module having an input to receive physiological information; an interval calculator coupled to the classification module and operable to calculate intervals between recurring events; a probability engine coupled to the interval calculator and operable to output a state variable; a contextual analysis module coupled to the interval calculator and operable to generate a contextual output based on the classification of the physiological information and the intervals between recurring events; a wave detection module coupled to the classification module and operable to produce a detection output; and a state evaluation module coupled to the probability engine, the contextual analysis module, and the wave detection module and operable to determine a physiological condition based on the state variable, the contextual output, and the detection output.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
131 words
A physiological condition detection apparatus comprising: a classification module having an input to receive physiological information; an interval calculator coupled to the classification module and operable to calculate intervals between recurring events; a probability engine coupled to the interval calculator and operable to output a state variable; a contextual analysis module coupled to the interval calculator and operable to generate a contextual output based on the classification of the physiological information and the intervals between recurring events; a wave detection module coupled to the classification module and operable to produce a detection output; and a state evaluation module coupled to the probability engine, the contextual analysis module, and the wave detection module and operable to determine a physiological condition based on the state variable, the contextual output, and the detection output.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the interval calculated by the interval calculator is an interval between successive waves.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the probability engine implements an HMM analysis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the probability engine is operable to classify intervals between recurring events using prematurity ratio thresholds.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the wave detection module implements a sixth difference analysis.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the state evaluation module is operable to generate output in the form of alarm information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the state evaluation module delays the output of alarm information until an alarm condition has existed for a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the state evaluation module is operable to generate output in the form of trend information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the contextual analysis module includes a buffer of interval values.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the contextual analysis module generates the contextual output based on a percentage of similarity of the intervals.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of analyzing physiological information, the method comprising: classifying the physiological information; determining intervals between recurring events in the physiological information; determining a probability that an irregular condition exists based on classifying the physiological information and determining an interval between recurring events; generating a state variable based upon the determined probability; generating a contextual output based on similarities in intervals between recurring events; determining the presence of a predetermined wave in the physiological information; generating a detection output based on determining the presence of a predetermined wave; and determining the existence of the irregular condition based on the state variable, the contextual output, and the detection output.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of analyzing physiological information, the method comprising: classifying the physiological information; determining intervals between recurring events in the physiological information; determining a probability that an irregular condition exists based on classifying the physiological information and determining an interval between recurring events; generating a state variable based upon the determined probability; generating a contextual output based on similarities in intervals between recurring events; determining the presence of a predetermined wave in the physiological information; generating a detection output based on determining the presence of a predetermined wave; and determining the existence of the irregular condition based on the state variable, the contextual output, and the detection output.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein classifying the physiological information includes detecting and correlating beats based on morphology.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein generating a state variable based upon the determined probability includes using a lookup table.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein determining a probability that an irregular condition exists includes maintaining a plurality of structures.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein generating a contextual output includes matching predefined maps to a current map of the physiological information.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein generating a contextual output includes performing a percent similarity test.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein determining the presence of a predetermined wave includes calculating sixth differences of the physiological information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5423863A
Cited
US5456261A
Cited
US6178347B1
Cited
US6226599B1
Cited
US5840038A
Cited
US6269263B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-02 | 2006-06-03 | 2006-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-02 | 2010-06-03 | 2010-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-02 | 2014-06-03 | 2014-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |