Heart disease detection patch
The invention provides a disposable sensor patch for the non-invasive detection of heart disease. The patch is placed on a person's chest area for automatic analysis of ECG. The heart condition is indicated via an indicator integrated within the patch. The patch is inexpensive and simple for self-administration. In one embodiment, the status of the heart is indicated via multiple LEDs. The detection and indication typically occurs, within 24 hours or sooner if a condition is readily identifiable. The patch is thin, flexible, and incorporates a battery, ECG amplifier, and a processor for analyzing ECG waveform and indicating the heart condition. A software algorithm searches for a cardiac abnormality such as arrhythmia, bradycardia, tachycardia, fibrillation, mycocardial infarction, ischemia, long-QT syndrome, blocks, late potentials, and premature contractions. In another embodiment, results and relevant ECG data are stored in memory for later retrieval.
1 . A patch for non-invasive detection of a heart condition, comprising:
means for adhering said patch to a person's chest, said person is being evaluated for a possible heart abnormality;
at least two electrodes for contacting said person's skin surface, said electrodes receiving the surface potential ECG signals;
an amplifier for amplifying said ECG signals from said electrodes;
a processor for performing analysis of said amplified ECG signals; an indicator;
a flexible substrate incorporating said amplifier, said processor, said electrodes, and said indicator; and
means for detecting a heart abnormality after analyzing said ECG signals by said processor and indicating a detected heart condition via said indicator.
2 . The patch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a battery for powering said patch.
3 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said processor analyzes said ECG signals for at least 90 seconds.
4 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said patch has a thickness of less than 3.5 mm.
5 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said patch is self applied.
6 . The patch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a flexible, electronic circuit for interconnecting electronic components within said patch to said electrodes.
7 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said electrodes are configured to obtain any of Lead-I, Lead-II, Lead-III, V 1 -lead, V 2 -lead, V 3 -lead, V 4 -lead, V 5 -lead, and V 6 -lead ECG signals.
8 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said patch is “C” shaped encompassing the person's left breast.
9 . The patch of claim 1 , comprising five electrodes and configured to obtain EASI leads.
10 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said patch is rectangular shaped.
11 . The patch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a memory for storing ECG data.
12 . The patch of claim 11 , further comprising:
means for transmitting ECG data stored in said memory to an external device.
13 . The patch of device of claim 12 , said means for transmitting ECG data comprising a transmitter element incorporated within said patch comprising any of an optical element, an RF element, an induction element and an electromagnetic element.
14 . The patch of claim 12 , further comprising:
means for activating transmission of ECG data.
15 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said indicator comprises an audio transducer.
16 . The patch of claim 1 , said indicator comprising at least one visual indicator, comprising any of, a light emitting diode (LED), a color strip element and a liquid crystal display (LCD).
17 . The patch of claim 16 , wherein said visual indicator comprises a multicolored LED.
18 . The patch of claim 1 , said substrate further comprising:
a metal foil for electromagnetic interference shielding.
19 . The patch of claim 1 , further comprising:
means for automatic powering and activation of said patch upon either of opening of a package containing said patch and placement of said patch on a person's skin.
20 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said heart condition comprises any of bradycardia, tachycardia, fibrillation, arrhythmia, normal heart function, premature contraction, late potentials, long QT syndrome, blocks and myocardial infarction.
21 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said means for detecting a heart abnormality comprises means for performing signal averaging.
22 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said means for detecting a heart abnormality comprises means for performing ST-segment analysis.
23 . The disposable patch of claim 1 , wherein said means for detecting a heart abnormality comprises means for performing QT-segment analysis.
24 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said patch operates for about 24 hours.
25 . The patch of claim 1 , wherein said patch operates for about for 48 hours.
26 . A patch for non-invasive detection of a heart condition, comprising:
means for adhering said patch is adhered to a person's chest, said person being evaluated for a possible heart abnormality;
at least two electrodes contacting said person's skin surface, said electrodes receiving a surface potential ECG signal;
an amplifier for amplifying said ECG signals from said electrodes;
a processor for performing analysis of said amplified ECG signals;
a memory;
a flexible substrate incorporating said amplifier, said processor, said electrodes, and said memory;
means for detecting a heart abnormality after analyzing said ECG signals by said processor and storing detection results in memory; and
means for transmitting heart detection results to an external device.
27 . The patch of claim 26 , further comprising:
a battery for powering said patch.
28 . The patch of claim 26 , wherein said processor analyzes said ECG signals for at least 90 seconds.
29 . The disposable patch of claim 26 , wherein said heart condition comprises any of bradycardia, tachycardia, fibrillation, a arrhythmia, normal heart function, premature contraction, late potentials, long QT syndrome, blocks, and myocardial infarction.
30 . A method of non-invasive sensing of cardiac abnormalities, comprising the steps of:
adhering a patch to a person's chest, said patch comprising within an ECG amplifier, a processor, at least two electrodes for contacting said person's skin, and an indicator;
amplifying said ECG signal from said electrodes; and
producing an amplified ECG signal;
analyzing said amplified ECG signal with said processor;
detecting a heart condition by analysis of said processor; and
indicating said heart condition via said indicator.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said heart condition is indicated after at least 90 seconds of placing said patch on said person.
32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said analyzing is up to 24 hours.
33 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said analyzing continues for a period of up to 48 hours.
34 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said heart condition comprises any of arrhythmia, bradycardia, tachycardia, fibrillation, myocardial infarction, premature contraction, normal heart function, late potentials, blocks and long QT syndrome.
35 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said step of indicating of a heart condition is performed by a visual display means comprising any of an LED and an LCD.
36 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said step of indicating of a heart condition is performed by an audible means.
37 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising the steps of:
storing ECG data obtained by said disposable patch in a memory incorporated in said patch; and
transmitting said ECG date to an external device.
38 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said disposable patch is “C” shaped encompassing the person's breast area.
39 . A method for non-invasive sensing of cardiac abnormalities, comprising the steps of:
adhering a patch to a person's chest, said patch comprising an ECG amplifier, a processor, at least two electrodes for contacting said person's skin, and a memory;
amplifying an ECG signal from said electrodes;
producing an amplified ECG signal;
analyzing said amplified ECG signal with said processor;
detecting a heart condition with said processor;
storing heart condition data in said memory; and
transmitting said heart condition data to an external device.
40 . The method of claim 39 , wherein said processor analyzes said ECG signals for at least 90 seconds.
41 . A method for non-invasive detection of an ischemic heart condition, comprising the steps of:
adhering a patch non-invasively to a person's chest, said patch comprising an ECG amplifier, a processor, at least two electrodes for contacting said person's skin, and an indicator,
amplifying an ECG signal from said electrodes;
producing an amplified ECG signal;
analyzing an ST-segment of said amplified ECG signal with said processor;
detecting an ischemic heart condition from analysis of said ST-segment; and
indicating said ischemic heart condition via said indicator.
42 . A patch for non-invasive detection of an ischemic heart condition, comprising:
means for adhering said patch to a person's chest,
at least two electrodes for said person's skin surface, said electrodes receiving a surface potential ECG signal;
an amplifier for amplifying said ECG signals from said electrodes;
a processor for performing analysis of said amplified ECG signals;
a flexible substrate incorporating said amplifier, said processor, and said electrodes; and
means for detecting an ischemic heart condition after analyzing an ST-segment of said ECG signals with said processor.
43 . The patch of claim 42 , further comprising:
a battery for powering said patch.
44 . The patch of claim 42 , wherein said processors analyzes said ST-segment of said ECG signals for at least 90 seconds.
45 . A patch for non-invasive detection of a specific heart abnormality, comprising:
means for adhering said patch to a person's chest;
at least two electrodes for contacting said person's skin surface, said electrodes receiving a surface potential ECG signal;
an amplifier for amplifying said ECG signals from said electrodes;
a processor for performing analysis of said amplified ECG signals;
a flexible substrate comprising said amplifier, said processor, and said electrodes; and
a processor implemented algorithm for detecting a specific heart abnormality after analyzing said ECG signals with said processor.
46 . The patch of claim 45 , furthering comprising:
a battery for powering said patch.
47 . The patch of claim 45 , wherein said processor analyzes said ECG signals for at least 90 seconds.
48 . A patch for non-invasive detection of a heart disease, comprising:
a “C” shaped substrate for encompassing a person's left breast said patch comprising a vertical segment along said person's sternum, an upper segment above said person's breast, and a lower segment below said person's breast; and
means for adhering said patch to said person's chest.
49 . The patch of claim 48 , further comprising:
at least five electrodes for contacting said person's skin, said electrodes receiving a surface potential ECG signal;
an amplifier for amplifying said ECG signals from said electrodes;
a processor for performing analysis of said amplified ECG signals;
said substrate comprising said amplifier, said processor, and said electrodes; and
a processor implemented algorithm for detecting a heart disease after analyzing said ECG signals with said processor.
50 . The patch of claim 48 , further comprising:
a battery for powering said disposable patch.
51 . The patch of claim 48 , wherein said processor analyzes said ECG signals for at least 90 seconds.