Device for magnetic and optical stimulation of the cardiac system

Abstract

A system and method for identifying and modulating electromagnetic activity of a patient's heart includes a sensor array, a controller, software, and a stimulator array. The sensor array includes one or more sensors, such as ECG electrodes, that detect electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart. The sensor array is in data communication with the controller. The controller executes software that outputs human readable sensor data provided by the sensor array. The software receives data from the controller, analyzes the data, presents the data to a user, and transmits the data to the stimulator array via a data communication link. The stimulator array includes one or more electromagnets and at least one or more light emitting diodes. The stimulator array emits electromagnetic (and / or light wave) fields to modulate the electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart based on data it receives from the controller. The system can be portable.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates generally to the real-time sensing and measurement of electromagnetic fields generated by a patient's heart, and the simultaneous generation and application of electromagnetic and / or light wave fields to the patient's body and cardiac region based on the real-time measured cardiac electromagnetic activity for the purpose of affecting the efficiency of physiological processes and organ function.

[0002] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following description is merely illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure, which may be applied in various ways to provide many different and alternative embodiments. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the inventive teachings of the present disclosure, and is not intended to be limiting to the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

[0003] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the drawings, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0004] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an electromagnetic stimulation device in accordance with an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a flow chart of a method of the present invention in one embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a graph of an ECG tracing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0005] The drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain cases, details may be omitted that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that would otherwise obscure other details. Of course, it should be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0006] Detailed Description The present invention provides its benefits across a wide range of fields of activity. It is the intention of the applicant that the specification and claims appended hereto be given a scope consistent with the scope and nature of the disclosed invention, even if the specification and claims appended hereto may appear to be in restrictive language, which may be necessary due to the need to refer to the specific examples disclosed. Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the system is disclosed for the purpose of illustrating the nature of the invention, so that those skilled in the relevant art to which the invention is most closely related can understand it. Exemplary methods for installing, assembling and operating the system are described in detail according to the preferred embodiment, and no attempt is made to describe all of the various forms and variations in which the invention may be practiced. Therefore, the embodiments described herein are illustrative and can be modified in various ways within the scope and spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, which is defined by the appended claims, and not by the specifics set forth herein.

[0007] The following description provides detailed descriptions of many different embodiments, the legal scope of which is defined by the language of the claims set forth at the end of this disclosure. The detailed descriptions are to be construed as examples only and do not describe all possible embodiments, since describing each and every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments can be realized using either current technology or technology devised after the filing date of this patent, and are also within the scope of the claims.

[0008] It should also be understood that unless a term is expressly defined herein, there is no intention to limit the meaning of the term beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, either explicitly or implicitly, and such term should not be construed as being limited in scope based on any statement made anywhere in this patent document (except the language of the claims). If any term in the claims at the end of this patent document is used in accordance with its sole meaning in this patent document, this is done solely for clarity, to avoid confusion for the reader, and such claim term shall not be limited, implicitly or otherwise, by its sole meaning. Finally, the scope of any claim element is not intended to be construed under the application of 35 U.S.C. 112(f), except where the claim element is defined by specifying the word "means" and a function without any structure being recited.

[0009] Electromagnetic Stimulator Detection, Measurement, and Output System With reference to Figure 1, the present invention contemplates an electromagnetic sensing, measurement, and output system. In some embodiments, the sensing, measurement, and output system is configured to be non-invasively attached to a patient and includes a sensor array 101, a controller 102, software 103, a stimulator array 104, and a power source. In some embodiments, the sensor array 101 includes one or more sensors, including, for example, ECG electrodes.

[0010] In some embodiments, the sensor array 101 is configured to detect electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart and transmit signals to the controller 102 via a data communication link. The controller 102, running software 103, is configured to receive signals from the sensor array 101 and convert the signals into digitally readable data. The software 103 is configured to receive data from the controller 102, analyze the data, visually present the data to a user in a human readable format, and transmit the data to the stimulator 104 via a data collection link. In some embodiments, the stimulator array 104 includes at least one or more electromagnets. In some embodiments, the stimulator array 104 includes at least one or more light emitting diodes. In some embodiments, the light emitting diodes can emit light between visible light and infrared light. In some embodiments, the electromagnets and light emitting diodes of the stimulator array 104 emit electromagnetic fields (including light stimulation in some embodiments) that affect the electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart.

[0011] As shown, the sensor array 101 can include one or more sensors configured to detect electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart. The controller 102 is used to convert the sensor array data into readable data and convert the readable data into software 103. The controller 102, e.g., a desktop computer, is used to execute the software 103. The software program 103 is used to visually present the data to a user and, in some embodiments, to transmit the data over a data communication link to the stimulator array 104. The stimulator array 104 is used to generate electromagnetic fields (including, in some embodiments, optical stimulation) to alter the electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart. The data communication link can include, for example, Ethernet, USB, PCI, Bluetooth, or wireless.

[0012] The present invention also contemplates a portable form of the device in which the sensor array 101, controller 102, software 103, stimulator array 104, and power source are all integrated within a housing. In some embodiments, the portable version of the invention is the size of a fist. The power source may include, for example, an AC adapter, a wall adapter, a battery, or a rechargeable battery.

[0013] Methods for sensing, measuring, and outputting with an electromagnetic stimulation device In some embodiments, the sensor array 101 continuously monitors and captures the electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart in real time via at least one or more ECG electrodes. The sensor array 101 transmits the electromagnetic activity data to the controller 102, which then provides the data to the software 103, which analyzes and records the measured electromagnetic data. This allows a user to analyze and detect the electromagnetic activity of the patient's signals.

[0014] Upon activation of the device, the sensor array 101 begins measuring the electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart. The electromagnetic activity measured by the sensor array 101 is transmitted via a data communication link to the controller 102 running the software 103. The controller 102 converts the electromagnetic activity detected by the sensor array 101 and converts it into a digital form readable by the software 103. The software 103 analyzes the electromagnetic activity and displays it as a graphical report to the user. Based on the sensor data received from the controller 102, the stimulator array 104 emits an electromagnetic field that affects the electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart. In some embodiments, based on the graph from the electromagnetic activity data, the user can determine through observation how to proceed with the recharging process and / or whether the recharging process is complete.

[0015] In some embodiments, the data in the software 103 can be post-processed and the program can incorporate feedback that loops back to the stimulator array 104 to correct, modulate, or enhance the electromagnetic activity of the patient's signal.

[0016] The controller 102 automatically determines in real time the internal electrophysiological state of the heart and thus the value or new value of the electromagnetic field naturally generated and transmitted through the patient's body, Bion(β). Bion(β) represents the force moment, which is a measure of the average efficiency of all biochemical processes occurring in the heart. Bion(β), the force moment, is calculated by dividing the sum of the amplitudes of the QR+RS and ST waves (measured in mV), which represent the total global potential activity, by a corrected time, tQTc. The corrected time tQTc avoids the effects of changes in heart rate modulated by respiration, medication, or pathological conditions. The equation defining this relationship can therefore be expressed as follows, where vQR is the charging potential, vRS is the discharging potential, vST is the recharging potential, and the corrected time tQTc is calculated by dividing the time tQT by the square root of the interval tRR, where tRR is the duration of a complete ECG cycle (the same point in the ECG recording). FIG. 3 is an ECG tracing illustrating the origin of these values, and the value β is calculated as follows:

number

[0017] The value of Bion's force moment β determines the electromagnetic field generated by the stimulator array 104.

[0018] Description of computing environment The controller 102 can also be connected to any external computing device, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, or other computing or mobile device capable of reading and / or recording data regarding the system, device, location, and / or equipment, etc. The controller 102 can also be connected to any external computing device, including any server computer, desktop computer, laptop computer, or other device capable of storing and managing data communication by and between one or more sensors of the sensor array 101 and the stimulus array 104.

[0019] In some embodiments, the controller 102 includes a processing system, a storage system, software, a communication interface, and a user interface. The processing system loads and executes software, including software 103, from the storage system, including software modules. When executed by the controller 102, the software modules direct the processing system to receive data, images, devices, locations, and / or equipment, etc. Such data may include any of the information previously described, including, but not limited to, the functionality described herein. Additionally, the controller 102 includes a communication interface, which may be further configured to send data to and receive data from the controller 102.

[0020] The controller 102 includes a processing system, which may include a microprocessor and other circuitry that reads and executes software from the storage system. The processing system may be implemented in a single processing device, or may be distributed across multiple processing devices or subsystems that cooperate to execute program instructions. Examples of processing systems include general purpose central processing units, special purpose processors, logic devices, as well as any other type of processing device, combination of processing devices, or variations thereof. The storage system may include any storage medium that is readable by the processing system and capable of storing software. The storage system may include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any other method or technology for storing information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. The storage system may be implemented as a single storage device, or across multiple storage devices or subsystems. The storage system may include additional elements that may communicate with the processing system.

[0021] The application interface may include a data input and a visual display. In one example, the data input may be used to collect information and data input from a user. It should be understood that although the controller 102 is illustrated as a system, the system may include one or more systems for data collection.

[0022] The controller 102 includes a processing system, a storage system, software, and a communication interface. The processing system loads and executes software from the storage system, including software modules 103. When executed by the controller 102, the software modules 103 instruct the processing system to store and manage data.

[0023] A processing system may include a microprocessor and other circuitry that reads and executes software from a storage system. A processing system may be implemented in a single processing device, or may be distributed across multiple processing devices or subsystems that cooperate to execute program instructions. Examples of processing systems include general purpose central processing units, special purpose processors, logic devices, as well as any other type of processing device, combination of processing devices, or any variation thereof.

[0024] A storage system may include any storage medium that is readable by a processing system and capable of storing software and data from a computing device. Data from a computing device may be stored as a word, excel, or any other form of digital file. A storage system may include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any other method or technology for storing information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. A storage system may be implemented as a single storage device, but may also be implemented across multiple storage devices or subsystems. A storage system may include additional elements, such as a controller, that may be in communication with a processing system.

[0025] Examples of storage media include random access memory, read-only memory, magnetic disks, optical disks, flash memory, virtual and non-virtual memory, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and that can be accessed by an instruction execution system, as well as combinations or variations thereof, or any other type of storage media. In some implementations, the storage media may be non-transitory storage media. In some implementations, at least a portion of the storage media may be transitory. In any case, the storage media is not a propagating signal.

[0026] In some examples, the controller 102 may include a user interface. The user interface may include a mouse, a keyboard, a voice input device, a touch-based input device that receives gestures from a user, a motion input device that detects non-contact gestures and other movements by a user, and other equivalent input devices and associated processing elements capable of receiving user input from a user. Graphical displays, speakers, printers, tactile devices, and other types of input devices may also be included in the user interface. User input and output devices are well known in the art and need not be discussed at length here.

[0027] The included description and drawings show specific implementations to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the best mode. Some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted for the purpose of teaching the principles of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations from these implementations will occur to them and are within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the features described above can be combined in various ways to form multiple implementations. As a result, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but only by the claims and their equivalents.

[0028] The foregoing discussion of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. For example, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires any features other than those expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the following claims, inventive aspects lie in some of all features of an embodiment disclosed therein. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Further, while the disclosure includes one or more embodiments and descriptions of certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, for example, the use of certain components described above alone or in combination with other components may comprise a system, but in other aspects, the system may also be a combination of all of the components described herein in a different order than that used to convey the novel aspects of the disclosure. Other variations and modifications may be part of the skill and knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art upon apprehension of this disclosure. This method of disclosure is intended to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternative, interchangeable, and / or equivalent structures, functions, ranges, or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternative, interchangeable, and / or equivalent structures, functions, ranges, or steps are disclosed herein, without the intention of publicizing any patentable subject matter.

Claims

1. 1. A method for identifying and modulating an electromagnetic field in a patient's heart, comprising: providing a sensor array, a controller, software, and a stimulator array, the sensor array including one or more sensors configured to detect electromagnetic fields in a patient's heart; establishing a communication link between the sensor array and the controller; receiving, by the controller, one or more signals corresponding to the one or more sensors; converting, at the controller, the one or more signals into sensor data; executing software on the controller, the software displaying the sensor data in a human readable format, the sensor data corresponding to an electromagnetic field of the patient's heart; The controller calculates the cardiac force moment, β, value according to the formula: [Equation 1] Calculating and executing according to transmitting the sensor data from the controller to the stimulator array; emitting an electromagnetic field from the stimulator array to the patient's heart, the emitted electromagnetic field relating to the sensor data collected by the sensor array; A method comprising:

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes at least one or more ECG electrodes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulator array includes at least one electromagnet.

4. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulator array includes at least one light emitting diode.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the light emitting diode emits light between visible and infrared light.

6. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a communications link between the controller and the stimulator array, and transmitting, through the software, a feedback signal from the controller to the stimulator array to modulate electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the software enables post-processing of sensor data.

8. The method described in claim 1, wherein the state of the electromagnetic field of the patient's heart identified by the one or more sensors is readable through one or more output graphs.

9. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the emitted electromagnetic field from the stimulator array affects electromagnetic activity of a patient's heart.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value of the moment of force determines an electromagnetic field emitted by the stimulator array.

11. 1. A system for identifying and modulating cardiac electromagnetic activity of a patient, comprising: a sensor array, a controller, software, a stimulator array, a power supply, Including, the sensor array includes one or more sensors configured to detect electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart; the sensor array is in communication with the controller, the controller being configured to convert signals received from the one or more sensors and convert the signals into sensor data; the controller executing software configured to output the sensor data received from the controller to enable a user to read the electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart via the one or more sensors; The controller calculates the cardiac force moment, β, value according to the formula: [Equation 2] Calculate according to the system.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes at least one or more ECG electrodes.

13. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the stimulator array includes at least one electromagnet.

14. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the stimulator array includes at least one light emitting diode.

15. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is in communication with the sensor array and configured to send feedback signals to the stimulator array to modulate electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart.

16. The system described in claim 11, wherein the state of the electromagnetic field of the patient's heart identified by the one or more sensors is readable through one or more output graphs.

17. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the stimulator array emits an electromagnetic field that affects electromagnetic activity of the patient's heart, the value of the emitted electromagnetic field being determined by the value of the moment of force.

18. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor array, controller, software, stimulator array, and power source are in a single integrated portable housing.

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