Cardiovascular Early Warning Score Using Trained Classifiers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Early detection and diagnosis of cardiac deterioration are often delayed due to the complexity of existing medical tests and the lack of trained cardiologists in initial assessments, leading to potential life-threatening events.

Innovation Solution

A patient monitor system that includes sensors for vital signs, a microprocessor, and a cardiovascular early warning scoring method, which classifies cardiovascular deterioration using trained classifiers for various types of cardiac issues, providing early warning scores on a display component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If specialized medical tests are used to diagnose cardiac deterioration, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but detection timing is delayed until advanced stages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoiddetection timing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessment using multiple classifiers (myocardial ischemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, systolic heart failure, diastolic heart failure) before specialized tests are ordered. This early classification enables timely intervention while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through trained algorithms that analyze vital signs and ECG data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The diagnostic process is segmented into multiple specialized classifiers, each trained to detect specific types of cardiac deterioration. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different deterioration mechanisms, enabling comprehensive assessment without delaying detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If multiple specialized classifiers are used to classify different types of cardiovascular deterioration, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclassification accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex diagnostic task is divided into separate specialized classifiers for different cardiac deterioration mechanisms (myocardial ischemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, systolic heart failure, diastolic heart failure). Each classifier focuses on specific patterns, improving accuracy while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patient monitor system performs multiple functions: it collects vital signs, processes ECG data, runs multiple specialized classifiers, and generates comprehensive diagnostic assessments. This multi-functionality consolidates complex operations into a single integrated system rather than requiring separate devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of time

If early diagnostic tools are deployed, then detection timing is improved, but ease of operation decreases due to interpretation difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection timingVSAvoidinterpretation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-interpreitation through trained classifiers that automatically analyze vital signs and ECG data to generate diagnostic classifications. This eliminates the need for operators to manually interpret complex medical data, making early detection accessible to non-cardiologists while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The trained classifiers act as intermediaries between raw medical data and clinical decision-making. These algorithms translate complex physiological data into interpretable diagnostic classifications, bridging the gap between sophisticated early detection capabilities and ease of use by general practitioners.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3280319B1Cardiovascular deterioration warning score
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP3280319B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3280319B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3280319B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A patient monitor (12) includes a display (14) and sensors (20, 22, 24) reading vital signs of a human subject. In a cardiovascular early warning scoring (cEWS) method, the human subject is classified using a plurality of cardiovascular deterioration classifiers (52, 152, 54, 56, 58) each trained respective to a different type of cardiovascular deterioration. The cardiovascular deterioration classifiers operate on a set of inputs characterizing the human subject including the at least one cardiovascular parameter (42) and the at least one respiratory parameter (44), such as tidal volume read by an airflow sensor (24). The cardiovascular early warning scores for the different types of cardiovascular deterioration are outputted on the display of the patient monitor. An empirical myocardial ischemia classifier (52) may be combined with at least one additional ischemia score generated by applying a set of rules (160) or a physiological model (162).