Smartphone ECG Heart Attack Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting acute myocardial infarctions and sudden cardiac deaths are inadequate, as they often fail to provide early warnings, are not portable, or require surgical implantation, limiting their accessibility and effectiveness in promptly alerting individuals to impending heart attacks.
Innovation Solution
A device and method utilizing a smartphone-based system for real-time ECG monitoring, which processes electrical heart signals to detect morphological changes such as ST-segment deviations and T-wave alterations, providing alerts for imminent cardiac events through a user-friendly interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If implantable devices are used to monitor ST-elevation or depression, then early detection capability is improved, but device complexity and invasiveness increase requiring surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ECG monitoring function from invasive implantable devices and implements it through a portable external device that can be placed on the skin. This removes the need for surgical implantation while maintaining the ability to monitor ST-segment changes and detect heart attacks early.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a portable copy of the monitoring functionality that can be used outside the hospital setting. The external device replicates the detection capabilities of implantable monitors but without requiring surgical installation, making it accessible to the general public.
2Measurement precision
If 12 lead ECG machines are used, then measurement precision is improved, but portability deteriorates as they are not portable and mostly available in hospital settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential ECG monitoring functionality from the bulky 12-lead machine and implements it in a portable device. This maintains the ability to perform comprehensive ECG analysis while enabling use in various locations including homes and mobile settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable device is designed to perform multiple functions including ECG acquisition, real-time analysis, and communication capabilities in a single integrated system. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate hospital equipment while maintaining measurement precision.
3Ease of operation
If Holter machines are used for monitoring, then portability is improved, but real time prediction capability deteriorates as they have no real time prediction capability to forewarn an impending heart attack
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by continuously analyzing ECG signals in real-time to detect early signs of heart attack before they become critical. The system identifies ST-segment changes and other precursors that indicate an impending cardiac event, providing advance warning while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor ECG parameters and immediately alert users when abnormal changes are detected. This closed-loop system provides continuous real-time prediction capability while maintaining the portability of the Holter machine format.
4Ease of operation
If contemporary monitoring solutions are used, then portability is improved, but detection capability deteriorates as they can detect only simple arrhythmias and cannot detect impending heart attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the monitoring parameters from simple RR interval measurements to comprehensive ECG morphology analysis including ST-segment, T-wave, and QRS complex characteristics. This enhanced parameter analysis enables detection of impending heart attacks while maintaining the portable design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates multiple detection algorithms and analysis methods into a unified portable device. By combining various signal processing techniques and morphological analysis approaches, the device achieves comprehensive heart attack detection capability while maintaining portability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables early detection and classification of cardiac abnormalities, reducing the time to medical intervention and improving clinical outcomes by providing accurate, portable, and user-friendly alerts for potential heart attacks.
Implementation Method 1
an ECG sensor for acquiring an ECG signal representing a heart beat cycle of a patient heart
Implementation Method 2
a signal processor for using the received sampled data in determining a first ECG morphological signal over a plurality of heart cycles
Implementation Method 3
identifying a change in ST slope (ST deviation) or T wave (T wave deviation), and correlating the change in the ST slope or T wave to an imminent cardiac event
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection is disclosed herein. The device and method analyze and characterize cardiac electrophysiological signals which help in the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in advance of a heart attack.