Portable USB ECG Acquisition Device Auto-Loading Software
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current portable ECG systems are limited by the need for pre-installed software and device drivers on host computing devices, making them non-portable and expensive to implement across multiple devices in a healthcare environment.
Innovation Solution
A portable ECG acquisition device with a USB connector, processor, storage medium, power management module, and patient isolation module that auto-loads and runs ECG monitoring software on any host device with software processing capabilities, eliminating the need for additional software installations and allowing interface with various platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current ECG systems use pre-installed software and device drivers on host computing devices, then the system can operate with specific monitoring devices, but the system becomes non-portable and expensive to implement across multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The acquisition device contains a copy of the ECG monitoring software stored in its internal memory. When connected to a host device, the software is transferred and executed on the host, eliminating the need for pre-installation on multiple different devices. This copying approach enables true portability across any computing platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The acquisition device is designed to interface with multiple types of host devices (monitors, laptops, tablets, smartphones) through a universal USB connection interface. The device automatically detects the host type and loads the appropriate software version, making it universally compatible across different platforms without requiring device-specific configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If current ECG systems require multiple licenses and installation on multiple computing devices, then each device can be optimized, but the cost increases significantly in healthcare environments
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring separate licenses and installations for each host device, the acquisition device stores a single copy of the software that can be transferred to any number of different host devices. This eliminates the need for multiple software licenses and reduces implementation costs significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The acquisition device merges the functionality of both the hardware acquisition unit and the software application into a single portable unit. This combination allows one physical device to serve multiple host devices, consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate system installations into a single cost-effective solution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the acquisition device includes complete ECG system functionality, then it becomes truly portable, but the device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ECG system is segmented into two parts: a portable acquisition device that handles only the hardware functions (ECG lead connections, signal acquisition, patient isolation), and a software application that runs on the host device. This segmentation allows the acquisition device to remain relatively simple while still providing complete ECG functionality when combined with the host device's processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The acquisition device acts as an intermediary between the patient and the host device, handling all the complex hardware tasks of ECG signal acquisition and patient safety isolation. This intermediary role allows the acquisition device to be portable without needing to include all processing functions, as it offloads those tasks to the host device through USB communication.
Data Source
AI summary
The system and method of the present application includes an ECG acquisition device having a USB connector for connecting the device to a host device and a patient connector for connecting the device to a patient with ECG leads. The ECG acquisition device of the present system further includes a processor and storage medium, a power management and brokering module, a USB communications control module, an ECG acquisition circuit, and a patient isolation module. Unlike prior art ECG acquisition systems, the system of the present application affords a truly portable ECG acquisition device that may be connected through the USB connector to any host device having software processing capabilities and a display. The ECG acquisition device auto-loads and runs ECG monitoring software onto the host device eliminating the need to install additional acquisition software and/or drivers to the host device, and allows the acquisition device to interface with a host device of varying platforms.