Abstract: Described herein are apparatuses (e.g., systems, devices) and methods for processing, distributing, and analyzing medical data. In particular, apparatuses and methods for processing and distributing tasks or jobs for completion by a qualified worker or specialist are described. Crowdsourcing data to specialists for interpretation can be accomplished using an auction system to match the specialists with discrete portions of the data. The data can be bundled based on one or more categories or characteristics, and then placed on an auction where the specialists can bid for each bundle by submitting a payment price. The data can be medical data, such as ECG data, imaging data and test data.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting, de-noising, and analyzing electrocardiogram signals. Any of the apparatuses described herein may be implemented as a (or as part of a) computerized system. For example, described herein are apparatuses and methods of using them or performing the methods, for extracting and/or de-noising ECG signals from a starting signal. Also described herein are apparatuses and methods for analyzing an ECG signal, for example, to generate one or more indicators or markers of cardiac fitness, including in particular indicators of atrial fibrillation. Described herein are apparatuses and method for determining if a patient is experiencing a cardiac event, such as an arrhythmia.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods (including methods of using such apparatuses) for de-noising electrocardiograms (ECGs) by manually or automatically adjusting the amount of filtering of an ECG signal. For example, real-time ECG signals may be filtered by combining in a weighted fashion an unfiltered portion of an ECG (or a filtered portion of the same ECG) with the same portion of the ECG that has been filtered. The weighting may be adjusted manually and/or automatically. Also described herein are methods for real-time filtering of ECG signals using a combination of filtering techniques including filtering to correct baseline wander, Savitzky-Golay denoising, and threshold smoothing. Multiple filtering techniques may be combined in a weighed manner to provide signal de-noising.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices and methods for guiding placement of electrodes, and particularly ECG electrodes on a patient. A picture of the patient's body the patient can be analyzed to determine where on the patient's body to place electrodes according to a predetermined, conventional or standard placement pattern. The methods, devices and systems may then guide a user in positioning or correcting the position of electrodes on the patient. For example, an image of the patient may be provided showing the correct position of the electrodes, which may act as a patient-specific map or guide. The electrode placement positions can correspond to conventional or standard 12-lead ECG electrode positions.

Abstract: A battery-powered supplemental alert generator is disclosed that is adapted to be mounted in close proximity to, such as within 3 or 4 feet of, a conventional smoke, heat and/or fire detector/alert device. The supplemental alert generator operates in a relatively low power mode while listening for the nearby detector/alert device to generate a standard audible alert signal. Upon detecting that a monitored sound level has reached a particular threshold, the supplemental alert generator enters into a higher power analysis mode in which it analyzes the detected signal to assess whether it is an audible alert signal. If an audible alert signal is detected, the supplemental alert generator generates one or more supplemental alert signals, such as a 520 Hz audible square wave signal. The supplemental alert generator may be used to retrofit a house, hotel, or other building to comply with new standards or to otherwise increase the effectiveness of the existing detection/alert system.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, systems, and software for monitoring blood pressure. In some embodiments, a using a mobile device is used. The blood pressure monitoring system utilizes heart rate measurements at two separate locations on the body to calculate a differential pulse arrival time which is used to estimate blood pressure. The heart rate measurements can be taken simultaneously, or they can be taken sequentially while simultaneously taking ECG measurement. If taken sequentially, the heart rate measurements are aligned with the ECG to determine the differential. Accurate, inexpensive, and discreet blood pressure monitoring is thus provided.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for measuring an electrocardiogram (ECG) or other cardiac parameters with an attachable monitoring device. The attachable monitoring device may be coupled to a wearable monitoring device or wearable monitoring devices. Sensor electrodes are built into the main body of the attachable monitoring device to sense a biometric parameter of a user.

Abstract: A dashboard centered around arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation tracking is provided. The dashboard includes a heart or cardiac health score that can be calculated in response to data from the user such as their ECG and other personal information and cardiac health influencing factors. The dashboard also provides to the user recommendations or goals, such as daily goals, for the user to meet and thereby improve their heart or cardiac health score. These goals and recommendations may be set by the user or a medical professional and routinely updated as his or her heart or cardiac health score improves or otherwise changes. The dashboard is generally displayed from an application provided on a smartphone or tablet computer of the user.

Abstract: A dashboard centered around arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation tracking is provided. The dashboard includes a heart or cardiac health score that can be calculated in response to data from the user such as their ECG and other personal information and cardiac health influencing factors. The dashboard also provides to the user recommendations or goals, such as daily goals, for the user to meet and thereby improve their heart or cardiac health score. These goals and recommendations may be set by the user or a medical professional and routinely updated as his or her heart or cardiac health score improves or otherwise changes. The dashboard is generally displayed from an application provided on a smartphone or tablet computer of the user.

Abstract: Described herein are apparatuses (e.g., devices, systems, software), and methods for monitoring the cardiac health of a patient. The apparatuses and methods may include a smartphone or hand held computing device having an accelerometer. The apparatus may also include a device with a plurality of electrodes integral with or attached to the smartphone. The devices can be placed on a patient's chest to measure electrical signals and vibrations on the chest caused by the heartbeat. The measurements can generate a seismocardiogram (SCG) and in some variations an electrocardiogram (ECG). The apparatuses and methods can analyze the data in the SCG to produce a measure of the cardiac function. Changes in such measures can provide an early warning for potential cardiac problems and signal the need for the patient to seek treatment prior to a fatal cardiac event.

Abstract: A shield can inhibit transfer of microbes and bodily fluids from a first side to a second side of the shield, while allowing an ECG device adjacent the first side of the shield to sense separate electrical potentials on skin adjacent the second side. The shield comprises a flexible sheet with a first electrically conductive portion and a second electrically conductive portion; the first and second electrically conductive portions are separated from one another by an electrically insulating portion.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for sensing an electrocardiogram (ECG) of a subject using an ECG module that may removably connect to a mobile telecommunications device through a base unit, and which may further then wirelessly communicate with the mobile telecommunications device.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods (including methods of using such apparatuses) for de-noising electrocardiograms (ECGs) by manually or automatically adjusting the amount of filtering of an ECG signal. For example, real-time ECG signals may be filtered by combining in a weighted fashion an unfiltered portion of an ECG (or a filtered portion of the same ECG) with the same portion of the ECG that has been filtered. The weighting may be adjusted manually and/or automatically. Also described herein are methods for real-time filtering of ECG signals using a combination of filtering techniques including filtering to correct baseline wander, Savitzky-Golay denoising, and threshold smoothing. Multiple filtering techniques may be combined in a weighed manner to provide signal de-noising.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for measuring and monitoring biometric or physiological parameters in a user-friendly and convenient manner are disclosed. Relevant physiological parameters of the user may be measured as the user normally operates a computing device or other hand-operated or hand-held device. These parameters are measured using an accessory of the device such as a laptop case, a tablet computer case, a smartphone case, or a smart watch or smart armband. The accessory may include at least two or three electrodes for taking an electrocardiogram or other physiological parameters. The measured parameters are transmitted to the computing device. The computing device can be normally used while a physiological parameter monitoring and measurement application loaded onto the computing device operates in the background to receive the measured parameters.

Abstract: Various inventive features are disclosed for efficiently generating regulation-compliant audible alerts, including but not limited to 520 Hz square wave alert/alarm signals, using an audio speaker. One such feature involves the use of a non-linear amplifier in combination with a voltage boost regulator to efficiently drive the audio speaker. Another feature involves speaker enclosure designs that effectively boost the output of the audio speaker, particularly at relatively low frequencies. Some of the disclosed speaker enclosure designs rely on an interference effect and/or a resonance effect to transfer energy from higher-order harmonics downward to the fundamental frequency and lower-order harmonics. These and other features may be used individually or combination in a given alarm-generation device or system to enable regulation-compliant audible alerts to be generated using conventional batteries, such as AA alkaline batteries.

Abstract: Described herein are apparatuses (e.g., systems, devices) and methods for processing, distributing, and analyzing medical data. In particular, apparatuses and methods for processing and distributing tasks or jobs for completion by a qualified worker or specialist are described. Crowdsourcing data to specialists for interpretation can be accomplished using an auction system to match the specialists with discrete portions of the data. The data can be bundled based on one or more categories or characteristics, and then placed on an auction where the specialists can bid for each bundle by submitting a payment price. The data can be medical data, such as ECG data, imaging data and test data.

Abstract: A battery-powered supplemental alert generator is disclosed that is adapted to be mounted in close proximity to, such as within 3 or 4 feet of, a conventional smoke, heat and/or fire detector/alert device. The supplemental alert generator operates in a relatively low power mode while listening for the nearby detector/alert device to generate a standard audible alert signal. Upon detecting that a monitored sound level has reached a particular threshold, the supplemental alert generator enters into a higher power analysis mode in which it analyzes the detected signal to assess whether it is an audible alert signal. If an audible alert signal is detected, the supplemental alert generator generates one or more supplemental alert signals, such as a 520 Hz audible square wave signal. The supplemental alert generator may be used to retrofit a house, hotel, or other building to comply with new standards or to otherwise increase the effectiveness of the existing detection/alert system.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, apparatuses, and systems for heart monitoring of a patient. The heart monitoring system can be used to take an electrocardiogram (ECG) using only two electrodes. A handheld device can be used to sequentially measure the electrical signal between different positions on a patient's body. The electrical signals can be processed and analyzed to prepare an ECG for the patient, including a 12-lead ECG.

Abstract: Described herein are apparatuses (e.g., devices, systems, software), and methods for monitoring the cardiac health of a patient. The apparatuses and methods may include a smartphone or hand held computing device having an accelerometer. The apparatus may also include a device with a plurality of electrodes integral with or attached to the smartphone. The devices can be placed on a patient's chest to measure electrical signals and vibrations on the chest caused by the heartbeat. The measurements can generate a seismocardiogram (SCG) and in some variations an electrocardiogram (ECG). The apparatuses and methods can analyze the data in the SCG to produce a measure of the cardiac function. Changes in such measures can provide an early warning for potential cardiac problems and signal the need for the patient to seek treatment prior to a fatal cardiac event.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices and methods for guiding placement of electrodes, and particularly ECG electrodes on a patient. A picture of the patient's body the patient can be analyzed to determine where on the patient's body to place electrodes according to a predetermined, conventional or standard placement pattern. The methods, devices and systems may then guide a user in positioning or correcting the position of electrodes on the patient. For example, an image of the patient may be provided showing the correct position of the electrodes, which may act as a patient-specific map or guide. The electrode placement positions can correspond to conventional or standard 12-lead ECG electrode positions.