Abstract: An apparatus and method for signal transmission with isolation in medical devices. Data signals, such as patient measurement data and medical instrumentation control signals are converted to dynamic signals which are transmitted on power lines through an isolation module, such as a transformer. The dynamic signals are then converted to data signals having a voltage based on the frequency of the dynamic signals.

Abstract: A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection includes an interface for receiving an electrical signal comprising a pressure indicative waveform indicating a heart blood pressure of a patient over a heart beat cycle. A timing detector determines multiple different time periods in at least one heart cycle from the pressure indicative waveform. A patient monitor monitors the multiple different time periods and in response to detection of a variation in at least one of the multiple different time periods exceeding a predetermined threshold or range, generates an alert message associated with the variation.

Abstract: An ultrasound image acquisition device initiates acquisition of anatomical images of a portion of patient anatomy in response to a heart rate related synchronization signal. The ultrasound image acquisition device includes multiple ultrasound transducers for generating sound waves. The ultrasound transducers are arranged in different transducer groups oriented to enable acquisition of different ultrasound imaging information used in generating a single composite ultrasound image. A synchronization processor derives the heart rate related synchronization signal from a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter. The synchronization signal enables adaptive activation of a particular group of the different transducer groups for acquisition of ultrasound imaging information used in generating the single composite ultrasound image. A display processor presents the single composite ultrasound image, acquired by the ultrasound image acquisition device, to a user on a reproduction device.

Abstract: A system for heart performance characterization receives an electrical signal indicating heart electrical activity of a patient over a heart beat cycle. The electrical signal is acquired at a particular anatomical location. A gating signal generator generates a gating signal for use in identifying a particular portion of the heart beat cycle. An acquisition device, responsive to the gating signal, derives first and second voltage potentials from the received electrical signal. The first voltage potential comprises a voltage potential derived over a time period comprising a heart beat cycle and the second voltage potential comprises a voltage potential derived over a time period comprising a particular portion of the heart beat cycle. A computation processor derives a dynamic impedance representative value by adjusting a baseline impedance value by a ratio of the first and second voltage potentials.

Abstract: A system uses non-invasive laser, ultrasound or electro-magnetic monitoring, to derive CO/SV, CO/SV deviation, and related cardiac function parameters. The non-invasive system determines cardiac stroke volume and includes an input processor for receiving determined values provided using a measurement processor. The determined values comprise, a blood vessel internal diameter and rate of flow of blood through the blood vessel in a heart cycle. A computation processor calculates a vessel stroke volume comprising volume of blood transferred through the blood vessel in a heart cycle using the measured blood vessel internal diameter and the rate of flow of blood. The computation processor determines cardiac stroke volume by determining a factor for use in adjusting the vessel stroke volume to provide a cardiac stroke volume and adjusting the vessel stroke volume using the determined factor to provide the cardiac stroke volume.

Abstract: A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection, includes an acquisition device for acquiring an electrophysiological signal representing a heart beat cycle of a patient heart. A detector detects multiple parameters of the electrophysiological signal comprising at least one of, (a) amplitude, (b) time duration, (c) frequency and (d) time-frequency, representative parameters. A signal analyzer calculates at least one ratio of the detected parameters from ratios including, (i) ratio of T wave amplitude to P wave amplitude, (ii) ratio of time duration of ST wave to time duration of PR wave, (iii) ratio of a frequency of a PR wave to a frequency of a RT wave and (iv) ratio of a time-frequency measure of a PR wave to a time-frequency measure of a RT wave. A comparator determines whether a calculated ratio exceeds a predetermined upper limit threshold or a predetermined lower limit threshold.

Abstract: A method and system for atrial fibrillation analysis, characterization, and mapping is disclosed. A finite element model (FEM) representing a physical structure of a heart is generated. Electrogram data can be sensed at various locations in the heart using an electrophysiology catheter, and the electrogram data is mapped to the elements of the FEM. Function parameters, which measure some characteristics of AF arrhythmia, are then simultaneously calculated for all of the elements of the FEM based on the electrogram data mapped to the elements of the FEM. An artificial neural network (ANN) can be used to calculate the function parameters.

Abstract: A patient monitoring signal processing system adaptively varies medical signal data rate. The system uses an analog to digital converter for digitizing an analog cyclically varying input signal derived from a patient in response to a sampling clock input. The sampling clock determines frequency of analog to digital sampling of the analog input signal by the analog to digital converter. A detector detects first and second different signal portions within a cycle of the cyclically varying input signal.

Abstract: A cardiac functional analysis system reconstructs a 3D anatomical image volume using image frames acquired at predetermined cardiac phases over multiple cardiac cycles in response to a trigger derived from hemodynamic signals. A medical imaging system generates 3D anatomical imaging volume datasets from acquired 2D anatomical images. The system includes an image acquisition device for acquiring 2D anatomical images of a portion of patient anatomy in selectable angularly variable imaging planes in response to a synchronization signal derived from a patient blood flow related parameter. A synchronization processor provides the synchronization signal derived from the patient blood flow related parameter. An image processor processes 2D images acquired by the image acquisition device of the portion of patient anatomy in multiple different imaging planes having relative angular separation, to provide a 3D image reconstruction of the portion of patient anatomy.

Abstract: A system provides a high quality, and intuitive multi-band filter that adapts when noise frequencies or noise amplitudes change. A system for adaptively filtering patient monitoring signals, comprises a filter controller for adaptively determining the number of, and individual filter bandwidth of, multiple adaptive signal filters to be used in filtering multiple bandwidths within an encompassing signal filtering bandwidth. The filter controller does this in response to, (a) noise data indicating noise source frequencies and (b) configuration data determining medical signal or noise source characteristics, to provide programming data for programming a plurality of adaptive signal filters. The system includes multiple adaptive signal filters individually having a filtering bandwidth and filtering characteristic programmable in response to received programming data. A noise detector automatically identifies a noise component in a received patient monitoring signal and generates the noise data.

Abstract: A system employs non-uniform and nonlinear patient monitoring signals in automatically adaptively varying image resolution, image scanning frequency and acquisition speed and gates and synchronizes the image scanning and acquisition of an imaging system. A system acquires medical images of patient anatomy using a trigger generator. The trigger generator generates a trigger signal comprising a non-periodic sequence of pulses in a first signal portion within individual heart beat cycles. The first signal portion is periodically repeated for multiple sequential individual heart beat cycles. An image acquisition device acquires multiple images of a patient anatomical portion in response to corresponding multiple individual pulses of the non-periodic sequence of pulses. A display processor presents acquired images on a display for review by a user.

Abstract: A medical imaging system adaptively acquires anatomical images. The system includes a synchronization processor for providing a heart rate related synchronization signal derived from a patient cardiac function blood flow related parameter. The synchronization signal enables adaptive variation in timing of acquisition within successive heart cycles of each individual image frame of multiple sequential image frames. An image acquisition device initiates acquisition of anatomical images of a portion of patient anatomy in response to the synchronization signal. A display processor presents images, acquired by the acquisition device and synchronized with the synchronization signal, to a user on a reproduction device. The image acquisition device adaptively selects image pixel resolution of individual image frames of the multiple sequential image frames in response to data identifying a heart cycle segment so that successively acquired image frames have different image pixel resolution within a single heart cycle.

Abstract: A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection includes an acquisition device for acquiring an electrophysiological signal representing heart beat cycles of a patient heart. A detector detects one or more parameters of the electrophysiological signal of parameter type comprising at least one of, (a) amplitude, (b) time duration, (c) peak frequency and (d) frequency bandwidth, of multiple different portions of a single heart beat cycle of the heart beat cycles selected in response to first predetermined data. The multiple different portions of the single heart beat cycle being selected from, a P wave portion, a QRS complex portion, an ST segment portion and a T wave portion in response to second predetermined data. A signal analyzer calculates a ratio of detected parameters of a single parameter type of the multiple different portions of the single heart beat cycle.

Abstract: A system analyzes and characterizes cardiac electrophysiological signals by determining instantaneous signal entropy for identifying and characterizing cardiac disorders, differentiating cardiac arrhythmias, determining pathological severity and predicting life-threatening events. A system for heart monitoring, characterization and abnormality detection, includes an acquisition device for acquiring an electrophysiological signal representing a heart beat cycle of a patient heart. A signal processor derives an entropy representative value of the acquired electrophysiological signal within a time period comprising at least a portion of a heart beat cycle of the acquired electrophysiological signal and provides an entropy value as a function of the entropy representative value and the time period. A comparator generates data representing a message for communication to a destination device in response to the entropy value exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system provides early prediction of heart tissue malfunction and electrophysiological pathology by determining anatomical tissue impedance characteristics for use in medical patient monitoring and treatment decision making. At least one repository of data indicates multiple predetermined expected impedance value ranges for corresponding multiple impedance measurements taken at multiple particular different sites of at least one anatomical organ. An impedance measurement processor automatically determines whether multiple measured impedance values taken at multiple particular different sites of an anatomical organ using an invasive catheter are within corresponding multiple predetermined expected impedance value ranges derived from the at least one repository. An output processor automatically communicates data comprising at least one message to a destination.

Abstract: A medical signal interface device bidirectionally conveys signals between a patient and patient monitoring devices. The device comprises a bidirectional electrical signal interface that receives and buffers patient parameter monitoring signals received from a patient via patient attached leads and outputs treatment related signals used in applying invasive or non-invasive treatment to a patient. A bidirectional electrical signal processor operates in response to commands received from a control processor and is coupled to the electrical signal interface, for processing received patient parameter monitoring signals using filtering and amplification to provide processed patient monitoring signals for output to at least one patient monitoring device. The bidirectional electrical signal processor processes the treatment related signals for output by buffering the treatment related signals for output to a patient.

Abstract: A system determines electrical status of patient attached leads in medical patient monitoring. The system includes a repository of data indicating multiple predetermined impedance value ranges and corresponding associated lead status information of at least one electrical lead attached to a patient for conducting electrical signals for use in patient monitoring. An impedance measurement processor automatically successively determines whether an impedance value of a particular patient attached lead of multiple electrical leads attached to a patient is within a particular impedance value range of multiple predetermined impedance value ranges. An output processor automatically communicates data comprising a message identifying an electrical status of a particular lead of the multiple electrical leads by deriving status information from the repository in response to a determination the impedance value of the particular patient attached lead is within the particular impedance value range.

Abstract: Methods for identifying and extracting heart depolarization and repolarization in a paced heart. Certain methods also include identifying and analyzing particular features of at least one pacing spike and QRS waveform for heart beat characterization. These features may include signal changing speed and signal time interval (distance) of pacing spikes and QRS depolarization when pacing excitation is initialized.

Abstract: An interventional system integrates a laser optical cooling unit into a medical catheter device for treating coronary artery disease (CAD) to safely steer and control cardiac tissue temperature and thermal patterns to prevent cardiac disease, tissue damage and myocardial ischemia or infarction, for example. An interventional system provides tissue ablation and cooling using a catheterization device. The catheterization device for internal anatomical insertion includes, a laser light emitting node for optical cooling of anatomical tissue, an ablation node for use in surgical removal of anatomical tissue and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor senses temperature of anatomical tissue for use in regulating heating and cooling of tissue resulting from use of the ablation node and the laser light emitting node.

Abstract: A system provides synchronization between different medical signal (e.g., EKG and ICEG signal) acquisition and processing devices. A system synchronizes multiple different patient medical parameter processing devices, using a master clock generator. The master clock generator is adaptively programmable to provide synchronization clocks having frequencies compatible with multiple different medical devices for acquiring patient medical parameter data and for synchronization of processing of medical parameter data concurrently acquired from a single particular patient. The master clock generator is programmed by dividing a clock signal to provide a desired clock frequency in response to received frequency selection command data.