Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing external magnetic fields in implantable medical devices are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus for sensing magnetic fields. An apparatus embodiment includes a sensing circuit with at least one inductor having a magnetic core that saturates in the presence of a magnetic field having a prescribed flux density. The apparatus embodiment also includes an impedance measuring circuit connected to the sensing circuit. The impedance measuring circuit is adapted to measure impedance of the sensing circuit and to provide a signal when the impedance changes by a prescribed amount. According to an embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit. The impedance measuring circuit includes a transthoracic impedance measurement module (TIMM), according to an embodiment. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: A system for synchronizing application of treatment signals with a cardiac rhythm is provided. The system includes a memory that receives and stores a synchronization signal indicating that a predetermined phase such as R-wave of a cardiac rhythm of a patient has started. A synchronization module analyzes whether the stored synchronization signal is erroneous and if so, prevents a medical treatment device from applying a treatment energy signal such as an IRE pulse to a patient to take into account an irregular heart beat and noise in the synchronization signal in order to maximize safety of the patient.

Abstract: Components of wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) systems, software, and methods are provided. A WCD system includes a support structure that a patient can wear and electrodes that can capture at least two of the patient's ECG signals. A component includes an energy storage module that can store an electrical charge, a discharge circuit, and a processor that can make a shock/no shock determination, and cause the discharge circuit to discharge the stored charge, if the determination is to shock. In some embodiments, the processor discards at least one of the ECG signals prior to making the shock/no shock determination. The determination can be made from the remaining one or more ECG signals. In some embodiments, the processor makes an aggregate shock/no shock determination from two or more of the ECG signals.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for quantifying the quality of a fiducial time marker for a candidate heart beat, quantifying the quality of a candidate heart beat, or determining a time of beat sequence of the patient's heart. A fiducial time marker is obtained for a candidate heart beat. A quality index of said candidate heart beat is set to a first value. The candidate heart beat is tested with at least one beat validity test. At least a second value is added to said quality index of said candidate heart beat if said candidate heart beat passes said at least one beat validity test. The candidate heart beat is tested with at least a second heart beat validity test. At least a third value is added to said quality index of said candidate heart beat if said candidate heart beat passes said at least second heart beat validity test.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus combine a calculation of chaos of a quantifiable cardiac characteristic associated with a patient with a measurement of a non-increasing parasympathetic activity of the patient to detect a physiological abnormality of the patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a target physiologic event and storing physiologic information associated with the detected physiologic event are disclosed. A system can receive a physiologic signal obtained from a subject, and detect the target physiologic event using a first portion of the received physiologic signal. The system can confirm the target physiologic event using a second portion of the received physiologic signal. If the target physiologic event is confirmed, the system can store physiologic information associated with the confirmed target physiologic event in a memory.

Abstract: A system and associated method is disclosed for determining whether signal is valid. The system comprises an electrode apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to be located proximate tissue of a patient. A display apparatus comprising a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to present information to a user. A computing apparatus coupled to the electrode apparatus and display apparatus, wherein the computing apparatus is configured to determine whether a signal acquired from a channel associated with an electrode from the plurality of electrodes is valid and sufficiently strong by i) calculating a first derivative of the signal; ii) determining a minimum and maximum derivative from the first derivative; iii) determining whether signs of the minimum and maximum derivative are different; and in response to determining whether the signs of the minimum and maximum derivative are different, displaying on a display apparatus whether the signal is valid.

Abstract: In certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for detecting liveness of a user during biometric authentication. The method comprising identifying a speech signal in a pre-determined time interval associated with the speech signal. Furthermore, the method comprising determining a speech respiration co-occurrence (SRC) score associated with the speech signal. In addition, the method comprising detecting liveness of the user, if the SRC score is above a predefined threshold, wherein the detection of liveness further aids in increasing the security of biometric authentication system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided that identifies the presence or absence of a P-wave within a set of ECG data. A computation processor identifies the R-wave and then analyses a section of the waveform within a predetermined time window preceding the detected R-wave peak. The waveform within the window is analysed to identify a candidate P-wave, and in response to identifying the candidate P-wave a first and second feature associated therewith is measured. A composite feature value is calculated from the first and second measures, and compared to a classification threshold value. In an exemplary embodiment, the first feature represents a height between a highest peak of the candidate P-wave and a trough of the Q-wave, and the second feature represents a time between the peak of the candidate P-wave and a peak of the R-wave.

Abstract: The temporal correlation between a bioelectrical brain signal of a patient and patient motion data, such as a signal indicative of patient motion or a patient posture indicator, is displayed by a display device. In some examples, the patient posture indicator comprises a graphical representation of at least a portion of a body of the patient. In some examples, the temporal correlation between a bioelectrical brain signal, a signal indicative of patient motion, and a signal indicative of cardiac activity of the patient is displayed by the display device.

Abstract: Heart condition and function can be quantified using repolarization measures and/or repolarization indices derived from a time-frequency transform of an electrocardiogram, e.g., based on points in time associated with the T wave. The electrocardiograms, time-frequency maps derived therefrom, and/or indices obtained by analysis of the time-frequency maps and electrocardiograms may be assembled into a user interface. Further embodiments are described.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a respiratory measurement module measures a first signal related to a respiratory fluctuation of the user. A body movement measurement module measures a second signal related to a movement of a trunk of the user. A respiration detector detects whether or not the user is in a respiratory arrest state, based on the measured first signal measured. A body movement detector detects whether or not the trunk of the user is moving, based on the measured second signal. An estimation module estimates a respiratory state of the user, based on a detection result by the respiration detector and a detection result by the body movement detector. An output module outputs respiratory state information indicating the estimated respiratory state.

Abstract: In embodiments, a wearable cardiac defibrillator system includes an energy storage module configured to store a charge. Two electrodes can be configured to be applied to respective locations of a patient. One or more reservoirs can store one or more conductive fluids. Respective fluid deploying mechanisms can be configured to cause the fluids to be released from one or more of the reservoirs, which decreases the impedance at the patient location, and decreases discomfort for the patient. In some embodiments an impedance is sensed between the two electrodes, and the stored charge is delivered when the sensed impedance meets a discharge condition. In some embodiments, different fluids are released for different patient treatments. In some embodiments, fluid release is controlled to be in at least two doses, with an intervening pause.

Abstract: A user terminal device, and a method of controlling a user terminal device are discussed. The user terminal device includes an ear accessory of the user terminal device including a first electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode contacted with an ear of a user, a second ECG electrode contacted with a hand of the user, and a first speaker configured to output an audio signal; a display; and a controller configured to display, on the display, bio information based on a first ECG signal from the first ECG electrode when the ear of the user is contacted with the first ECG electrode, and control an audio playback in response to a second ECG signal from the second ECG electrode when the hand of the user is contacted with the second ECG electrode.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus, including a display control section which determines which display layers out of a plurality of mutually overlapping display layers information is to be displayed on based on parameters associated with the information.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for greater mapping resolution and location precision has a basket-shaped, high density electrode assembly for large-area mapping, and an integrated distal tip providing an array of ultra-high density microelectrodes for acute focal mapping. The basket-shaped electrode assembly 18 has a plurality of electrode-carrying spines and the distal tip has a nonmetallic, electrically insulating substrate body with indentations in which microelectrodes are positioned in a manner that the outer surface is generally flush with the outer surface of the substrate body to present a generally smooth, atraumatic distal tip profile.

Abstract: An improved playground system is disclosed. A playground toy incorporates a wireless transceiver and a motion sensor. Based on the level of activity monitored by the motion sensor, the wireless transceiver transmits a message to smart devices, such as smart phones or wearable computers that causes an augmented reality avatar for the playground toy to transform. When additional activity is noted, additional messages causing additional avatar transformations can be sent.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for estimating blood constituent concentration of a user under low perfusion conditions using a spectrophotometry-based monitoring device; the method comprising: measuring a plurality of photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals; measuring a cardio-synchronous (CV) signal; detecting an instantaneous heart rate and determining a heart rate variability from the CV signal; selecting reliable projected PPG signals; estimating a value of said blood constituent concentration from the magnitude of said reliable projected PPG signals. The disclosed method requires diminished computational load compared to conventional methods based on frequency domain approach as FFT or DCT. The disclosure also pertains to a monitoring device for estimating blood constituent concentration in tissue under low perfusion of a user.

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: A biopotential signal acquisition system, comprising: a first active electrode including an integrated pre-amplifier and an analogue to digital converter; a second active electrode including an integrated pre-amplifier and an analogue to digital converter, wherein the second active electrode has variable gain; a test signal generator for generating a test signal at a test frequency and coupling the test signal to the first and/or second active electrodes; and a digital signal processor configured to: process the digital outputs of the first and second active electrodes to derive a gain control signal based on a difference between the first and second active electrode outputs at the test frequency, and apply the gain control signal to the second active electrode. The disclosure also relates to an electronic circuit or device and a biopotential signal acquisition method.

Abstract: Method including detecting low user dynamics by a first MEMS sensor is provided. A first sensor determines sampling rate value corresponding to the low user dynamics. The first sensor sampling rate value is less than a second sensor sampling rate value corresponding to high user dynamics. A sampling rate of a second MEMS sensor is adjusted to the first sensor sampling rate value.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a hospital patient's risk of mortality includes collecting data from physiologic signals generated by patient monitors, physiologic signals of organ function, and demographic information for a patient. A measure of the variability of at least one of the physiologic signals is determined. Data and the measure of variability are analyzed to determine whether a value for a particular physiologic or demographic variable falls within a critical interval for the variable that indicates that the value is predictive of mortality or survival. Each time a value for a physiological or demographic variable for the patient falls within a critical interval, the occurrence of an event for the patient is recorded. The number of events for the patient is counted over a time period. Output perceptible by human user that indicates the patient's risk of mortality or likelihood of survival is generated based on the count.

Abstract: A biological information monitoring system includes: a measuring circuitry configured acquire information on a potential difference between two first electrodes that is placed on a first thorax of a user, wherein the first thorax is in a symmetric position to a second thorax that is positioned at the same side as a heart of the user; a detection circuitry configured to detect a plurality of S wave peaks based on the information on the potential difference to generate time-series information on the plurality of S wave peaks; and a processing circuitry configured to determine respiratory information on the user based on the time-series information on the plurality of S wave peaks, and to output the respiratory information as biological information.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems of using wavelet transform in a dual-track architecture to process ECG signals of patients and reference ECG signals of previously studied subjects to assess the cardiovascular health of the patients. The dual-track architecture refers to running wavelet transform on the ECG signals of the patients and the reference ECG signals to extract and analyze 2-dimensional time-domain signal characteristics of the ECG signals, and to build and analyze a 3-dimensional model of frequency-domain and time-domain information of the ECG signals. The characteristics of the ECG signals of the patients and the reference ECG signals may be compared and used to identify a cardiovascular disease of the patient or to recommend follow-up tests. The results of the comparison may also be used to configure the ECG device used to acquire the ECG signals of the patient and/or to optimize the parameters of the 2-D/3-D analysis.

Abstract: Devices and methods for detecting a physiological target event such as events indicative of HF decompensation status are described. An ambulatory medical device is configured to determine the presence and timing of a confounding event, segment a sensed physiological signal into at least two data segments, adjust the physiological signal by removing or lessening the impact of the confounding event on the physiological signal. The adjusted data can be presented to the user, and the ambulatory medical device can detect the target events using the adjusted physiologic signal. In some embodiments, the ambulatory medical device can be configured to detect an event indicative of HF decompensation using a physiological signal and the information of the detected confounding event.

Abstract: Methods are provided for non-invasive early screening of a subject for a neurodegenerative disorder, by analyzing one or more parameters associated with the neurodegenerative disorder.

Abstract: An external defibrillator estimates the phase of ventricular defibrillation (VF) by deriving, from an ECG exhibiting VF, at least one quality marker representing the morphology of the ECG and, therefore, the duration of the VF. The duration of the VF is calculated as a function of the value (s) of the quality marker (s). The quality marker (s) may comprise any one or more of the median slope of the ECG, the average slope of the ECG, the ratio of the power in relatively high and low frequency bands of the ECG, and a measure of the density and amplitude of peaks in the ECG, over a predetermined period.

Abstract: A vital-signs patch in a patient monitoring system is disclosed. The patch includes a housing configured to be attached to the skin of a patient, the housing containing a radio that can selectably transmit and receive on more than one frequency and a processor. The processor configures the radio to transmit and receive on a determined frequency based at least in part on the level of noise detected on the frequencies.

Abstract: Physiological monitoring can be provided through a lightweight wearable monitor that includes two components, a flexible extended wear electrode patch and a reusable monitor recorder that removably snaps into a receptacle on the electrode patch. The wearable monitor sits centrally (in the midline) on the patient's chest along the sternum oriented top-to-bottom. The placement of the wearable monitor in a location at the sternal midline, with its unique narrow “hourglass”-like shape, significantly improves the ability of the wearable monitor to cutaneously sense cardiac electrical potential signals, particularly the P-wave and, to a lesser extent, the QRS interval signals indicating ventricular activity in the ECG waveforms.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a medical condition using a mobile computing device are provided. In some aspects, a computer receives sound measurements generated at a microphone. The computer receives thorax movement measurements recorded by a motion measurement unit in parallel with recording the sound measurements at the microphone. The computer determines a relationship between the sound measurements and the thorax movement measurements. The computer determines a medical condition based on the relationship between the sound measurements and the thorax movement measurements. The computer provides an output representing the medical condition.

Abstract: Methods, devices, control modules, and computer readable media are provided for managing acute and chronic pain in subjects. More specifically, a method is provided for reducing pain in a subject that includes delivering to the subject a series of stimuli consisting of both painful and non-painful stimuli. A portion of each of the painful and the non-painful stimuli is delivered to the subject during a systolic phase of the subject's cardiac cycle and the remaining portion of each of the painful and the non-painful stimuli is delivered during a diastolic phase of the subject's cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A wearable electrocardiogram measurement device and a method for compressing an electrocardiogram are disclosed. A heart detection unit detects a heart activity status of a human body to obtain electrocardiogram data. A processor of a portable host proceeds with bandwidth decomposition and quantization by using quantization scales to obtain quantized results. An integer part of each quantized result is set as a quantized datum. A decimal portion of each quantized result is set as a truncated error datum. Each quantization scale is multiplied by a corresponding truncated error datum to obtain a product. If a distortion value obtained by adding the products fulfills a distortion default value range, the quantized data are encoded to obtain compressed electrocardiogram data for storage in a data storage unit of the host. If the distortion value does not fulfill the distortion default value range, an adjustment step is repeated.

Abstract: A medical device coupled to extracardiac electrodes is configured to analyze a cardiac electrical signal over a signal analysis segment to determine if shockable rhythm classification criteria are met, determine that TWOS detection criteria are met for the signal analysis segment when a predetermined number of TWOS analysis windows are classified as TWOS, and classify the signal analysis segment as non-shockable in response to determining that the TWOS detection criteria are met.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the impedance of the plurality of channels comprising a plurality of channels having a plurality of first channels and a plurality of second channels, at least one reference channel, a signal generator electrically connected to the plurality of channels, a reference signal generator connected to the reference channel, at least one amplifier connected to each of the plurality of channels and the reference channel and at least one filter connected to an output of the at least one amplifier to filter the output signal from the at least one amplifier. The signal generator is configured to provide a plurality of input signals to the plurality of channels. The reference signal generator provides an input signal to the reference channel.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively generating a report of cardiac electrical activities of a subject includes determining, using cardiac electrical activation information, equivalent current densities (ECDs). The ECDs are assembled into time-course ECD information and a spectrum of the time-course ECD information is analyzed to determine peaks for spectral characteristics of atrial fibrillation (AF). The spectral characteristics of AF are correlated with potential electrical sources of the AF and a report is generated indicating the potential electrical sources of the AF spatially registered with the medical imaging data.

Abstract: A method is based on first projection data, recorded during a relative rotational movement between an x-ray source of a CT device and at least one examination object lying partly outside the field of view of the CT device. Contour data of the surface of the examination object is useable to enhance the reconstruction of the incomplete first projection data. The spatial correlation between the first projection data and the contour data is known. The first projection data is expanded by way of the contour data to modified projection data, so that the modified projection data includes information about the contour of the examination object lying outside the field of view of the CT device. In an embodiment of the inventive reconstruction of image data by way of the modified projection data, fewer or no artifacts occur by comparison with reconstruction of image data from just the first image data.

Abstract: A technique for real-time removal of power line interference (PLI) in electrocardiograms (ECG) with sampling rate a relevant integer multiple of the nominal power line frequency (NPLF), comprising band-pass PLI filtering of the ECG, determining expedient weights and weighted Least-Squares parabolic approximating downsampled to the NPLF series of band-pass PLI filtered values. The disclosed technique utilizes only integer arithmetic, includes pre-adjusting for the routine ECG sampling rates, causes negligible ringing and is still accurate in the common occurrences of PLI with deviating from the nominal 60 or 50 Hz frequency and varying amplitude.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to medical devices, particularly to drawer-type paper tray structures for loading paper into electrocardiograph machines. A paper tray structure provided comprises a paper tray and a door component. The door component comprises a door located in front of the paper tray. The door component is connected to the paper tray movably and is configured to move repeatedly between a first position and a second position relative to the paper tray; the paper tray comprises a first restriction surface and a second restriction surface corresponding to the first and second positions respectively.

Abstract: A patient's response to anti-arrhythmic drug changes can be monitored using cardiac activity information, such as using cardiac electromechanical time intervals adjusted for heart rate. A cardiac electromechanical time interval can include an R-S2 interval or an S2-R interval. Tracking changes in cardiac electromechanical time intervals adjusted for heart rate can be used to provide information about a patient, including anti-arrhythmic drug effect information and patient condition information.

Abstract: A method and system for electrocardiographic monitoring includes receiving cardiac signals recorded from electrodes attached to a patient according to a known electrode configuration and determining the known electrode configuration. The cardiac signal is then automatically analyzed based on the alternative electrode configuration. In one embodiment, the method includes acquiring a cardiac signal through electrodes connected to the patient according to a known electrode configuration and analyzing the cardiac signal to detect whether the known electrode configuration deviates from a standard 12 lead ECG configuration. If a deviation is detected, then an estimated electrode configuration is determined for the electrodes connected to the patient and the estimated electrode configuration is presented to a user.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a heart rate detection method used in an earphone and an earphone capable of detecting heart rate. The method comprises: providing a cavity inside the earphone, and installing a microphone in the cavity; providing an acceleration sensor in the earphone; performing self-adaptive filtering process on signals collected by the acceleration sensor, and obtaining estimated signals of the signals generated by body movement of a wearer in the signals collected by the microphone; subtracting the estimated signals from the signals collected by the microphone to obtain signals related to heart rate; and detecting heart rate according to the signals related to heart rate. The technical scheme of the invention adopts an enclosed cavity to place the microphone to reduce interference of external noises and reinforce signal information collected by the microphone.

Abstract: A medical device is configured to receive at least two physical cardiac electrical signals from a patient's heart via electrodes defining at least two physical sensing vectors. The medical device determines a signal feature for each of a plurality of virtual sensing vectors extending at a plurality of angles relative to one of the at least two physical sensing vectors during a known cardiac rhythm, compares the determined signal features and establishes criteria for confirming a suspected condition in response to the comparing.

Abstract: A system for visually rendering an elongate medical device in a body is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit configured to find a measured physical location for each of a plurality of position sensors on the elongate medical device. The electronic control unit is further configured to apply a spline function to each of the measured physical locations to determine a display location for each position sensor. The electronic control unit is further configured to interpolate between display locations of adjacent position sensors to identify display locations for portions of the elongate medical device between adjacent position sensors. The electronic control unit is further configured to generate image data for display of an image of the elongate medical device including the display locations of the position sensors and the display locations of the portions of the elongate medical device between adjacent position sensors.

Abstract: In accordance with the techniques for heart monitoring described in this disclosure, an implantable medical device (IMD) may assess cardiac wall motion using impedance measurements through cardiac leads. As an example, the IMD may calculate an amount or rate of change in impedance due to the motion of a wall of the heart during at least a portion of one cardiac cycle, e.g., systole, in order to assess the strength of systolic contraction.

Abstract: Detection of R-peak signal in an electrocardiogram signal is provided. An electrocardiogram signal representing heart activity of an individual is received. The electrocardiogram signal is sampled to obtain a plurality of sample points, and a bounded non-linear response value is computed for each sample point of the received signal by calculating a negative exponential of derivatives of the sample points.

Abstract: Implantable medical device systems and methods configured to use a detection profile selected from among a plurality of detection profiles to define a detection threshold for identifying cardiac events, in which a close call definition is used to determine which of the plurality of detection profiles is to be chosen. Upon identifying a close call, in which an overdetection nearly occurred but did not actually take place, a relatively less sensitive detection profile is chosen.

Abstract: A heart rate meter and a method thereof are provided. The method is adopted by a sensing circuit of a heart rate meter, wherein the sensing circuit includes a pulse sensor and a proximity sensor. The method includes: determining whether the sensing circuit is close to a neighboring object according to a proximity output signal of the proximity sensor; determining whether the sensing circuit is hung in the air according to a direct current (DC) output signal of the pulse sensor; and when the sensing circuit is close to the neighboring object and is not hung in the air, determining that the measuring circuit can measure an electrocardiographic signal of the neighboring object.

Abstract: A computer-assisted method for quantitatively characterizing atrial fibrillation in a patient includes recording time series of bipolar atrial fibrillation signals at multiple sites in a patient's atria using two or more electrodes, calculating a similarity index vector by a computer system based on the bipolar atrial fibrillation signal between a first site and its neighboring sites, constructing an similarity-index vector field based on similarity-index vectors at different sites, calculating Curl and Divergence of the similarity-index vector field, calculating Rotor Identification using Curl and Divergence, calculating Focal Identification using Divergence, and determining one or more critical regions in the patient's atria if Rotor Identification is above a first predetermined threshold and Focal Identification is above a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system for non-invasively monitoring a stress level of a subject is presented. A sensor is configured to monitor an attribute of the subject. A housing is configured to removably attach to the subject, the housing includes a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor is configured to retrieve data from the sensor, and use the data retrieved from the sensor to determine a stress level of the subject.

Abstract: Devices and methods obtain and use endovascular electrograms in a number of clinical applications and settings. In one embodiment, a method for locating an indwelling medical device within a vasculature of a patient includes identifying an endovascular ECG waveform complex from an endovascular ECG signal associated with the indwelling medical device, then calculating an absolute value of the energy of the endovascular ECG waveform complex over a predetermined segment thereof. A position of the medical device within the vasculature is then determined by observation of the absolute value of the energy of the predetermined segment of the endovascular ECG waveform complex.