Abstract: A wireless stethoscope is described, having wireless sensors that are enclosed in disposable pads so that the same pads are not used on more than one patient, preventing cross-infection of patients associated with conventional stethoscopes. The present wireless stethoscope also detects pulmonary sounds and cardiac sounds, allowing the user to monitor one or the other without interference. Also described is a method for diagnosing a pulmonary condition using the wireless stethoscope.

Abstract: Systems and methods include obtaining a measure of cardiac contractility. A cardiac contractility variability is determined from the measure of cardiac contractility. Analyzing the cardiac contractility variability, an indication of cardio-vasculature health is provided.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system provides for ambulatory monitoring of hemodynamic performance based on quantitative measurements of heart sound related parameters for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Monitoring of such heart sound related parameters allows the cardiac rhythm management system to determine a need for delivering a therapy and/or therapy parameter adjustments based on conditions of a heart. This monitoring also allows a physician to observe or assess the hemodynamic performance for diagnosing and making therapeutic decisions. Because the conditions of the heart may fluctuate and may deteriorate significantly between physician visits, the ambulatory monitoring, performed on a continuous or periodic basis, ensures a prompt response by the cardiac rhythm management system that may save a life, prevent hospitalization, or prevent further deterioration of the heart.

Abstract: A device for converting acoustic data collected by a stethoscope into digital data for transmission to a processor for storage and/or comparison with data stored in a database, and to optionally provide computer generated suggestions for diagnosis, is provided in the form of an in-line device interposable between a head of the stethoscope and an acoustic transmission portion of the stethoscope, or is integral with the head, and advantageously has the appearance of an icon of pleasing appearance, for example, a butterfly, in which are incorporated the structural requisites of a functioning stethoscope and/or capabilities for receiving and transmitting to a diagnostician, audio signals gathered from patient examination, and optionally also other data collected at examination and/or following the examination. The butterfly-shaped device, includes a central body advantageously serving as a conduit for transmitting sound received from the patient to the physician or a remote system for analysis and diagnosis.

Abstract: An apparatus including a main processing unit. The apparatus further including a precordial patch coupled to the main processing unit, the precordial patch having a plurality of sensors for detecting heart sounds and cardiac electrical signals (ECG). The apparatus further including a probe coupled to the main processing unit, the probe having a sensor for detecting oxygen saturation of blood circulating through a human. A method is further described including simultaneously measuring and analyzing heart sounds, cardiac electrical signals (ECG) and oxygen saturation of blood circulating through a human. The method further includes performing an algorithm to determine the presence of a significant congenital heart disease and displaying management recommendations based on results of the algorithm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating a surgical guidewire. The apparatus comprises a chuck for selectively coupling motive force to a surgical guidewire and an actuator, coupled to the chuck, for imparting an axial motive force to the chuck. Embodiments of the invention further comprise a method of using the apparatus.

Abstract: An implantable medical device that includes a first elongated lead body having an outer surface and an opening along the outer surface, a sensor positioned along the lead body and configured to receive acoustic signals through the opening of the first lead body and generate an electrical signal representative of sounds produced at a targeted location along a patient's cardiovascular system. A therapy delivery module is capable of delivering a cardiac therapy via predetermined electrodes of a plurality of electrodes, and a processor is configured to detect a cardiac event in response to the sensed cardiac electrical signals, determine a plurality of time intervals between the electrical signals and acoustic signals, determine a correlation between the electrical signals and the acoustic signals, and control the therapy delivery module to deliver therapy in response to the determined correlation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus including medical devices having features for monitoring sounds and motions indicative of a state of health or administration of CPR to a subject. In one embodiment, a therapeutic device such as a therapy electrode comprises a layer configured to deliver a therapy to a subject and an acoustic sensor on the therapeutic device and coupled to the layer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for quantitative and qualitative determination of heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and central fluid volume. Phonocardiography based technique using multiple transducers and multi-sensor processing algorithms provides a non-invasive method of evaluating the output of the heart. This basic system coupled with additional sensor elements provides a wide range of potential capabilities. A system comprising these techniques in a wearable form provides a non-invasive method of determining hydration status and blood volume status. Phonocardiography augmented with multi-sensor signal processing techniques improves signal quality to analyze heart sounds and associated features (e.g. S1 and S2, amongst others). Noise compensation and cancellation techniques for phonocardiography further improve signal to noise ratio to reject external disturbances.

Abstract: Disclosed are patient health systems and methods for transmission of patient health data from a patient data collection system to a provider analysis system. The patient health system include the patient data collection system coupled to a communications network and located proximate a patient, for collecting patient physiological data. The patient health system further includes the provider analysis system coupled to the communications network and located remote from the patient data collection system. The patient data collection system includes a patient data collection device couple to a patient work station. The patient work station is configured to transmit patient physiological data upon a determination that the communications network is reliable.

Abstract: An apparatus for outputting heart sounds includes an implantable system and an external system. The implantable system includes a sensor for generating sensed signals representing detected heart sounds, an interface circuit and a control circuit for receiving the sensed signals, generating data representing the heart sounds therefrom, and transmitting the data to the external system via the interface circuit. The external system includes an interface circuit for communicating with the implantable system, and a control circuit for receiving the data representing the heart sounds and for generating control signals that cause an output device to generate outputs representing the sounds. The implantable system may also include a sensor(s) for detecting cardiac electrical signals. In this case, outputs representing the cardiac electrical signals are also output.

Abstract: A method and device is described, which measures and records one or more repetitive biological signals, such as heartbeat, breathing rate, and/or intrinsic brainwave frequency, and uses these tempos and timing information as a feedback mechanism to an individual doing one or more repetitive motion activities, in order to synchronize the activities with the repetitive biological signals, or a simple ratio of harmonics or sub-harmonics thereof. The feedback is achieved through a visual, audio, or tactile signal that indicates to the individual pacing information for precisely when to perform the activity. The purpose of synchronizing repetitive motion activity to biological activity is to optimize the efficiency of the system as a whole, reducing energy consumption and promoting calm and focused performance. Repetitive motion activities include but are not limited to breathing, running, bicycling, swimming, walking, hiking, jump rope, and rowing.

Abstract: A differential or relative measurement between an orthogonal measurement vector and another measurement vector can be used to determine the location where fluid accumulation is occurring or the local change in such fluid accumulation. This can help diagnose or treat infection or hematoma or seroma at a pocket of an implanted cardiac rhythm management device, other implanted medical device, or prosthesis. It can also help diagnose or treat pulmonary edema, pneumonia, pulmonary congestion, pericardial effusion, pericarditis, pleural effusion, hemodilution, or another physiological condition.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system provides for the trending of a third heart sound (S3) index. The S3 index is a ratio, or an estimate of the ratio, of the number of S3 beats to the number of all heart beats, where the S3 beats are each a heart beat during which an occurrence of S3 is detected. An implantable sensor such as an accelerometer or a microphone senses an acoustic signal indicative heart sounds including S3. An S3 detector detects occurrences of S3 from the acoustic signal. A heart sound processing system trends the S3 index on a periodic basis to allow continuous monitoring of the S3 activity level, which is indicative of conditions related to heart failure.

Abstract: A model-based method for assessing acoustic signal quality in a heart monitoring device. The personal heart sound interval distribution of a person being actively monitored is compared with a modeled global heart sound interval distribution shared by most human beings after which processing action is taken consistent with the quality assessment. The error in the best fit between the personal interval distribution and the global interval distribution is presumed to be caused predominantly by noise, allowing the quality of the fit to serve as a proxy for the level of noise in the acoustic signal and used in making processing decisions.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing cardiac performance through cardiac vibration monitoring is described. Cardiac vibration measures are directly collected through an implantable medical device. Cardiac events including at least one first heart sound reflected by the cardiac vibration measures are identified. The first heart sound is correlated to cardiac dimensional measures relative to performance of an intrathoracic pressure maneuver. The cardiac dimensional measures are grouped into at least one measures set corresponding to a temporal phase of the intrathoracic pressure maneuver. The at least one cardiac dimensional measures set is evaluated against a cardiac dimensional trend for the corresponding intrathoracic pressure maneuver temporal phase to represent cardiac performance.

Abstract: A health sensing device is described for placement on a user. The device may include a sensor, a filter, and a transmitter. The sensor is configured to sense one or more factors relating to an indicator of a health related condition or occurrence. The filter is configured to evaluate a signal from the sensor and determine if the indicator has been detected. The transmitter is arranged for initiating a transmission based on a signal from the filter. The sensor can include one or more microphone devices, accelerometers, and/or MEMS devices. A method of monitoring a user for a health related condition is also described.

Abstract: A method and system of detecting phrenic nerve stimulation in a patient that includes detecting an activation event, obtaining a heart sound signal of a patient from an implanted heart sound sensor, determining that an electrical stimulation has been applied to the patient, in response to detecting the activation event, monitoring a portion of the heart sound signal, the portion defined by a predetermined window after the application of the electrical stimulation, and determining whether phrenic nerve stimulation occurred based on the portion of the heart sound signal.

Abstract: An implantable device and method for monitoring S1 heart sounds with a remotely located accelerometer. The device includes a transducer that converts heart sounds into an electrical signal. A control circuit is coupled to the transducer. The control circuit is configured to receive the electrical signal, identify an S1 heart sound, and to convert the S1 heart sound into electrical information. The control circuit also generates morphological data from the electrical information. The morphological data relates to a hemodynamic metric, such as left ventricular contractility. A housing may enclose the control circuit. The housing defines a volume coextensive with an outer surface of the housing. The transducer is in or on the volume defined by the housing.

Abstract: A device for independently and controllably amplifying components of the heart sound signals without removing any component of the signal by filtering. With such a device all the signal components that carry information are still available and can be useful to a user. Filtering may however be applied to very high frequency signals, compared to the signal of interest, that are totally unrelated to the heart sounds.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system provides for the trending of a third heart sound (S3) index. The S3 index is a ratio, or an estimate of the ratio, of the number of S3 beats to the number of all heart beats, where the S3 beats are each a heart beat during which an occurrence of S3 is detected. An implantable sensor such as an accelerometer or a microphone senses an acoustic signal indicative heart sounds including S3. An S3 detector detects occurrences of S3 from the acoustic signal. A heart sound processing system trends the S3 index on a periodic basis to allow continuous monitoring of the S3 activity level, which is indicative of conditions related to heart failure.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a cardiac function management system can detect heart sounds following a sensed transition in physical activity level, such as from an elevated physical activity level to rest. A technique can include systems, methods, machine-readable media, or other techniques that can include identifying a physical activity level transition, receiving a heart sound signal, determining characteristics of the heart sound and subject physiologic activity to provide an indication, such as a heart failure status indication.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for measuring and controlling the quality of physiological acoustic signals, which include tracheal breathing sounds, lung sounds, heart sounds, blood flow sounds, joint sounds, and gastrointestinal sounds. The interface between the skin and the device is carefully controlled to achieve a desirable acoustic coupling. A pneumatic feedback control system automatically adjusts of the pressure applied to the skin; another pneumatic control system adjusts the pressure inside an airtight chamber for housing the acoustic sensor. A processor assesses the signal qualities, such as amplitude and frequency spectrum, and provides feedback controls to the interface if needed. The resulting method and apparatus eliminates operator's variability and acquires physiological acoustic signals with consistent and desirable qualities for various medical diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for subject rehospitalization management. In an example, multiple physiologic signals can be obtained from a subject using multiple sensors. In response to a hospitalization event, pre-hospitalization characteristics of the multiple physiologic signals can be identified. Post-hospitalization characteristics of the multiple physiologic signals can be identified, including characteristics that differ from their corresponding pre-hospitalization characteristics. Later subsequent physiologic signals can be further monitored after the hospitalization event, such as using the same multiple sensors, and subsequent physiologic signal characteristics can be identified. In an example, a heart failure diagnostic indication can be determined using information about the pre-hospitalization characteristics, the post-hospitalization characteristics, and the subsequent characteristics.

Abstract: A method for providing a representation of the distribution, fluctuation and/or movement of electrical activity through heart tissue, said method comprising: obtaining an ECG of the heart comprising said tissue; obtaining a model of the heart geometry; obtaining a model of the torso geometry; relating the measurements per electrode of the ECG to the heart and torso geometry and estimating the distribution, fluctuation and/or movement of electrical activity through heart tissue based upon a fastest route algorithm, shortest path algorithm and/or fast marching algorithm.

Abstract: An in vivo RFID chip implanted in a patient's body, comprising an integrated antenna formed on the chip, and a CMOS-compatible circuitry adapted for biosensing and transmitting information out of the patient's body. In preferred embodiments, the CMOS-compatible circuitry is adapted to sense a chemical and/or physical quantity from a local environment in the patient's body and to control drug release from the drug reservoirs based on the quantity sensed.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system includes a heart sound detector providing for detection of the third heart sounds (S3). An implantable sensor such as an accelerometer or a microphone senses an acoustic signal indicative heart sounds including the second heart sounds (S2) and S3. The heart sound detector detects occurrences of S2 and starts S3 detection windows each after a predetermined delay after a detected occurrence of S2. The occurrences of S3 are then detected from the acoustic signal within the S3 detection windows.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a telemedical stethoscope, which automatically diagnoses a disease, and records visually and auditorily, and stores the stethoscope data on a screen. The present invention enhances primary diagnosis and treatment effect for a patient by transmitting/receiving the data to/from a doctor at a medical center and by receiving a telemedicine service. In addition, the present invention transmits the data to a health management program so as to be used for personal healthcare and disease prognosis decision of a patient.

Abstract: A cable monitoring apparatus includes a housing having an input interface adapted to electrically connect to one end of a medical cable and an output interface adapted to electrically connect to an electrical system. Signal processing circuitry is incorporated within the housing for receiving a medical signal from the medical cable via the input interface and for selectively passing the medical signal to the electrical system via the output interface when in a first mode of operation, and has application software for selectively testing functionality of the medical cable when in a second mode of operation. The medical signal may include at least one monitoring signal selected from a group consisting of fetal and maternal medical signals.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for obtaining heart rate by obtaining apical and non-apical heart rate datum using first and second heart rate monitoring devices. The apical and non-apical heart rate data are input into a heart rate verification module (HRVM) that includes a number of programming instructions for effecting the invention. An apical heart rate measure and non-apical heart rate measure are calculated in the HRVM, and an acceptable heart rate range is generated using the apical heart rate measure. Whether the non-apical heart rate measure is a reliable measure of a true heart rate is identified by determining whether the non-apical heart rate measure falls within or outside the acceptable heart rate range. A split display screen of the HRVM displays the apical heart rate measure, non-apical heart rate measure, and information identifying whether the non-apical heart rate measure falls within or outside the acceptable heart rate range.

Abstract: A signal extracting apparatus is provided based on independent component analysis with reference for a single measured signal as a signal processing technique that allows stable and quick extraction of a target signal from single measured signal even in a high-noise environment with a high noise ratio against a target signal to be extracted.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system comprising an implantable medical device (IMD) including an implantable heart sound sensor circuit configured to produce an electrical heart sound signal representative of a heart sound of a subject and a processor circuit. The processor circuit is coupled to the heart sound sensor circuit and includes a detection circuit, a heart sound feature circuit and a trending circuit. The detection circuit configured to detect a physiologic perturbation and the heart sound feature circuit is configured to identify a heart sound feature in the electrical signal. The processor circuit is configured to trigger the heart sound feature circuit in relation to a detected physiologic perturbation. The trending circuit is configured to trend the heart sound feature in relation to a recurrence of the physiologic perturbation. The processor circuit is configured to declare a change in a physiologic condition of the patient according to the trending.

Abstract: A physiological monitor is provided for determining a physiological parameter of a medical patient with a multi-stage sensor assembly. The monitor includes a signal processor configured to receive a signal indicative of a physiological parameter of a medical patient from a multi-stage sensor assembly. The multi-stage sensor assembly is configured to be attached to the physiological monitor and the medical patient. The monitor of certain embodiments also includes an information element query module configured to obtain calibration information from an information element provided in a plurality of stages of the multi-stage sensor assembly. In some embodiments, the signal processor is configured to determine the physiological parameter of the medical patient based upon said signal and said calibration information.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises plurality of sensors and a processor. Each sensor provides a sensor signal that includes physiological information and at least one sensor is implantable. The processor includes a physiological change event detection module that detects a physiological change event from a sensor signal and produces an indication of occurrence of one or more detected physiological change events, and a heart failure (HF) detection module. The HF detection module determines, using a first rule, whether the detected physiological change event is indicative of a change in HF status of a subject, determines whether to override the first rule HF determination using a second rules, and declares whether the change in HF status occurred according to the first and second rules.

Abstract: A method of processing a signal pertaining to at least one electrical property of an organ of a subject is disclosed. The method comprises determining a physiological condition of the subject, selecting a frequency band, filtering the signal according to the frequency band, and dynamically adapting the frequency band in response to a change in the physiological condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cardiovascular diagnostic system which enables early detection of cardiovascular diseases and defines their causes. Unlike known electrocardiographs, the cardiovascular diagnosis system can further measure elastic coefficient of blood vessels (the degree of arteriosclerosis), blood vessel compliance, blood flow, and blood flow resistance and velocity in blood vessel branches of the right and left coronary arteries. The elastic coefficient shows organic changes to blood vessels. The compliance shows organic and functional changes of blood vessels simultaneously. The blood flow shows blood flow resistance.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor is configured to provide accurate and robust measurement of bodily sounds under a variety of conditions, such as in noisy environments or in situations in which stress, strain, or movement may be imparted onto a sensor with respect to a patient. Embodiments of the sensor provide a conformable electrical shielding, as well as improved acoustic and mechanical coupling between the sensor and the measurement site.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes a phonocardiogram interface configured to receive a phonocardiogram signal captured according to a first set of capturing properties, a processor configured to analyze the phonocardiogram signal to determine an analysis result for the phonocardiogram signal and a confidence value of the determined analysis result, and a flow control configured to determine, whether a subsequent capture of the phonocardiogram signal according to a second set of capturing properties is likely to improve an accuracy of the determined analysis result. If applicable, the flow control coordinates the subsequent capture of the phonocardiogram signal according to the second set of capturing properties.

Abstract: A medical device system and method that includes receiving an A2 heart sound signal from a first external acoustic sensor, receiving a P2 heart sound signal from a second external acoustic sensor, determining at least one A2 heart sound signal parameter from the A2 heart sound signal, determining at least one P2 heart sound signal parameter from the P2 heart sound signal, and based on the at least one P2 heart sound signal parameter, estimating pulmonary arterial pressure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for acoustic detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) and automated editing of heart sound data are provided.

Abstract: A system comprising an implantable medical device (IMD) includes an implantable heart sound sensor to produce an electrical signal representative of at least one heart sound. The heart sound is associated with mechanical activity of a patient's heart. Additionally, the IMD includes a heart sound sensor interface circuit coupled to the heart sound sensor to produce a heart sound signal, and a signal analyzer circuit coupled to the heart sound sensor interface circuit. The signal analyzer circuit measures a baseline heart sound signal, and deems that an ischemic event has occurred using, among other things, a measured subsequent change in the heart sound signal from the established baseline heart sound signal.

Abstract: The present invention includes devices, methods and systems for reporting a heart rate comprising: an input device; a microprocessor coupled to the input device and a power supply, wherein the microprocessor is programmed with a predetermined heartbeat threshold and calculates the number of times the input device is actuated over a predetermined amount of time; and a display connected to the microprocessor that receives the calculated heart rate and displays whether the heart rate is below, at or above predetermined threshold, e.g., when a patient has less than 60 heartbeats per minute, between 60 and 100 heartbeats per minute and greater than 100 heartbeats per minute.

Abstract: A system, method, or device monitor a force-frequency relationship exhibited by a patient's heart. A contractility characteristic, such as a heart sound characteristic of an S1 heart sound, is measured. The contractility characteristic indicates the forcefulness of a contraction of the heart. The frequency at which the heart is contracting is determined. A group of (contractility characteristic, heart rate) pairs is stored in a memory device. The group of pairs defines a force-frequency relationship for the heart. The method may be implemented by an implantable device, or by a system including a implantable device.

Abstract: Each spectral slice array of a plurality is generated for each time segment of a plurality of time segments of a cardiovascular sound signal is convolved with a local spectral averaging window to generate a local spectral average array that is searched for bruit candidates responsive to associated time power or energy values, power levels, and skew values, so as to provide an indication of cardiovascular disease, that may also be responsive to skew-responsive and power-level-responsive probability terms and to a composite thereof. A probability indicator of cardiovascular disease is responsive to a second product of second terms, each second term responsive to a first product of first terms, each first term representative of a probability of no bruits for all time segments for each frequency segment of a two dimensional bruit candidate probability array, each second term representative of a probability of no repetitive bruits within each frequency segment.

Abstract: A monitoring system senses a physiological signal indicative of mechanical vibrations including audible and/or subaudible frequency ranges and presents information related to the physiological signal to a user. The presented information includes subaudible components of the physiological signal. In various embodiments, the information can be presented as a visual signal representing the mechanical vibrations including the subaudible components, an audial signal representing the mechanical vibrations having a spectrum shifted to an audible frequency range, and/or an audial signal representing the mechanical vibrations having a spectrum compressed into an audible frequency range. An example of the physiological signal can include a heart sound signal indicative of heart sounds including cardiac mechanical vibrations in audible and subaudible frequency ranges.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating a patient status from sampled physiometry for use in heart failure assessment is presented. Physiological measures, including at least one of direct measures regularly recorded on a substantially continuous basis by a medical device and measures derived from the direct measures are stored. At least one of those of the physiological measures, which relate to a same type of physiometry, and those of the physiological measures, which relate to a different type of physiometry are sampled. A status is determined for a patient through analysis of those sampled measures assembled from a plurality of recordation points. The sampled measures are evaluated. Trends that are indicated by the patient status, including one of a status quo and a change, which might affect cardiac performance of the patient, are identified. Each trend is compared to worsening heart failure indications to generate a notification of parameter violations.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor is configured to provide accurate and robust measurement of bodily sounds under a variety of conditions, such as in noisy environments or in situations in which stress, strain, or movement may be imparted onto a sensor with respect to a patient. Embodiments of the sensor provide a conformable electrical shielding, as well as improved acoustic and mechanical coupling between the sensor and the measurement site.

Abstract: A system is provided for creating a sound profile that matches sounds produced by a patient during a physical examination, such as a cardiac or pulmonary examination. A user selects multiple sounds from a library and combines them to form the profile which may then be modified by the addition of further sounds, adjustments to their relative timing, duration, loudness, and so forth. The refinement continues iteratively, and after each change the profile is provided by the system to the user, for example, as a phonocardiogram for comparison against the sounds observed during the examination.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing devices for sensing health and wellness-related information. More specifically, disclosed is a physiological sensor using, for example, acoustic signal energy to determine physiological characteristics, such as a heart rate, the physiological sensor being disposed in a wearable device (or carried device). In one embodiment, a physiological signal generator is disposed substantially in a wearable housing. At least a portion of a skin surface microphone (“SSM”) including a piezoelectric sensor is configured to receive acoustic signals. The wearable housing is configured to position the SSM to receive an acoustic signal originating from human tissue. The physiological signal generator is configured to receive a piezoelectric signal based on an acoustic signal, and to generate a physiological signal including data representing a heartbeat or heart rate.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing devices for sensing health and wellness-related physiological characteristics. More specifically, disclosed is a physiological sensor using, for example, acoustic signal energy to determine physiological characteristics in one mode, such as a heart rate, the physiological sensor being disposed in a wearable device (or carried device), and generating data communication signals using acoustic signal energy in another mode. The physiological sensor also can be configured to receive data communication signals. In at least one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more multimodal physiological sensors configured to receive physiological signals in a first mode and at least generate data communication signals in a second mode.