# US 11,992,360 B2 · System and method for heart rhythm detection and reporting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,360 B2 - Document ID: US11992360B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/932,683 - Filed: 2020-07-17 - Published: 2021-01-21 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-19 - Applicants: Anna Barnacka; Charles R Bridges; Karlen Shahinyan - Inventors: Anna Barnacka; Charles R Bridges; Karlen Shahinyan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992360B2 ## CPC - A61B 7/04: Electric stethoscopes - A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition - A61B 5/02108: {from analysis of pulse wave characteristics} - A61B 5/02116: {of pulse wave amplitude (A61B5/02225 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/02438: {with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient} - A61B 5/029: Measuring blood output from the heart, e.g. minute volume - A61B 5/6803: {Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles} - A61B 5/6817: {Ear canal} - A61B 5/6833: {Adhesive patches} - A61B 5/7203: {for noise prevention, reduction or removal} - A61B 5/7207: {of noise induced by motion artifacts} - A61B 5/7267: {involving training the classification device} - A61B 5/747: {in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services} - A61B 8/065: {to determine blood output from the heart} - G16H 15/00: ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof - G16H 40/63: for local operation - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - G16H 50/20: for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems - A61B 2562/0247: Pressure sensors - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract A system and method for heart rhythm detection and reporting are disclosed. This cardiology system includes a biosensor system and a data analysis system. The biosensor system is worn by an individual and includes sensors that detect biosignals including infrasonic signals from the individual. The data analysis system receives the biosignals from the biosensor system, and determines heart rhythms of the individual based upon the biosignals. The system identifies at least some of biosignals as being associated with cardiovascular activity, such as pulse wave signals. Preferably, the biosensor system is an in-ear biosensor system that detects the biosignals via left and right earbuds placed within or at ear canals of the individual. The system can also identify arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation (Afib) arrhythmias from the heart rhythms, report information to health care and safety professionals and update medical records of the individuals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cardiology system for detecting and analyzing heart rhythms, the system comprising: a biosensor system configured to be worn by an individual, wherein the biosensor system includes sensors that detect biosignals including infrasonic signals from the individual; and a data analysis system that receives the biosignals from the biosensor system, and determines heart rhythms of the individual based upon the biosignals; wherein the biosensor system is an in-ear biosensor system that includes at least one earbud, and wherein the at least one earbud includes the sensors that detect the biosignals including infrasonic signals; and wherein the data analysis system is configured to use the biosignals and/or the heart rhythms to identify a condition of the individual. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary sensor for detecting pressure biosignals in the individual's ear to monitor occlusion level of the at least one earbud and to monitor physiological changes of the individual. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the in-ear biosensor system detects biosignals from left and right earbuds for improving a signal to noise ratio of the biosignals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis system determines heart rhythms of the individual based upon the biosignals by detecting pulse wave signals in the biosignals, determining inter beat intervals of the heart based upon the pulse wave signals, and computing the heart rhythms from the inter beat intervals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis system determines heart rhythms of the individual based upon the biosignals by detecting pulse wave signals in the biosignals, calculating stroke volumes under each of the pulse wave signals during systole times, and computing the heart rhythms from changes in the stroke volumes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the condition identified by the data analysis system includes arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation (Afib) arrhythmias, and wherein the data analysis system determines the arrhythmias by detecting pulse wave signals in the biosignals and characterizing the overall pulse wave signal shape and changes in the pulse wave signal shape over time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the condition identified by the data analysis system includes arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation (Afib) arrhythmias, and wherein the data analysis system determines the arrhythmias from the heart rhythms. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis system identifies and removes motion artifacts associated with motion of the individual from the biosignals prior to determining the heart rhythms of the individual. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis system identifies and distinguishes premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) conditions from premature atrial complexes (PACs) conditions and identifies and distinguishes supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) conditions from ventricular tachycardias (VT) conditions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one user device including a cardiovascular user application (user app) executing upon a CPU of the user device, wherein the user app communicates with the biosensor system to control the sending of the biosignals to the data analysis system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis system is distributed across one or more computer nodes in a remote network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis system is included within one or more user devices. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis system is included within the biosensor system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis system is distributed across a user device and at least one computer node of a remote network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis system notifies the individual and other persons regarding the condition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein when the condition is an unhealthy arrhythmia that the data analysis system determines does not require treatment, the data analysis system notifies the individual to perform relaxation techniques in response. ### Claim 17 A method for detecting and analyzing heart rhythms, the method comprising: detecting biosignals including infrasonic signals from the individual via sensors of a biosensor system worn by the individual, wherein the biosensor system is an in-ear biosensor system including at least one earbud; determining heart rhythms of the individual based upon the biosignals; and using the biosignals and/or the heart rhythms to identify a condition of the individual. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein determining heart rhythms of the individual based upon the biosignals comprises: detecting pulse wave signals within the biosignals and calculating inter beat intervals from the pulse wave signals; and computing the heart rhythms from the inter beat intervals. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein determining heart rhythms of the individual based upon the biosignals comprises: detecting pulse wave signals within the biosignals and calculating stroke volumes under each of the pulse wave signals during systole times; and computing the heart rhythms from changes in the stroke volumes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein using the biosignals and/or the heart rhythms to identify a condition of the individual comprises determining arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation (Afib) arrhythmias by detecting pulse wave signals in the biosignals and characterizing the overall pulse wave signal shape and changes in the pulse wave signal shape over time. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein using the biosignals and/or the heart rhythms to identify a condition of the individual comprises identifying arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation (Afib) arrhythmias from the heart rhythms. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein determining heart rhythms of the individual based upon the biosignals is accomplished at the level of the biosensor system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising detecting a pressure in the individual's ear to monitor an occlusion level of the at least one earbud and to monitor physiological changes of the individual, via an auxiliary sensor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising detecting biosignals from left and right earbuds for improving a signal to noise ratio of the biosignals. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising identifying and removing motion artifacts associated with motion of the individual from the biosignals prior to determining the heart rhythms of the individual. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising identifying and distinguishing premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) conditions from premature atrial complexes (PACs) conditions and identifying and distinguishing supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) conditions from ventricular tachycardias (VT) conditions. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein determining heart rhythms of the individual based upon the biosignals is accomplished at a user device. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein determining heart rhythms of the individual based upon the biosignals comprises processing the heart rhythms at a user device and at least one computer node of a remote network. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising updating a medical record of the individual in response to determining the heart rhythms of the individual. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising notifying health care and safety professionals in response to determining the heart rhythms of the individual. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising notifying the individual and other persons regarding the condition.