US 2006/0224072 A1 · Disposable extended wear heart monitor patch

Abstract

The invention provides a disposable sensor patch for non-invasive monitoring and recording of infrequent cardiac events. The patch is thin and flexible for comfortable wear on the person's chest for automatic analysis and recording of ECG. The patch is inexpensive and simple for self-administration. The patch incorporates a battery, ECG amplifier, and a processor for analyzing ECG waveform and recording events. A software algorithm searches for a cardiac abnormality. The patch is designed for continuous long-term wear exceeding 3 days for diagnostic monitoring and exceeding 14 days for event detection. In one embodiment a preformatted report is automatically generated by the patch for wireless transmission to a reporting device such as a generic printer or a wireless network system. The patch may also incorporate a marker switch to correlate recorded ECG data with the patient's perception of a cardiac event.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A disposable patch for non-invasive long term continuous monitoring of a patient's ECG, comprising:

a self adhering surface of said patch for securing said patch to a selected location on the body of a patient being evaluated for a heart abnormality;
a battery;
at least two electrodes for contacting the patient's skin at said location to receive surface ECG signals, when said patch is secured at said location;
an amplifier electrically coupled to said electrodes for amplifying said received ECG signals;
a signal processor responsive to the amplified ECG signals for detecting one or more cardiac events therefrom;
a memory coupled to said processor for recording the patient's ECG at least during each of the detected cardiac events;
waterproofing to seal said patch against penetration of fluids to electrical components thereof to allow said patch to be worn continuously by the patient for at least 14 days including during bathing;
and
a transmitter for wireless transmission of the recorded ECG to a remote reporting device.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Disposable extended wear heart monitor patch

Life of this patent

Disposable extended wear heart monitor patch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23