Systems and methods for determining systolic time intervals

A method for cardiac contractility analysis, useful in association with a cardiac patient, and a systolic interval determination device having a radio frequency emitter, an acoustic sensor, a radio frequency sensor, and an electrocardiogram sensor and a signal processor, the method comprising:

• orienting the acoustic sensor on the cardiac patient, wherein the acoustic sensor includes a pressure sensor, and wherein the acoustic sensor includes a transducer;
• measuring pressure of the acoustic sensor on the cardiac patient;
• generating an audio pulse on the cardiac patient by utilizing the transducer;
• receiving an echo audio signal resulting from the generated audio pulse, wherein the echo audio signal is received by the acoustic sensor;
• generating a bright line image along the echo audio signal;
• receiving a heart sound signal of the cardiac patient by the acoustic sensor, wherein the heart sound signal includes a first acoustic peak and a second acoustic peak;
• calibrating the heart sound utilizing the measured pressure of the acoustic sensor on the cardiac patient;
• orienting the radio frequency emitter on the cardiac patient;
• emitting radio frequency energy from at least two transmitting antennas, wherein the radio frequency emitter includes at least two transmitting antennas, and wherein the radio frequency energy scatters in the cardiac patient;
• orienting the radio frequency sensor on the cardiac patient;
• receiving the scattered radio frequency energy using the radio frequency sensor;
• analyze differences in radio frequency energy scattering to identify internal inhomogeneous structures in the cardiac patient;
• orienting the electrocardiogram sensor on the cardiac patient;
• receiving electrical signals from the cardiac patient using the electrocardiogram sensor;
• identifying onset of the cardiac cycle from the received electrical signals;
• identifying opening of aortic valve of the cardiac patient utilizing the bright line image and the identified internal inhomogeneous structures;
• identifying closing of aortic valve of the cardiac patient utilizing the bright line image, the second heart sound, and the identified internal inhomogeneous structures;
• calculating a pre-ejection period by subtracting the onset of the cardiac cycle from the opening of the aortic valve;
• calculating a left ventricular ejection time by subtracting the opening of the aortic valve from the closing of the aortic valve;
• and
• computing the cardiac contractility by correlation to the pre-ejection period divided by the left ventricular ejection time.