# US 2014/0194760 A1 · Methods and systems for electrode placement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194760 A1 - Document ID: US20140194760A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/149,242 - Filed: 2014-01-07 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Assignees: Alivecor, Inc. - Inventors: David E. ALBERT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194760A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/684: {Indicating the position of the sensor on the body} - A61B 5/33: specially adapted for cooperation with other devices - A61B 5/70: {Means for positioning the patient in relation to the detecting, measuring or recording means} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Described herein are systems, devices and methods for guiding placement of electrodes, and particularly ECG electrodes on a patient. A picture of the patient's body the patient can be analyzed to determine where on the patient's body to place electrodes according to a predetermined, conventional or standard placement pattern. The methods, devices and systems may then guide a user in positioning or correcting the position of electrodes on the patient. For example, an image of the patient may be provided showing the correct position of the electrodes, which may act as a patient-specific map or guide. The electrode placement positions can correspond to conventional or standard 12-lead ECG electrode positions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for guiding proper placement of electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes on a patient, the method comprising: normalizing a picture of the patient using a normalization marker on the patient in picture; comparing the normalized picture of the patient to an electrode placement database to determine positioning of electrodes on the patient, wherein the electrode placement database comprises representations of a plurality of body types and predetermined electrode placement positions corresponding to each body type; and presenting an image of the patient showing positions for electrodes on the image of the patient. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the normalized picture to the electrode placement database comprises determining the standard placement of electrodes for a 12-lead ECG on the patient. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein normalizing the picture comprises scaling the picture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the normalized picture of the patient to the electrode placement database includes determining the closest match between the picture and a representative body type in the patient database. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein comparing normalized the picture of the patient to the electrode placement database comprises interpolating between the closest matches to the picture and two or more representative body types in the patient database. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the normalized picture of the patient to the electrode placement database includes determining anatomical landmarks from the picture and comparing the anatomical landmarks to the electrode placement database. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the normalized picture of the patient to the database comprises using pattern recognition to determine the closest match between the picture and a representative body type in the database. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the image of the patient showing positions for electrodes on the image of the patient comprises presenting the image on a handheld computer device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the handheld computer device is a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet computer, or camera with network connectivity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising taking a picture of the patient using a handheld computer device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the normalized picture of the patient to an electrode placement database comprises comparing a picture of the patient having one or more electrodes already placed on the patient's chest to the electrode placement database. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising verifying the position of the one or more electrodes already placed on the patient's chest. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein presenting the image comprises presenting an image of the patient showing corrected positioning of electrodes on the image of the patient. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising taking the picture of the patient and the normalization marker. ### Claim 15 A method for guiding placement of electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes, the method comprising: normalizing a picture of a patient's chest using a normalization marker on the patient in picture; comparing the normalized picture of the patient to an electrode placement database to determine positioning of electrodes on the patient, wherein the electrode placement database comprises representations of a plurality of body types and predetermined conventional ECG electrode placement positions corresponding to each body type; and presenting an image of the patient showing positions for conventional ECG electrode positions on the image of the patient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein comparing the normalized picture of the patient to the electrode placement database includes determining the closest match between the picture and a representative body type in the electrode placement database. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein comparing the normalized picture of the patient to the electrode placement database includes determining anatomical landmarks from the picture and comparing the anatomical landmarks to the electrode placement database. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein comparing the normalized picture of the patient to the database comprises using pattern recognition to determine the closest match between the picture and a representative body type in the electrode placement database. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein comparing is performed on a remote server. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein presenting comprises presenting the image on a handheld computer device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein presenting comprises presenting the image on a smartphone or tablet computer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein normalizing comprises scaling the picture using the normalization marker so that the scale of the normalized picture matches the scale of the electrode placement database. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the picture of a patient comprises receiving a picture of a patient comprising electrodes on the patient's chest; and further wherein comprising comprises verifying the placement of the electrodes relative to conventional ECG electrode placement positions. ### Claim 24 A method for determining the placement of ECG electrodes using a smartphone, the method comprising: taking a picture of a patient's chest including a normalization marker on the patient with the smartphone; normalizing the scale of the picture using the normalization marker; comparing the normalized picture to an electrode placement database comprising representations of a plurality of body types and predetermined ECG electrode placement positions for each body type to determine positioning of electrodes on the patient, wherein the scale of the normalized picture is the same as the scale of the electrode placement database; and presenting an image of the patient showing positions for ECG electrodes on the image of the patient.