Dynamic spectral phonocardiograph
AssigneeYale University
InventorsWilliam R. Bennett, Jr., Jean Bennett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system of generating a spectral phonocardiogram which summarizes time-dependent changes in the heart sounds throughout the heart cycle. The system is based on the projection of spectral surfaces of the Fourier transform of heart sounds as a function of time and is a useful diagnostic tool both for a cardiologist and a general practitioner. Permanent copies of the spectral phonocardiograms can provide useful records for monitoring the development of heart disease in a given individual. The system provides a useful means for rapid screening of large groups of people for heart disease by non-specialists in cardiology. A variant of the system provides automated computer diagnosis of the probable nature of the heart disease.
Claims12
A method of producing automated diagnosis of heart disease in a patient from irregular heart sound patterns at different portions of a heart cycle, comprising steps of:
- a. producing a computer-based catalog of sets of first spectral expansion coefficients based on Fourier analysis of heart sounds from previous diagnosis of representative cases of irregular heart ground patterns;
- b. producing a set of second spectral expansion coefficients based on Fourier analysis of heart sounds for a particular unknown example of irregular heart ground patterns;
- c. performing generalized scalar products of the set of second spectral expansion coefficients with each of said sets of first expansion coefficients and for producing a heart disease identification signal based on a maximum value of the generalized scalar products.
A device for producing automated diagnosis of heart disease in a patient from irregular heart sound patterns at different portions of a heart cycle, comprising:
- a. means for producing a computer-based catalog of sets of first spectral expansion coefficients based on Fourier analysis of heart sounds from previous diagnosis of representative cases of irregular heart ground patterns
- b. means for producing a set of second spectral expansion coefficients based on Fourier analysis of heart sounds for a particular unknown example of irregular heart ground patterns;
- and
- c. means for performing generalized scalar products of the set of second spectral expansion coefficients with lack of said sets of first expansion coefficients and for producing a heart disease identification signal based on a maximum value of the generalized scalar products.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.