WO1999011173A1 - Cardiologic control system via a satellite - Google Patents

Abstract

The system is intended to be used or applied for heart patients in order to control and follow-up such patients as well as to provide an eventual treatment and advices given by a specialist or cardiologist in the case of infarct symptoms, from a remote distance. The system using satellite communication means through INMASART networks is based on the incorporation to the patient of a repeater unit which is portable and to which is connected an auxiliary telephone system with radiotransmission functions with modem and capable of transmitting constantly the ECG signal (electrocardiogram signals) to the PC of the repeater unit, the information being processed by computer according to the pathology of the patient so as to provide for the communication between said patient and a remote station where a specialist is present and who will exchange instructions and data directly with the patient.

Description

 CARDIOLOGICAL CONTROL SYSTEM VIA SATELLITE

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cardiological control system via satellite, which has been designed to allow automated control and monitoring of cardiological patients, in order to be able to act immediately before a distress warning issued by the patient or before An anomalous situation, such as the patient's unconsciousness, which can be detected by the system in question.

Among the fundamental objectives that are pursued through the system that is recommended, we can mention:

- E.C.G. (electrocardiographic);

- Follow-up of patients with pacemakers;

- Monitoring of arrhythmic patients;

- Prevention and anticipated action against risks of myocardial infarction;

* - Follow-up of post-infarction patients, as well as being able to establish a database with pacemaker patients.

- Control of other coronary pathologies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the Spanish invention patent with application number 9600568, of the same applicant, a remote control, warning and rescue system for patients prone to myocardial infarction, a system that is based on the use of conventional means of transmission to carry out, in combination with means of receiving and processing information, monitoring and remote control of such patients.

Due to the constant advancement of technology and techniques, both in the field of computer science and telecommunications, the system described in that invention patent is subject to improvement by applying the latest techniques and technologies, especially as regards Regarding the field of "TELEMETRY", to obtain better results and new benefits, relying on satellite telecommunications.

As is known, in cardiological pathologies, such as myocardial infarction, time plays a transcendental role, since the first hours of a heart attack are the most dangerous because a "necrosis" degeneration of areas of the heart or a cardiac arrest, hence the importance of being treated immediately by a cardiologist or specialized staff.

The treatment of this type of pathologies and the administration of potent fibrinolytic agents, makes the phase of the myocardial infarction treated in a coronary unit have a relatively low mortality

(less than 10%).

On the other hand, the potent fibrinolytic agents allow, once the thrombus has dissolved, to save part of that muscle due to necrosis, by not Receive blood flow for functioning.

In these cases, if the treatment with fibrinolytics is effective, not only does the mortality of the acute phase decrease, but also the extent of the infarction is less, the cardiac function deteriorates less and the prognosis in the short and long term is much better.

In order to be effective, these treatments must be applied in the first hours, the sooner the better, because the muscle may be shortly without watering and if the treatment is carried out late it may be irreversible for that muscle.

Therefore, it is necessary to arrive at the hospital soon with an exact diagnosis and the urgency of the treatment.

Likewise, it is remarkable that a heart attack can be canceled when the person concerned is aware in the early stages of his problem, so that at that time his medication and the anticipation of his diagnosis is vital for the subject.

The problems should not be forgotten either. severe coronaries, such as unstable angina, severe arrhythmias and heart failure, as well as post-infarction monitoring and data banks, among others.

Well, a constant monitoring with a computerized intelligent support can be the solution to anticipate ills that in other diagnostic circumstances would be impossible to detect, so that Monitoring would be an effective insurance, since the subject or patient would be monitored 24 hours a day, providing him with a physical and psychic tranquility fundamental to his emotional state. That is, it would be like being in a cardiac monitoring room of a hospital, but finding the patient in his own environment and in his own daily activity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The cardiological control system that is recommended can be said to be a combination of satellite telemetry and computer co-automation means, establishing intercommunication through existing networks, such as INMASART, allowing communication (voice, data, fax, etc.) from anywhere in the world.

The system, preferentially and fundamentally applicable in the control and monitoring of patients prone to myocardial infarction or with similar pathologies, is based on the use, by the patient, of a portable repeater unit, consisting of a handset and an antenna oriented towards The satellite to establish communications. An auxiliary telephone system can be connected to said repeater unit, which can work as a stand-alone telephone or as an extension of the main telephone as a switchboard.

In any case, said auxiliary telephone system constitutes a radio transmitter with modem, through which the ECG (electrocardiogram) signal is transmitted to the corresponding PC of the said central or repeater unit, so that by means of the computer program attached to it, according to the patient's pathology and constants, the information from said radio transmitter is treated conveniently.

Therefore, it is what can be considered as a radio-receiver equipment that constitutes a mixed radio transmitter unit, similar in appearance to the current mobile terminals, fulfilling two missions: that of being an auxiliary telephone with the repeater unit, as a mobile satellite unit, and that of being an ECG transmitter constant with said repeater unit. The aforementioned issuer E.C.G. emits acoustic or visible signals, so that when the data collected from E.C.G. they are not compatible with the patient's activity, the team itself will check the information with the repeater unit. If this information is not compatible, the PC program will establish a satellite relief connection with a remote unit that, together with the measurements of other vital signs and the observation "in situ" of a cardiologist, would launch the relevant care unit intensive, connecting in turn with hospitals. Meanwhile, the patient is monitored and receiving first aid via satellite.

Accordingly, according to the system of the invention there is an autonomous mobile device like any mobile telephone terminal, connected to the heart of the patient by means of floating electrodes and amplifying means.

In relation to the computer support program, it will behave in such a way that will produce the recording of the data that can be detected through a discriminating circuit and use it to trigger a device that puts the repeater unit, not only in contact with the patient, but with the central unit in the distance, for "in situ "of problems and their possible immediate treatment, as well as their possible rescue if the radio transmitter includes as an integral part of it a GPS tracking system.

The information system is in real time through a screen on a digitized map.

E.C.G. they can be transmitted analogically or digitally, depending on the transmission system chosen, so that if performed digitally the equipment includes an electrocardiograph, an analog / digital converter and an emission interface of the digitized electrocardiogram, modulating an audible tone that it issues the patient's identification to the corresponding computer, while other pertinent information can be transmitted by means of a secret digital code.

The information receiving unit is the place where the computer that receives and modulates the digital data for the input to the computer is located, so that once inside it the signal E.C.G. It is subjected to a smoothing method of digital filtering, eliminating high frequency variations.

The ECG analysis, by computer, obtains the electrocardiogram pattern customized by the patient, so that one of the representations of the pattern will be a time-varying three-dimensional vector, obtained by measuring Simultaneous three orthogonal leads. The evolution of said vector says much more about the electrical activity of the heart than the instantaneous calculation of the axis angle for a given part of the electrocardiographic cycle.

The foregoing corresponds to a small example of programming the data that, together with other parameters that should be taken into account by the program, also turns out to be the temporal integral of the electrocardiographic signal. To obtain this integral, the areas of each wave are determined above and below the baseline, making the appropriate addition and subtraction.

The ventricular radiant indicates the difference in duration and polarization time, as well as the depolarization of the ventricles, while the temporal integrals of the three orthogonal leads can be added vectorially to obtain three-dimensional temporal integrals.

All the systems of analysis of E.C.G., by computer, use statistical methods in the attempt to classify E.C.G. in different types of abnormalities.

In short, the more information that can be obtained from the systems, the greater the discrimination capacity of the computer programs, and multivariable statistical analysis techniques can be used, both for one-dimensional and three-dimensional data.

Therefore, based on the aforementioned techniques, the emission-reception of electrocardiograms for the number of uses referred to, and based on a central station located anywhere on Earth, satellite communications allow us to obtain the objectives referred to in the section corresponding to the "object of the invention", or what is the same system allows carrying out a cardiological verification and verification, the history and direct communication with the patient, to an SOS signal from the patient, also allowing to provide information to the specialized center closest to the patient, for the start-up of relief and care , and even get the patient's location, either by the patient or by oral communication, or based on the GPS system.

It is not considered necessary to make this description more extensive so that any person skilled in the art understands the scope of the invention and the advantages derived therefrom.

The terms in which this report has been written must always be taken in a broad and non-limiting sense.

Claims

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S is.- cardiological control system via satellite, which is intended as a means of constant monitoring and instant treatment of cardiological patients, based on a combination of satellite telemetry and computerized computer support, through existing communication networks such as it can be the INMASART, it is characterized in that it consists in the incorporation, on the patient's own, of a portable repeater unit associated to the corresponding PC and equipped with a computer program according to the pathology and constants to follow of the patient; with the particularity that an auxiliary telephone system constituting a modem radio transmitter is connected to said repeater unit, through which the E.C.G. signal is constantly being transmitted. (electrocardiogram) of the patient to the PC of the repeater unit, the treatment of the aforementioned signal being carried out by the latter to then provide the data to a central station located anywhere on Earth, and in connection with a remote unit in the that the corresponding cardiologist analyzes the information received and provides the patient with relevant orders of action, all in connection with an intensive care unit and hospital centers for the direct subsequent assistance of the patient. 2a.- Cardiological satellite control system, according to claim la, characterized in that the portable repeater unit is preferably constituted by a handset and an antenna that must be oriented towards the satellite through which communications are established. 3s.- cardiological satellite control system, according to previous claims, characterized in that the portable repeater unit and the auxiliary telephone system connected to it, constitute a device that connects to the patient's heart by means of floating electrodes, making the connection of these directly to the transmitter of the equipment.