Portable ECG device with wireless communication interface to remotely monitor patients and method of use

Abstract

A portable ECG monitor and an overall system for remotely monitoring cardiac function of a patient is disclosed, together with a method of use. The portable ECG includes a multi-lead, multi-channel ECG monitor and a wireless communication device connected to the ECG monitor to receive patient ECG data and transmit the patient ECG data to a centralized facility, such as a hospital. The wireless communication device can include a mobile phone and/or an interactive Internet appliance. A method of remotely monitoring ECG data is also disclosed. The method and apparatus are particularly useful with patients experiencing symptomatic ischemia. The method includes providing a portable ECG device with wireless communication capabilities to such a patient, acquiring ECG data from the patient at a location remote from a health care facility, then transmitting the ECG data to the centralized facility, and assessing the ECG data at the centralized facility. The patient is then provided with instructions based on the ECG assessment. The centralized facility and the health care facility may be one in the same, or may be two different and distinct facilities.

1 - 35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . A cardiac condition monitoring system comprising: 
 a patient ECG monitor having a plurality of ECG leads connectable thereto and configured to acquire ECG signals from a patient;    a patient communication interface constructed to receive the ECG signals from the patient ECG monitor and transmit the ECG signals to a health care provider during a patient diagnosed cardiac event; and    a controller connected to the patient ECG monitor and constructed to initiate operation of the patient ECG monitor upon receiving a command from the patient experiencing the patient diagnosed cardiac event and cease any operation of the patient ECG monitor upon a confirmation of non-criticality of the patient diagnosed cardiac event.    
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 36  further comprising a health care communication interface constructed to communicate with the patient communication interface and receive at least one of the acquired ECG signals and ECG signals converted into a human discernable form.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the patient ECG monitor wirelessly communicates with the patient communication interface and the patient communication interface wirelessly communicates with the health care communication interface.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the patient communication interface is constructed to concurrently communicate at least two of the ECG signals, ECG signal converted to a human discernable form, and a moving video signal to a health care provider communication interface.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 36  wherein initiated operation of the patient ECG monitor further comprises the patient attaching the plurality of leads of the patient ECG monitor to the patient and ceasing any operation of the patient ECG monitor further comprises disconnecting the plurality of leads of the patient ECG monitor from the patient and turning off the ECG monitor.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 36  further comprising an information storage system having a port thereon and connected to the patient ECG monitor, the information storage system constructed to store the acquired ECG signals and the port constructed to be directly connected to a health care provider ECG system to allow the transmission of the stored ECG signals therefrom.  
   
   
       42 . An ECG monitoring system comprising: 
 a ECG monitor constructed to acquire ECG signals from a patient and communicate the ECG signals to a health care provider, the ECG monitor designed and constructed for only intermittent use by the patient when the patient decides of an onset of a possible cardiac event, at which time the ECG monitor is activated by the patient, otherwise the ECG monitor remains inactive.    
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the ECG monitor further comprises a plurality of leads to acquire ECG signals from the patient and activation of the ECG monitor includes applying the plurality of leads to the patient.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 42  further comprising a remote communication interface configured to communicate with the ECG monitor when the ECG monitor is activated, the remote communication interface configured to communicate with a health care facility communication interface.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the remote communication interface is connected to the ECG monitor and includes a data storage device to store the ECG signals such that the ECG signals are at least one of transmitted to health care facility communication interface as the ECG signals are acquired and stored in data storage device until the data storage device is connected to the health care facility communication interface.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the ECG monitor further comprises a GPS system connected thereto and constructed to be remotely actuated by a signal from the health care provider.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the ECG monitor is further configured to prompt the patient if assistance is needed when the ECG monitor is activated, and if so, establish communication with the health care facility, otherwise, at least one of, transmit acquired ECG signals to the health care provider and store ECG data when transmission is impossible.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 42  further comprising a first communication interface constructed to wirelessly communicate with the ECG monitor, a second communication interface remotely positioned from the first communication interface and constructed to wirelessly communicate therewith, and a health care provider ECG device configured to communicate with the second communication interface and provide the ECG signals in human discernable form.  
   
   
       49 . An ECG monitor system comprising: 
 a remote ECG monitor having multiple leads and multiple channels to acquire ECG signals from a patient, and a data storage device to store the ECG signals;    a remote communication interface to receive the ECG signals from the remote ECG monitor and transmit the ECG signals over a public communication system to a centralized facility;    a local communication interface to receive ECG signals from the public communication system at the centralized facility; and    a local ECG device connected to the local communication interface to receive the ECG signals and provide the ECG signals in human discernable form and a data port connectable to the data storage device of the remote ECG monitor to allow direct transfer of data therebetween.    
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the remote ECG monitor includes an infrared transmitter to transmit the ECG signals to the remote communication interface and wherein the ECG signals are processed and digitally analyzed in at least one of the remote ECG monitor, the remote communication interface, the local communication interface, and the local ECG device.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the remote communication interface is one of (1) a wireless phone, and (2) an interactive Internet appliance having a video camera and microphone to allow bi-directional communication between the patient and the centralized facility.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 51  wherein the wireless phone is integral with the remote ECG monitor and is preprogrammed with a telephone number of the centralized facility.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 49  further comprising a GPS system connected to the remote ECG monitor and configured to receive a signal from the centralized facility to enable the GPS system.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the remote ECG monitor includes a processor programmed to: 
 prompt the patient if assistance is needed to acquire an ECG, and if so, open a data transmission link to the centralized facility;    otherwise, receive and process the ECG signals, then open a data transmission link and transmit the ECG data to the centralized facility.    
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 54  wherein the data storage device includes an information management system, the information management system is at least one of configured to maintain ECG monitoring during patient transport to a health care facility and includes a processor and a communication system to broadcast ECG data as the patient is in transit to a health care facility.