Physiological Measuring System Comprising a Garment in the Form of a Sleeve or Glove and Sensing Apparatus Incorporated in the Garment

Abstract

A measuring system for measuring electrocardiogram signals comprises a diagnostic garment with ECG electrodes that may assume the form of a sleeve or glove. A disposable version of the glove can be inflated. By using an inflatable glove, the contour of the body is automatically matched by the contour of the glove. Samples from the ECG electrodes positioned on a diagnostic garment are compensated so that the samples better approximate samples from ECG electrodes that are positioned at classical locations. Also, samples from ECG electrodes are compensated to reduce signal noise resulting from positioning the ECG electrodes on the diagnostic garment.

1 . A method for compensating human electrocardiogram (ECG) inputs from electrodes located on a diagnostic garment when an LL electrode is positioned on the diagnostic garment, being fitted to a portion of a patient, the method comprising:
 (A) determining a first mean QRS vector from a first plurality of QRS mean vectors, each corresponding mean QRS vector obtained with standard ECG leads;   (B) determining a second mean QRS vector from a second plurality of QRS mean vectors, each constituent mean QRS vector obtained with the diagnostic garment;   (C) in response to (A) and (B), determining at least one compensation component; and   (D) applying the at least one compensation component to a subsequent sample to compensate for positioning at least one ECG electrode on the diagnostic garment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (E) applying the at least one compensation component to the subsequent sample from at least two leads.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (A) comprises selecting one of the first plurality of mean QRS vectors, each mean QRS vector corresponding to a QRS complex. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (B) comprises selecting one of the second plurality of mean QRS vectors, each mean QRS vector corresponding to a QRS complex. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said one of the first plurality of QRS mean vectors is characterized as being a closest mean QRS vector to an average of the first plurality of QRS mean vectors. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said one of the second plurality of QRS mean vectors is characterized as being a closest mean QRS vector to an average of the second plurality of QRS mean vectors. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (C) comprises:
 (i) determining a difference angle between the first mean QRS vector and the second mean QRS vector; and   (ii) calculating a compensation coefficient (k1) from the difference angle.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the compensation coefficient is determined by: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   k 
                    
                   
                       
                   
                    
                   1 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     cos 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     Φ 
                   
                   
                     cos 
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       
                         Φ 
                         - 
                         α 
                       
                       ) 
                     
                   
                 
               
               , 
             
           
         
       
       wherein α corresponds to the difference angle and wherein Φ−α corresponds to a corresponding angle between the first mean QRS vector and an ECG lead reference. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (E) if the patient is diagnosed with a bundle branch block, circumventing compensation of the ECG inputs.   
     
     
         10 . The method for reducing signal noise on an electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform, the ECG waveform obtained from a plurality of electrodes positioned on a diagnostic garment, the method comprising:
 (A) determining a modified first lead value for each sample associated with one of a plurality of QRS complexes;   (B) obtaining a first lead value for each sample associated with said one of the plurality of QRS complexes;   (C) determining a peak modified first lead value and peak first lead value for said one of the plurality of QRS complexes;   (D) repeating (A)-(C) for each QRS complex of the plurality of QRS complexes;   (E) determining a compensation coefficient (k2) from an average peak modified first lead value and an average peak first lead value; and   (F) applying the compensation coefficient to a subsequent sample to compensate for positioning at least one ECG electrode on the diagnostic garment.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (G) applying the compensation coefficient to the subsequent sample from at least two leads.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 (H) determining another lead from the subsequent sample.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein (G) comprises:
 (i) determining a lead potential (VL) from the at least two leads; and   (ii) compensating the at least two leads in accordance with the compensation coefficient and the lead potential.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein (i) comprises:
 (1) determining the lead potential (VL) by:
     VL =(Lead  I+ 2*Lead  III )/3. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein (ii) comprises:
 (1) determining a first lead voltage by:
   Lead  I   NEW   =k 2*( V 6 −V 1); and 
   (2) determining a second lead voltage by:
   Lead  III   NEW   =−k 2*( V 6 −V 1)/2+1.5 VL. 
   
     
     
         16 . A method for compensating human electrocardiogram (ECG) inputs from electrodes located on a diagnostic garment when an LL electrode is positioned on the diagnostic garment, the method comprising:
 (A) selecting a first mean QRS vector from a first plurality of QRS mean vectors, each corresponding mean QRS vector obtained with standard ECG leads;   (B) selecting a second mean QRS vector from a second plurality of QRS mean vectors, each constituent mean QRS vector obtained with the diagnostic garment;   (C) in response to (A) and (B), determining a first compensation coefficient;   (D) determining a modified first lead value for each sample associated with one of a plurality of QRS complexes;   (E) obtaining a first lead value for each sample associated with said one of the plurality of QRS complexes;   (F) determining a peak modified first lead value and peak first lead value for said one of the plurality of QRS complexes;   (G) repeating (D)-(F) for each QRS complex of the plurality of QRS complexes;   (H) determining a second compensation coefficient (k2) from an average peak modified first lead value and an average peak first lead value; and   (I) applying the first compensation coefficient and the second compensation coefficient to a subsequent sample to compensate for positioning at least one ECG electrode on the diagnostic garment.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 (J) applying the first compensation coefficient and the second compensation coefficient to the subsequent sample from at least two leads.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus that processes ECG measurements from a diagnostic garment, the apparatus comprising in combination:
 an interface module that obtains the ECG measurements from a plurality of ECG electrodes positioned on the diagnostic garment; and   a processor that is coupled to the interface module and that processes the ECG measurements to compensate for the plurality of ECG electrodes being positioned on the diagnostic garment, the processor configured to perform:   (A) selecting a first mean QRS vector from a first plurality of QRS mean vectors, each corresponding mean QRS vector obtained with standard ECG leads;   (B) selecting a second mean QRS vector from a second plurality of QRS mean vectors, each constituent mean QRS vector obtained with the diagnostic garment;   (C) in response to (A) and (B), determining at least one compensation component; and   (D) applying the at least one compensation component to a subsequent sample to compensate for positioning at least one ECG electrode on the diagnostic garment.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to perform:
 (E) applying the at least one compensation component to the subsequent sample from at least two leads.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to perform:
 (E) selecting one of the first plurality of mean QRS vectors, each mean QRS vector corresponding to a QRS complex.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to perform:
 (E) selecting one of the second plurality of mean QRS vectors, each mean QRS vector corresponding to a QRS complex.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the interface module comprises a measurement module that is coupled to the plurality of ECG electrodes positioned on the diagnostic garment. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the interface module comprises a communications module that receives the ECG measurements from a signal, the signal being received over a communications channel. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus that processes ECG measurements from a diagnostic garment, the apparatus comprising in combination:
 an interface module that obtains the ECG measurements from a plurality of ECG electrodes positioned on the diagnostic garment; and   a processor that is coupled to the interface module and that processes the ECG measurements to compensate for the plurality of ECG electrodes being positioned on the diagnostic garment, the processor configured to perform:   (A) determining a modified first lead value for each sample associated with one of a plurality of QRS complexes;   (B) obtaining a first lead value for each sample associated with said one of the plurality of QRS complexes;   (C) determining a peak modified first lead value and peak first lead value for said one of the plurality of QRS complexes;   (D) repeating (A)-(C) for each QRS complex of the plurality of QRS complexes; and   (E) determining a compensation coefficient (k2) from an average peak modified first lead value and an average peak first lead value; and   (F) applying the compensation coefficient to a subsequent sample to compensate for positioning at least one ECG electrode on the diagnostic garment.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the processor is configured to perform:
 (G) applying the compensation coefficient to the subsequent sample from at least two leads.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the interface module comprises a measurement module that is coupled to the plurality of ECG electrodes positioned on the diagnostic garment. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the interface module comprises a communications module that receives the ECG measurements from a signal, the signal being received over a communications channel. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is incorporated in the diagnostic garment. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the diagnostic garment comprises an inflatable glove. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one measuring sensor. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one measuring sensor comprises an oxygen sensor configured to measure a level of oxygen in blood. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one measuring sensor comprises a finger plethysmograph configured to perform a noninvasive arterial blood pressure measurement. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one measuring sensor comprises a cuff configured to measure at least one of a brachial radial pressure and a finger blood pressure. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one measuring sensor comprises a temperature sensor placed in the diagnostic garment and configured to measure body temperature. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one measuring sensor comprises a built-in measuring device configured to determine at least one of nerve conduction, and muscle force hand movement. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one measuring sensor comprises a built-in measuring device configured to assess at least one of a tremor, a normal form of finger movement, and a neurological form of finger movement. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a control unit configured to acquire at least one bio-signal from the diagnostic garment.