Apparatus and method for outputting heart sounds

Abstract

An apparatus for outputting heart sounds includes an implantable system and an external system. The implantable system includes a sensor for generating sensed signals representing detected heart sounds, an interface circuit and a control circuit for receiving the sensed signals, generating data representing the heart sounds therefrom, and transmitting the data to the external system via the interface circuit. The external system includes an interface circuit for communicating with the implantable system, and a control circuit for receiving the data representing the heart sounds and for generating control signals that cause an output device to generate outputs representing the sounds. The implantable system may also include a sensor(s) for detecting cardiac electrical signals. in this case, outputs representing the cardiac electrical signals are also output.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system configured to be coupled to a patient, comprising:
 a physiologic sensor circuit configured for sensing a first signal indicative of heart sounds and a second signal indicative of cardiac electrical activity;   a control circuit communicatively coupled to the physiologic sensor circuit, the control circuit configured to:
 receive the first and second signals; 
 detect heart sounds using the first signal; 
 detect cardiac electrical activity using the second signal; and 
 generate an output control signal using the detected heart sounds; and 
   an output device configured to generate, in response to the output control signal, a visual presentation based on the first and second signals and a timing comparison between the detected heart sounds and the detected cardiac electrical activity.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the physiologic sensor circuit is configured to sense the second signal concurrently with the first signal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is configured to detect the heart sounds when the detected cardiac electrical activity meets a specified criterion. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , where in physiologic sensor circuit is further configured to sense a third signal indicative of physical activity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the control circuit is configured to detect the heart sounds when the third signal indicates a physical activity level that meets a specified criterion, 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the output device comprises an audio device configured to generate, in response to the output control signal, audio outputs indicative of heart sounds. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the physiologic sensor circuit includes one or more physiologic sensors coupled to the patient, and the physiologic sensor circuit senses the first and second signals using the one or more physiologic sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more physiologic sensors includes an accelerometer configured to sense the first signal indicative of heart sounds. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the accelerometer is configured to sense the first signal indicative of heart sounds using a first filter, and to sense a third signal indicative of physical activity using a different second filter. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more physiologic sensors include one or more implantable electrodes configured to sense the second signal including a cardiac electrogram. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a transmitter circuit configured to transmit one or both of the first and second signals to a remote system, 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 sensing, using a physiologic sensor circuit, a first signal indicative of heart :sounds and a second signal indicative of cardiac electrical activity;   transmitting the first and second signals to a control circuit;   processing the first and second signals using the control circuit, including detecting heart sounds using the first signal and detecting cardiac electrical activity using the second signal; and   generating, at an output device, a visual presentation based on the first and second signals and a timing comparison between the detected heart sounds and the detected cardiac electrical activity.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein sensing the first and second signals include sensing the second signal concurrently with the first signal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein detecting the heart sounds includes ensemble averaging over a portion of the first signal when the second signal indicates intrinsic electric systoles or cardiac stimulation evoked electrical systoles. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising sensing, using the physiologic sensor circuit, a third signal indicative of physical activity, and detecting a physical activity level using the third signal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein detecting the heart sounds includes ensemble averaging over a portion of the first signal when the detected physical activity level meets a specified criterion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising sensing an accelerometer signal using an accelerometer, wherein detecting the heart sounds includes detecting the heart sounds using the accelerometer signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising sensing a third signal indicative of physical activity, wherein detecting the heart sounds includes filtering the accelerometer signal using a first filter, and detecting a physical activity level includes filtering the accelerometer signal using a second filter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein sensing the second signal includes sensing a cardiac electrogram using one or more implantable electrodes. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising transmitting one or both of the first and second signals to a remote system.