System and method for monitoring and diagnosing patient condition based on wireless sensor monitoring data

Abstract

A system for detecting an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal of a subject includes a substrate that is placed on and adheres to the skin over the sternum of the subject. First, second and third electrodes are disposed on the substrate, each of which has an end for contacting a respective area of skin. Directional positioning from the second electrode to the first electrode is substantially perpendicular to directional positioning from the third electrode to the first electrode. A circuit on the first substrate is connected to the electrodes and generates a first ECG channel measuring a difference in electric signals between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second ECG channel measuring a difference in electric signals between the first electrode and the third electrode. A communication component on the substrate wirelessly transmits ECG information from the circuit to an external device.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A system for detecting an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal of a subject, the system comprising:
 a first substrate configured to be placed on and adhere to skin over a sternum of the subject;   a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode disposed on the first substrate, each of the electrodes having an end for contacting a respective area of the skin;   wherein directional positioning from the second electrode to the first electrode is substantially perpendicular to directional positioning from the third electrode to the first electrode;   a first circuit in communication with one or more of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode, the first circuit configured to generate at least two channels of ECG data, including a first channel measuring a difference in electric signals between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second channel measuring a difference in electric signals between the first electrode and the third electrode; and   a first communication component configured to wirelessly transmit information from the first circuit to an external device.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first substrate is sized to fit a region of the chest below the clavicle and over the sternum. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first substrate is star-shaped and the first, second and third electrodes are each positioned near respective distal ends of the first substrate. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the system is further configured to use the at least two channels of ECG data to generate a third channel of ECG data using vector characteristics of ECG data. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first circuit further comprises a memory to store ECG data generated or recorded by the first circuit. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the information transmitted from the first communication component comprises ECG data. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 20  further comprising a ground electrode disposed on the first substrate and coupled to the first circuit. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 20  further comprising a sensor configured to obtain data from the subject, the sensor comprising a second communication component configured to wirelessly communicate with the first circuit to synchronize signal acquisition. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the sensor further comprises:
 a second substrate;   a fourth electrode, a fifth electrode, and a sixth electrode disposed on the second substrate, each of the fourth, fifth and sixth electrodes having an end for contacting a respective area of skin of the subject;   wherein directional positioning from the fifth electrode to the fourth electrode is substantially perpendicular to directional positioning from the sixth electrode to the fourth electrode;   a second circuit in communication with one or more of the fourth electrode, the fifth electrode and the sixth electrode, the second circuit configured to generate at least two channels of ECG data, including a third channel measuring a difference in electric signals between the fourth electrode and the fifth electrode, and a third channel measuring a difference in electric signals between the fourth electrode and the sixth electrode; and   a second power source disposed on the second substrate;   wherein the second communication component is configured to wirelessly transmit ECG data to one or more of the first circuit and the external device; and   wherein at least one of the external device and the first circuit is configured to generate at least five-lead ECG data from ECG data generated by the first circuit and the ECG data generated by the second circuit.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the external device is a mobile telephone configured to communicate with a remote server to provide ECG data obtained from the first sensor to the remote server. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the mobile telephone is further configured to receive information from the remote server and forward the information to the first circuit. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a first power source disposed on the substrate. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the first power source is a battery. 
     
     
         33 . A method of obtaining electrocardiogram (ECG) data from a subject, the method comprising:
 applying a first sensor onto skin over a sternum of the subject, the first sensor comprising:
 a first substrate configured to be placed on and adhere to the skin; 
 a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode disposed on the first substrate, each of the electrodes having an end for contacting a respective area of the skin; 
 wherein directional positioning from the second electrode to the first electrode is substantially perpendicular to directional positioning from the third electrode to the first electrode; 
 a first circuit in communication with one or more of the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode, the first circuit configured to generate at least two channels of ECG data, including a first channel measuring a difference in electric signals between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second channel measuring a difference in electric signals between the first electrode and the third electrode; 
 a first power source disposed on the first substrate; and 
 a first communication component configured to wirelessly transmit information from the circuit to an external device; and 
   utilizing the external device to obtain ECG data from the first sensor.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the external device is a mobile telephone configured to communicate with a remote server to provide the ECG data obtained from the first sensor to the remote server. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the mobile telephone is further configured to receive information from the remote server and forward the information to the first sensor. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising applying a second sensor onto skin of the subject, the second sensor comprising:
 a second substrate;   a fourth electrode, a fifth electrode, and a sixth electrode disposed on the second substrate, each of the fourth, fifth and sixth electrodes having an end for contacting a respective area of skin of the subject;   wherein directional positioning from the fifth electrode to the fourth electrode is substantially perpendicular to directional positioning from the sixth electrode to the fourth electrode;   a second circuit in communication with one or more of the fourth electrode, the fifth electrode and the sixth electrode, the second circuit configured to generate at least two channels of ECG data, including a third channel measuring a difference in electric signals between the fourth electrode and the fifth electrode, and a third channel measuring a difference in electric signals between the fourth electrode and the sixth electrode; and   a second power source disposed on the second substrate; and   a second communication component configured to wirelessly transmit ECG data to the first sensor or to the external device;   wherein at least one of the external device and the first circuit is configured to generate at least five-lead ECG data from ECG data obtained from the first sensor and the ECG data obtained from the second sensor.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor form a cluster to enable enhanced generation of ECG data. 
     
     
         38 . A method of managing a heart condition for a subject, comprising:
 (a) detecting intrathoracic electrogram signals of the subject over a first defined period of time by at least one implantable cardiac device having a sensor component implanted in the heart of the subject;   (b) determining whether the subject is experiencing a heart condition based on the intrathoracic electrogram signals;   (c) detecting electrocardiogram (ECG) signals of the subject over the first defined period of time by at least one surface sensor attached to skin of the subject;   (d) determining whether the subject is experiencing the heart condition based on the ECG signals;   (e) based upon the results of each of steps (b) and (d), determining whether to perform an action by the implantable cardiac device of a therapy to influence the electrical system of the heart of the subject in order to address the heart condition;   (f) performing, by the implantable cardiac device, the action if indicated according to the determination result in step (e);   (g) wirelessly sending, by the at least one implantable cardiac device, selected information relating to at least one of the electrogram signals in step (a), the determination result in step (b), and the determination result in step (e), to the at least one surface sensor; and   (h) wirelessly sending, by the at least one surface sensor, the information received from the at least one implantable cardiac device, as well as selected information relating to at least one of the ECG signals in step (c) and the determination result in step (d), to an external computing device for storage or further analysis.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising sending, by the external computing device, an alert to a medical personnel based on information received by the computing device.