Wireless cardiac sensor

Abstract

A wireless cardiac sensor is provided. The sensor may be utilized by a patient, on themselves, in an at home or other non-clinical environment. A sensor housing contains ECG electrodes and an audio transducer to simultaneously capture heart sound and ECG data with a single device. The ECG electrodes may be positioned on opposite sides of, and preferably adjacent to, an audio transducer sensor, for placement against a user's chest. The wireless cardiac sensor may include a button on a surface opposite the ECG electrodes and audio sensor, facilitating one-handed operation by a patient. The sensor transmits acquired data to a personal electronic device, such as a smartphone, via a wireless communication link. The personal electronic device may in turn transmit data to a centralized server and/or health care provider devices, via a wide area network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless cardiac sensor comprising:
 a sensor housing having a first side for positioning against a user's chest;   a battery within the sensor housing for powering the sensor;   an ECG transducer within the sensor housing, the ECG transducer comprising plurality of electrodes exposed on the first side of the sensor housing;   an audio transducer within the sensor housing, the audio transducer comprising an audio transducer sensor exposed on the first side of the sensor housing;   a wireless transceiver, the transceiver adapted for transmitting data recorded by the ECG transducer and the audio transducer to a personal electronic device (PED) proximate the cardiac sensor;   a microprocessor for executing instructions; and   a memory for storing a plurality of instructions that, when executed, cause the microprocessor to communicate with the wireless transceiver to convey data to the PED.   
     
     
         2 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 1 , in which the ECG transducer comprises two electrodes positioned on opposite sides of the audio transducer sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 2 , in which the ECG electrodes are adjacent to the audio transducer sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 1 , in which the sensor housing is approximately rectangular cuboid in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 1 , in which the sensor housing also has a second side opposite the first side, the sensor further comprising a button for actuation by a user, the button exposed on the second side of the sensor housing and positioned directly above one or more of the audio transducer sensor and ECG electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 5 , in which the button is centered over a sensor package comprised of the ECG electrodes and audio transducer sensor, whereby application of pressure on the button by a user holding the sensor against the user's chest promotes contact of the sensor with the user's chest. 
     
     
         7 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 1 , further comprising a separate PED comprising:
 a PED wireless transceiver configured for communication with the sensor wireless transceiver to convey cardiac data therebetween;   a user interface comprising a graphical display screen configure to render displays conveying diagnostic information derived from cardiac data received by the PED wireless transceiver.   
     
     
         8 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, further cause the microprocessor to process ECG data from the ECG transducer. 
     
     
         9 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, further cause the microprocessor to store ECG data from the ECG transducer into the memory. 
     
     
         10 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, further cause the microprocessor to process ECG data from the ECG transducer and store the ECG data into the memory. 
     
     
         11 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, further cause the microprocessor to process sound data from the audio transducer. 
     
     
         12 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, further cause the microprocessor to store sound data from the audio transducer into the memory. 
     
     
         13 . The cardiac sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, further cause the microprocessor to process sound data from the audio transducer and store the sound data into the memory.