System and method for non-invasive instantaneous and continuous measurement of heart rate, stroke volume and ejection fraction

Abstract

A system and method for non-invasive and continuous measurement of cardiac chamber volume and derivative parameters including stroke volume, cardiac output and ejection fraction comprising an ultrawideband radar system having a trans-mitting and receiving antenna for applying ultrawideband radio signals to a target area of a subject's anatomy wherein the receiving antenna collects and transmits signal returns from the target area which are then delivered to a data processing unit, such as an integrated processor or PDA, having software and hardware used to process the signal returns to produce a value for cardiac stroke volume and changes in cardiac stroke volume supporting multiple diagnostic requirements for emergency response and medical personnel whether located in the battlefield, at a disaster site or at a hospital or other treatment facility.p

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A medical device comprising:
 one or more antennas configured for generating a series of radiofrequency pulses and receiving reflected signals from a target area; and   a processor configured for determining one or more of a heart rate, stroke volume and ejection fraction based on the reflected signals.   
     
     
         21 . The medical device of  claim 20  wherein the processor operates on range-dependent reflected signals to determine the heart rate, stroke volume and ejection fraction based on the reflected signals. 
     
     
         22 . The medical device of  claim 20  wherein the processor is further configured for determining instantaneous chamber volume data. 
     
     
         23 . The medical device of  claim 20  further comprising a targeting element configured for directing a primary signal to a focal point on a surface of a heart. 
     
     
         24 . The medical device of  claim 23  wherein the primary signal is automatically and continually adjusted to maintain a consistent view of the focal point on the surface of the heart. 
     
     
         25 . The medical device of  claim 20  wherein the processor utilizes an initial three-dimensional empirical measure of a size and shape of a heart, which is then used by the processor to generate a measure of volumetric changes in the heart. 
     
     
         26 . The medical device of  claim 20  wherein the one or more antennas comprise a multi-antenna array. 
     
     
         27 . The medical device of  claim 26  wherein the multi-antenna array comprises a two-element radar array configured to be operated simultaneously but incoherently to collect two independent data streams simultaneously. 
     
     
         28 . The medical device of  claim 26  wherein the multi-antenna array and the processor are integrated in one sensor. 
     
     
         29 . The medical device of  claim 20  wherein the processor is calibrated. 
     
     
         30 . The medical device of  claim 20  wherein the one or more antennas and the processor are integrated in one sensor. 
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 generating, with one or more antennas, a series of radiofrequency pulses;   receiving, with the one or more antennas, reflected signals from a target area; and   determining, with a processor, one or more of a heart rate, stroke volume and ejection fraction based on the reflected signals.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the processor operates on range-dependent reflected signals to determine the heart rate, stroke volume and ejection fraction based on the reflected signals. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising determining instantaneous chamber volume data. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising directing, with a targeting element, a primary signal to a focal point on a surface of a heart. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the primary signal is automatically and continually adjusted to maintain a consistent view of the focal point on the surface of the heart. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising utilizing an initial three-dimensional empirical measure of a size and shape of a heart, which is then used by the processor to generate a measure of volumetric changes in the heart. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the one or more antennas comprise a multi-antenna array. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the multi-antenna array comprises a two-element radar array configured to be operated simultaneously but incoherently to collect two independent data streams simultaneously. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the multi-antenna array and the processor are integrated in one sensor. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising calibrating the processor. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the one or more antennas and the processor are integrated in one sensor.