Patent Application
20080039722
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an electrophysiology and hemodynamic (EP/Hemo) recording or monitoring system with an ability to exchange physiological signal data with an ultrasound system. Certain embodiments provide methods for exchanging physiological signal data between an EP/Hemo recording system and an ultrasound system or other similar system. The signal data may be electrocardiogram (ECG) and/or intracardiac waveform data, for example. In certain embodiments, EP/Hemo recording systems are tightly integrated with ultrasound systems. Integration allows information, such as physiological waveform information, to be exchanged. The waveform information is thus available both in the EP/Hemo System and in the ultrasound system (e.g., the GE Vivid-I system) simultaneously or substantially simultaneously (e.g., concurrently with some inherent delay). Both systems are displaying the same signal, which allows signal information to be correlated with image information (e.g., correlation of ECG/intracardiac waveform data with an ultrasound image).
Certain embodiments of the EP/Hemo data acquisition system provide an analog physiological signal to the ultrasound system. The connection from the EP/Hemo data acquisition system to the ultrasound system may be implemented using an ECG or other waveform input port, for example. In an embodiment, an ECG input port is used with a two-wire cable (one wire for an ECG electric signal and one wire for ground) having an input level of plus or minus 1 V, an input impedance of greater than 10 megaohms, and a source-dependent bandwidth and dynamic range. Details of the port and connecting cable may vary greatly depending upon system, data and operating conditions. This is but one illustrative example.
In certain embodiments, waveform data may be provided “as-is” to an ultrasound system. Alternatively and/or in addition, waveform data may be processed and/or otherwise prepared for display by the EP/Hemo system before being provided to the ultrasound system, for example. In certain embodiments, waveform data may be displayed by the ultrasound system, used to gate image capture, used to assist in performing image processing, etc.
The EP/Hemo system 120 obtains EP and/or hemo data for one or more patients. In order to share information, the EP/Hemo system 120 may provide one or more interfaces to different hemodynamic systems, electrophysiological systems, catheterization lab systems, and database systems, for example. The information can be collected before, during and/or after a catheterization procedure and may be shared with laboratory and hospital repository systems (e.g., orders and results) for a patient record. Interface(s) may be based on industry-standard protocols (e.g., HL7, SQL, ASCII) and/or specific interface(s) for systems that do not support standard protocols, for example. The interface(s) allow exchange and sharing of data (e.g., demographics, history, log, results etc.) between different systems and vendors, for example.
The EP/Hemo system 120 can combine hemodynamic and electrophysiological monitoring into a single system configuration to allow dual use of a catheterization or other lab. EP and hemo data can be stored in a single database to help streamline documentation and access to patient information. The EP/Hemo system 120 provides laboratory performance and resources for patient care. In certain embodiments, the EP/Hemo system 120 may be used in one or more locations, as well as in transit, for example. In certain embodiments, the EP/Hemo system 120 may be accessed remotely.
In certain embodiments, the EP/Hemo system 120 includes a graphical user interface to facilitate user-defined procedural lists, macros and configurable electronic documentation. The EP/Hemo system 120 may include a multi-parameter module, such as a GE TRAM® module, that acquires and processes patient physiological parameters, such as ECG, invasive blood pressure, non-invasive blood pressure, pulse oximetry, cardiac output, temperature, respiration, etc. Patient data may be measured in real-time and/or substantially real-time, for example. The EP/Hemo system 120 may also be configured for administrative reporting and facilitation of clinical workflow. The EP/Hemo system 120 may further provide on-line help resources and an ability to save data to a network and/or attached storage, for example.
The EP/Hemo system 120 may include a variety of inputs/outputs, such as one or more ECG leads, one or more stimulation inputs, one or more invasive pressure signals, one or more recording channels, one or more intracardiac channels, one or more catheter inputs, etc. The EP/Hemo system 120 provides diagnostic tools, as well as intracardiac and ECG recording capability, for example. In certain embodiments, the system 120 provides bi-polar channel scalability, automated clinical features and activation mapping to aid in diagnosis. The system 120 may provide a 3D mapping interface as well as connectivity to external system(s), for example. In certain embodiments, the EP/Hemo system 120 may interface uni- or bi-directionally with another system, such as a navigation and/or ablation system to share information, such as mapping events, clinical data and/or EP report data. The EP/Hemo system 120 may be configured to operate in a plurality of languages.
In certain embodiments, the ultrasound system 140 may be configured to provide one or more data acquisition modes and/or data processing capabilities, for example. The system 140 may include one or more probes, such as phased array sector probes, linear array probes, convex array (curved) probes, Doppler pencil probes, multiplane transesophageal phased array probes, etc. The system 140 provides imaging in one or more modes such as 2D mode, M mode, anatomical M mode, color Doppler, color angio, color M mode, anatomical color M mode, spectral Doppler, Pulsed Wave/High Pulse Repetition Frequency (PW/HPRF) Doppler, Tissue Doppler, CW Doppler, etc.
The ultrasound system 140 may be configured for a variety of data processing. The system 140 may provide echo data processing of phase, amplitude and frequency, for example. The system 140 may provide digital raw data replay for image post post-processing and offline measurement and analysis. The system 140 may include an instant review screen to display one or more loops/images for study review. In certain embodiments, a scan plane position indicator and probe temperature may be displayed with multi-plane transesophageal probes. An image orientation indicator may be displayed with image data.
A display integrated with and/or associated with the ultrasound system 140 may be configured for a plurality of views including single, dual and quad-screen view. In certain embodiments, the system 140 provides a selectable display configuration of duplex and triplex modes either side-by-side or top-bottom.
In certain embodiments the ultrasound system 140 provides variable transmit frequencies for resolution/penetration improvement. The system 140 may also provide variable contour filtering for edge enhancement.
The ultrasound system 140 may also provide a variety of analysis and workflow tools. For example, personalized measurement protocols allow individual setting and ordering of measurement and analysis items. Measurements may be labeled using protocols and/or post assignments, for example. Bodymark icons may be provided for location and position of a probe. In certain embodiments, the system 140 provides cardiac calculation and/or vascular measurement functionality including measurement and display of multiple, repeated measurements. In certain embodiments, measurements are assignable to one or more protocols and/or report generators. Parameter(s) and/or parameter annotation may follow a medical standard, such as an American Society of Echocardiography standard, and/or may be user-assignable, for example. Certain embodiments provide a Doppler auto-trace function including automatic calculation in live and/or digital replay, for example. Functions, such as data storage and report creation, may be combined and/or automated in a variety of ways, for example.
In certain embodiments, the ultrasound system 140 and/or the EP/Hemo system 120 may access a knowledge database and/or guidance center, such as GE's iLinq™ system, for system-specific and/or context-sensitive support. The system 120 and/or system 140 may also communicate with a remote diagnostic and support center, such as GE's InSite™.
As described above, data, such as physiological waveform data 220, is acquired from a patient or external system via the EP/Hemo system 210. The data 220 is transmitted from the EP/Hemo system 210 via the signal output port 215. The waveform data 220 is transmitted to the ultrasound system 230 via the cable connection 220. Note that the cable connection 220 may encompass a variety of cable connections, as well as non-cable connections such as wireless, infrared, etc. The data 220 is received at the signal input port 235 of the ultrasound system 230. Similarly, data 220 may be communicated from the ultrasound system 230 to the EP/Hemo system 210 via the connection 225 and ports 235, 215.
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The waveform data 220 may be displayed and/or used in diagnosis and/or reporting at the EP/Hemo system 210 and/or ultrasound system 230, for example. The waveform data 220 may be correlated with image data from the ultrasound system 230 for processing and/or display, for example.
As described above in relation to
As discussed above in relation to
At step 320, the physiological signal data is communicated from the EP/Hemo system to the ultrasound system via a data connection in an integrated EP/Hemo and ultrasound system environment. For example, ECG and/or intracardiac waveform data is transmitted from the EP/Hemo system to the ultrasound system via a wired and/or wireless signal data connection.
At step 330, the physiological signal data is displayed simultaneously (or at least substantially simultaneously given some inherent transmission and/or processing delay) at the EP/Hemo system and the ultrasound system. For example, a user at the EP/Hemo system and a user at the ultrasound system (and/or a user viewing both users) can see the transmitted physiological signal data concurrently. For example, while a practitioner is obtaining ultrasound images of a patient, the practitioner can also view an ECG for the patient.
At step 340, signal information is correlated with image information for display and/or processing. Thus, ECG/intracardiac waveform information may be correlated with ultrasound image data for display, further processing, reporting and/or analysis by a clinician, for example. For example, waveform data can be used to view specific image frames by specifying a given point in time directly on the waveform.
One or more of the steps of the method 300 may be implemented alone or in combination in hardware, firmware, and/or as a set of instructions in software, for example. Certain embodiments may be provided as a set of instructions residing on a computer-readable medium, such as a memory, hard disk, DVD, or CD, for execution on a general purpose computer or other processing device.
Certain embodiments of the present invention may omit one or more of these steps and/or perform the steps in a different order than the order listed. For example, some steps may not be performed in certain embodiments of the present invention. As a further example, certain steps may be performed in a different temporal order, including simultaneously, than listed above.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority to a provisional application entitled “System and Method for Physiological Signal Exchange Between an EP/Hemo System and an Ultrasound System,” filed on Aug. 11, 2006, as Ser. No. 60/822,210, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60822210 | Aug 2006 | US |
