Apparatus and method for the detection and treatment of arrhythmias using a neural network

US5251626A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Telectronics Pacing Systems, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Peter Nickolls · Sydney, AU
• Geoff Drane · Sydney, AU
• Barry Glen Flower · Sydney, AU
• Paul Lunsmann · Fawn Drive, AU
• Robert W. Dodd · Palo Alto, US
• David John Bassin · Sydney, AU
• John Wickham · Sydney, AU
• Tony Murphy · Clermont, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 22, 1992
• Grant date: Oct 12, 1993
• Expiry date: Jul 22, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S128/925
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the detection and treatment of arrhythmias using a processor having a neural network with a hierarchical arrangement including a first lower level for classifying individual waveforms, a second higher level for diagnosing detected arrhythmias and a third higher level for the application of therapy in response to a diagnosed arrhythmia. The neural network may be a back propogation neural network or an associative memory type neural network. The arrhythmias detected may be at least one of bradycardia, tachycardia and fibrillation. The apparatus may include a cardioverting/defibrillating pacemaker. In general, the apparatus acquires physiological signals representative of heart activity in a patient. A neural network receives the physiological signals and determines if any arrhythmia is present, and if present, selects therapy to be applied to the heart. A therapy generator then applies the therapy selected by the neural network. The physiological signals may be processed or unprocessed ECG signal, signals indicative of the properties of the blood including the presence of gases, blood temperature, and blood flow signals or signals representative of ventric…