Robert H Levine

US Patent:

20040260188, Dec 23, 2004

Filed:

Jun 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/464267

Inventors:

Zeeshan Syed - Wayzata MN, US
John Guttag - Lexington MA, US
Robert Levine - Brookline MA, US
Francesca Nesta - Boston MA, US
Dorothy Curtis - Framingham MA, US

International Classification:

A61B005/04

US Classification:

600/509000, 600/513000, 600/528000

Abstract:

The present invention provides systems and methods for performing automated auscultation and diagnosis of conditions of the cardiovascular system. The invention acquires an acoustic signal emanating from the cardiovascular system via an sensor. In addition, in certain embodiments of the invention an electrical signal, e.g., an electrocardiogram (EKG) is simultaneously acquired. The signals are digitized, and, optionally, filtered to remove noise. The invention then processes and analyses the signal(s) so as to provide a clinically relevant conclusion or recommendation such as a diagnosis or suggested additional tests or therapy. In preferred embodiments the system comprises: (1) a beat selection component that selects a plurality of beats for analysis, wherein each beat comprises an acoustic signal emanating from the cardiovascular system; (2) a time-frequency analysis component that performs a time-frequency decomposition of beats selected for analysis so as to identify or extract physiologically relevant features; and (3) a processing component that processes the information so at to provide a clinically relevant conclusion or recommendation. In preferred embodiments of the invention the system further includes an aggregation component that combines information obtained from a plurality of the beats selected for analysis. In one embodiment, the system diagnoses mitral valve prolapse.

US Patent:

55061451, Apr 9, 1996

Filed:

Dec 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/348345

Inventors:

Brian S. Bull - Loma Linda CA
Robert A. Levine - Guilford CT
Stephen C. Wardlaw - Old Saybrook CT

International Classification:

G01N 3386
G01N 3372

US Classification:

436 69

Abstract:

Useful information about a subject's level of systemic inflammation is obtained by quantitatively measuring the amount of fibrinogen and the hematocrit and or hemoglobin in the subject's whole blood. The fibrinogen measurement, when combined with an hematocrit or hemoglobin measurement, provides a systemic Inflammation Index value for the donor. The method is not affected by blood variables which are not related to the presence of inflammation, which blood variables are known to invalidate an erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which is the most frequently used blood test for detecting systemic inflammation in humans.