Device and method for screening congenital heart disease

Abstract

An apparatus including a main processing unit. The apparatus further including a precordial patch coupled to the main processing unit, the precordial patch having a plurality of sensors for detecting heart sounds and cardiac electrical signals (ECG). The apparatus further including a probe coupled to the main processing unit, the probe having a sensor for detecting oxygen saturation of blood circulating through a human. A method is further described including simultaneously measuring and analyzing heart sounds, cardiac electrical signals (ECG) and oxygen saturation of blood circulating through a human. The method further includes performing an algorithm to determine the presence of a significant congenital heart disease and displaying management recommendations based on results of the algorithm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting congenital heart disease based on a triple screen facilitated by an apparatus comprising a precordial patch configured to be secured to a newborn human subject, the precordial patch comprising dimensions for positioning the precordial patch within a precordium of a newborn human subject, the method comprising:
 receiving first information associated with a detected oxygen saturation, the first information being received from a plurality of first sensors associated with the precordial patch;   receiving second information associated with a presence or absence of a detected heart murmur and/or a detected cyanotic heart defect, the second information being received from a plurality of second sensors disposed at the precordial patch;   receiving third information associated with a presence or absence of detected abnormal electrical activity of a heart, the third information being received from a plurality of third sensors disposed at the precordial patch; and   facilitating a determination of a presence of congenital heart disease based on all three of (1) the detected oxygen saturation, (2) the presence or absence of a detected heart murmur and/or a detected cyanotic heart defect, and (3) the presence or absence of detected abnormal electrical activity of a heart.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a given first sensor is configured to facilitate detecting oxygen saturation based on pulse oximetry. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a given second sensor is configured to facilitate one or both of detecting heart murmur based on a phonocardiogram or detecting cyanotic heart defect based on an echocardiogram. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a given third sensor is configured to facilitate detecting abnormal electrical activity of a heart based on an electrocardiogram. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination of the presence of congenital heart disease is performed by one or more processing units disposed at the precordial patch. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination of the presence of congenital heart disease is performed by one or more processing units disposed separately from the precordial patch and configured to be communicatively coupled with the precordial patch. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising facilitating display of an outcome of the determination of the presence of congenital heart. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second sensors is disposed at a different region of the precordial patch than the plurality of third sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a management recommendation based on the determination of the presence of congenital heart disease. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising modifying a sensitivity of the determination of the presence of congenital heart disease. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus configured for detecting congenital heart disease based on a triple screen, the apparatus comprising:
 a precordial patch comprising dimensions for positioning the precordial patch within a precordium of a newborn human subject;   a plurality of first sensors associated with the precordial patch, a given first sensor being configured to facilitate detecting oxygen saturation based on pulse oximetry;   a plurality of second sensors disposed at the precordial patch, a given second sensor being configured to facilitate one or both of (1) detecting heart murmur based on a phonocardiogram or (2) detecting cyanotic heart defect based on an echocardiogram;   a plurality of third sensors disposed at the precordial patch, a given third sensor being configured to facilitate detecting abnormal electrical activity of a heart based on an electrocardiogram; and   one or more processing units configured to determine a presence of congenital heart disease based on all three of (1) a detected oxygen saturation, (2) a presence or absence of a detected heart murmur and/or a detected cyanotic heart defect, and (3) a presence or absence of detected abnormal electrical activity of a heart.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processing units are disposed at the precordial patch. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processing units are disposed separately from the precordial patch and are configured to be communicatively coupled with the precordial patch. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a display configured to present an outcome of the determination of the presence of congenital heart. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the display is disposed at the precordial patch. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the display is disposed separately from the precordial patch. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of second sensors is disposed at a different region of the precordial patch than the plurality of third sensors. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processing units are further configured to determine a management recommendation based on the determination of the presence of congenital heart disease. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processing units are further configured to modify a sensitivity of the determination of the presence of congenital heart disease. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the patch further comprises at least one indicator for an anatomical landmark.