Systems For Synchronizing Different Devices To A Cardiac Cycle And For Generating Pulse Waveforms From Synchronized ECG and PPG Systems

Abstract

A system for synchronizing a target device to a cardiac cycle, including: (a) a target device that collects data or performs an operation that is to be timed to the cardiac cycle; (b) a signaling device that emits a signal indicating the occurrence of a cardiac contraction and/or ECG feature; and (c) a calibration device that determines the relationship of the signal from the signaling device to the actual cardiac cycle. In operation, the calibration device calculates a time offset between the timing of the cardiac contraction as determined by the signaling device and the timing of the cardiac contraction and/or ECG feature as determined by the calibration device, and then provides the time offset to the target device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for synchronizing a first target device to a cardiac cycle, comprising:
 (a) a first target device that performs an operation that is timed to a cardiac cycle;   (b) a signaling device that emits a signal indicating the occurrence of a cardiac contraction; and   (c) a calibration device that determines the timing of the cardiac cycle, wherein the calibration device receives the signal from the signaling device and calculates a time offset between the timing of the signal from the signaling device and the timing of the cardiac cycle as determined by the calibration device, and   wherein the calibration device provides the time offset to the first target device thereby enabling synchronization of the first target device to the cardiac cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the time offset provided to the first target device comprises an adjustment to an internal clock in the target device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signaling device emits a signal having a fixed consistent time relationship to an actual heart contraction. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the signal emitted by the signaling device identifies points in time in the cardiac cycle that are not times of heart contraction. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first target device is one of:
 a PPG system;   a cardiac/blood property monitoring device;   a drug delivery device;   a fluid sampling device;   a fluid measuring device;   a robotic surgery device;   an imaging device; or   a pacemaker.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signaling device is:
 a heart rate measuring device,   an ECG system,   an imaging device, including but not limited to a fluoroscope, video-camera, MRI or CT machine,   an acoustic device, including but not limited to a stethoscope, or   a physical sensing device capable of determining a heart contraction, including but not limited to a chest belt strap device.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (d) a second target device that performs an operation that is timed to the cardiac cycle,   wherein the calibration device provides the time offset to the second target device thereby enabling synchronization of the second target device to the cardiac cycle.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second target devices are both PPG systems configured to be positioned on different anatomical locations on a patient. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first target device comprises a PPG system,   the signaling device comprises an ECG system, and   the calibration device comprises an ECG system, and   
       wherein the calibration device is in communication with the first target device, and the signaling device is in communication with the first target device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the signaling ECG system shares the internal clock of the calibration ECG system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the time offset is the difference in time of the detection of a QRS signal between each of the calibration and signaling ECG systems. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the leads of the signaling or calibration device are disposed in opposite sides or ends of a hand-held device or hand-held device cover. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the leads of the calibration device are disposed in a patch worn on a person's skin. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the calibration device is removed after the time offset has been provided to the first target device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal emitted by the first target device is a composite PPG signal. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the composite PPG signal is generated by comparing segments of a PPG signal taken over a plurality of cardiac cycles. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein comparing the segments of the PPG signal comprises comparing segment lengths of that segment or prior segment to one another and then sorting segments of similar length into categories and then generating composite signal segments for each of the categories. 
     
     
         18 . A system for synchronizing a first target device to a cardiac cycle, comprising:
 (a) a first target device that performs an operation that is timed to a cardiac cycle; and   (b) a calibration-and-signaling device that determines the timing of the cardiac cycle,   
       wherein the calibration-and-signaling device calculates a time offset between the timing of the occurrence of the cardiac contraction and the timing of the cardiac cycle as determined by the calibration-and-signaling device, and
 wherein the calibration-and-signaling device provides the time offset to the first target device thereby enabling synchronization of the first target device to the cardiac cycle. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the signal emitted by the first target device is a composite PPG signal. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the composite PPG signal is generated by comparing segments of a PPG signal taken over a plurality of cardiac cycles.