ECG system with multi mode electrode units
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring heart muscle activity of an individual comprising:
- a first electrode unit for generating a first signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a first location on a body of the individual; and
a second electrode unit for generating a second signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a second location on the body of the individual;
wherein each of the first and second electrode units is configurable to operate in;
a field-sensing mode wherein the electrode unit is configured to generate its corresponding signal based on a detected electric field at a location on or in proximity to the individual'"'"'s skin; and
,a current-sensing mode wherein the electrode unit is configured to generate its corresponding signal based on current flow through a resistive sensor element placed directly on the individual'"'"'s skin;
wherein each of the first and second electrode units is configurable to operate in;
a non-contact field-sensing mode wherein the individual'"'"'s clothing is located between the electrode unit and the individual'"'"'s skin; and
a contact field-sensing mode wherein the individual'"'"'s clothing is not located between the electrode unit and the individual'"'"'s skinwherein each of the electrode units comprises a capacitive sensor element, the capacitive sensor element of each of the electrode units comprising;
an electrodynamic sensor which is sensitive to electromagnetic waves; and
an antenna comprising an electrically conductive radiating element for receiving electromagnetic waves, the radiating element in electrical contact with a sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor and having a surface area which is larger than a surface area of the sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor, the antenna located relatively more proximate than the electrodynamic sensor to the individual'"'"'s skin during operation of the electrode unit in the field-sensing mode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and apparatus for monitoring heart muscle activity of an individual include a first electrode unit, for receiving a first signal indicative of electrical, activity at a first location on a body of the individual and a second electrode unit for receiving a second, signal indicative of electrical activity at a second location on the body of the individual. Each of the first and second electrode units is configurable to operate in a field-sensing mode wherein the electrode unit is placed on or it! proximity to the individual'"'"'s skin, and a current-sensing mode wherein the electrode unit is coupled to a resistive sensor sensing element placed directly on the individual'"'"'s skin. The field-sensing mode can be either non-contact field-sensing mode.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring heart muscle activity of an individual comprising:
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a first electrode unit for generating a first signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a first location on a body of the individual; and a second electrode unit for generating a second signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a second location on the body of the individual; wherein each of the first and second electrode units is configurable to operate in; a field-sensing mode wherein the electrode unit is configured to generate its corresponding signal based on a detected electric field at a location on or in proximity to the individual'"'"'s skin; and
,a current-sensing mode wherein the electrode unit is configured to generate its corresponding signal based on current flow through a resistive sensor element placed directly on the individual'"'"'s skin; wherein each of the first and second electrode units is configurable to operate in; a non-contact field-sensing mode wherein the individual'"'"'s clothing is located between the electrode unit and the individual'"'"'s skin; and a contact field-sensing mode wherein the individual'"'"'s clothing is not located between the electrode unit and the individual'"'"'s skin wherein each of the electrode units comprises a capacitive sensor element, the capacitive sensor element of each of the electrode units comprising; an electrodynamic sensor which is sensitive to electromagnetic waves; and an antenna comprising an electrically conductive radiating element for receiving electromagnetic waves, the radiating element in electrical contact with a sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor and having a surface area which is larger than a surface area of the sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor, the antenna located relatively more proximate than the electrodynamic sensor to the individual'"'"'s skin during operation of the electrode unit in the field-sensing mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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11. A system for monitoring heart muscle activity of an individual comprising:
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a first electrode unit for generating a first signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a first location on a body of the individual; and a second electrode unit for generating a second signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a second location on the body of the individual; wherein each of the first and second electrode units is configurable to operate in; a field-sensing mode wherein the electrode unit is configured to generate its corresponding signal based on a detected electric field at a location on or in proximity to the individual'"'"'s skin; and
,a current-sensing mode wherein the electrode unit is configured to generate its corresponding signal based on current flow through a resistive sensor element placed directly on the individual'"'"'s skin; wherein each of the first and second electrode units is configurable to operate in; a non-contact field-sensing mode wherein the individual'"'"'s clothing is located between the electrode unit and the individual'"'"'s skin; and a contact field-sensing mode wherein the dividual'"'"'s clothing is not located between the electrode unit and the inddvidual'"'"'s skin wherein each of the electrode units comprises a capacitive sensor element, the capacitive sensor element of each of the electrode units comprising; an electrodynamic sensor which is sensitive to electromagnetic waves; and an antenna comprising an electrically conductive radiating element for receiving electromagnetic waves, the radiating element in electrical contact with a sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor and having a surface area which is larger than a surface area of the sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor, the antenna located relatively more proximate than the electrodynamic sensor to the individual'"'"'s skin during operation of the electrode unit in the field-sensing mode; and at least one of the electrode units comprises a first proximity sensor configured to detect a presence of the resistive sensor element. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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26. A system for monitoring heart muscle activity of as individual comprising:
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a first electrode unit for generating a first signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a first location on a body of the individual, the first electrode unit comprising a first capacitive sensing element for detecting electric field; a second electrode unit for generating a second signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a second location on the body of the individual, the second electrode unit comprising a second capacitive sensing element for detecting electric field; and a plurality of inputs, each input adapted to receive a corresponding signal from a current-sensing electrode unit indicative of electrical activity at a corresponding location on the body of the individual; wherein the capacitive sensor element of each of the first and second electrode units comprises; an electrodynamic sensor which is sensitive to electromagnetic waves; and an antenna comprising an electrically conductive radiating element for receiving electromagnetic waves, the radiating element in electrical contact with a sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor and having a surface area which is larger than a surface area of the sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor, the antenna located relatively more proximate than the electrodynamic sensor to the individual'"'"'s skin during operation of the electrode unit. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for monitoring heart muscle activity of an individual comprising:
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a first input for receiving a first signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a first location on a body of the individual; a second input for receiving a second signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a second location on the body of the individual; a first field-sensing electrode unit connectable to the first input; and a second field-sensing electrode unit connectable to the second input; wherein each of the inputs is adapted to receive a signal from a field-sensing electrode unit or from a current-sensing electrode unit and the system is configured to differentiate between signals received from field-sensing electrode units and signals received from current-sensing electrode units and to generate one or more ECG waveforms based on the received signals; and wherein each one of the first and second field-sensing electrode units comprises a capacitive sensor element, the capacitive sensor element comprising; an electrodynamic sensor sensitive to electromagnetic waves; an antenna comprising an electrically conductive radiating element for receiving electromagnetic waves, the radiating element in electrical contact with a sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor and having a surface area which is larger than a surface area of the sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor, the antenna located relatively more proximate, than the electrodynamic sensor to the individual'"'"'s skin during operation of the field-sensing electrode unit. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. The system for monitoring heart muscle activity of an individual comprising:
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a first field-sensing electrode unit for generating a first signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a first location on a body of the individual, the first field-sensing electrode unit configured to generate the first signal based on a detected electric field at a location on or in proximity to the individual'"'"'s skin; and a second current-sensing electrode unit for generating a second signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a second location on the body of the individual, the second current-sensing electrode unit configured to generate the second signal based on current flow through a resistive sensor element placed directly on the individual'"'"'s skin; wherein the system is configured to combine the first signal and the second signal to generate an ECG waveform; and the first field-sensing electrode unit comprises a capacitive sensor element, the capacitive sensor element comprising; an electrodynamic sensor which is sensitive to electromagnetic waves; and an antenna comprising an electrically conductive radiating element for receiving electromagnetic waves, the radiating element in electrical contact with a sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor and having a surface area which is larger than a surface area of the sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor, the antenna located relatively more proximate than the electrodynamic sensor to the invdidual'"'"'s skin during operation of the first field-sensing electrode unit.
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47. A system for monitoring heart muscle activity of an individual comprising:
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a first electrode unit for generating a first signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a first location on a body of the individual; and a second electrode unit for generating a second signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a second location on the body of the individual; wherein each of the first and second electrode units is configurable to operate in; a field-sensing mode wherein the electrode unit is configured to generate its corresponding signal based on a detected electric field at a location on or in proximity to the individual'"'"'s skin; and
,a current-sensing mode wherein the electrode unit is configured to generate its corresponding signal based on current flow through a resistive sensor element placed directly on the individual'"'"'s skin; and wherein the first field-sensing electrode unit comprises a capacitive sensor element, the capacitive sensor element comprising; an electrodynamic sensor which is sensitive to electromagnetic waves; and an antenna comprising an electrically conductive radiating element for receiving electromagnetic waves, the radiating element in electrical contact with a sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor and having a surface area which is larger than a surface area of the sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor, the antenna located relatively more proximate than the electrodynamic sensor to the individual'"'"'s skin during operation of the first field-sensing electrode unit.
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48. A system for monitoring heart muscle activity of an individual comprising:
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a first electrode unit for generating a first signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a first location on a body of the individual; and a second electrode unit for generating a second signal indicative of electrical activity of the heart muscle at a second location on the body of the individual; wherein each of the first and second electrode units is configurable to operate in a field-sensing mode wherein the electrode unit is configured to generate its corresponding signal based on a detected electric field at a location on or in proximity to the individual'"'"'s skin; and wherein each of the electrode units comprises a capacitive sensor element, and the capacitive sensor element of each of the electrode units comprises; an electrodynamic sensor which is sensitive to electromagnetic waves; and an antenna comprising an electrically conductive radiating element for receiving electromagnetic waves, the radiating element in electrical contact with a sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor and having a surface area which is larger than a surface area of the sensing surface of the electrodynamic sensor, the antenna located relatively more proximate than the electrodynamic sensor to the individual'"'"'s skin during operation of the electrode unit in field-sensing mode.
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Specification