CARDIAC MONITORING APPARATUS FOR A PLURALITY OF PATIENTS

• US 3,648,689 A
• Filed: 09/05/1968
• Issued: 03/14/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SBD Acquisition Corp.
• Original Assignee: Francis I. Dominy
• Inventors: Dominy, Francis I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US04/757,607
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.06,25M,25R 346/62,23
• US Class Current: 600/522
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/304 Switching circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/333 Recording apparatus specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A recording device selectively records cardiac or other physiological signals from any one of a group of patients, and each recording includes an integral segment identifying the corresponding patient. A switching circuit connects a selected patient signal line to a signal path coupled to the recording device, either automatically in response to a detected alarm condition or manually. When a patient signal line is connected to the signal path, the signal path is interrupted for a period of time and the recorder motor is energized to reach an operating condition. A signal generator is then operated for a time interval determined by the selected input to apply to the recording an identifying code or marking signal corresponding to the selected input. Thereafter, the signal path is completed and the signal generator is deenergized whereupon the patient'"'"''"'"'s cardiac or other physiological signal is recorded immediately following the recording of the code or marking signal.

Claims

1. Cardiac monitoring apparatus comprising in combination a switching circuit having an output and having a plurality of inputs each adapted to receive a cardiac signal, selector means coupled to said switching circuit for operating said switching circuit to interconnect said output and a selected input, a recording device having an input, a timer, first connecting means operably connected between said switching circuit and said timer and operable in response to operation of said switching circuit to operate said timer to establish a time interval having a duration dependent on the selected input, a signal generator, second connecting means operably connected between said switching circuit and said signal generator and operable simultaneously with said first connecting means in response to operation of said switching circuit to operate said signal generator to produce a marking signal during said time interval, said signal generator having an output connected to said recording device, and means coupled between said switching circuit output and said recording device input for disconnecting said switching circuit output from said recording device input during said time interval and for thereafter connecting said switching circuit output and said recording device input.

2. The cardiac monitoring apparatus of claim 1, said signal generator comprising a low frequency oscillator, said time interval being chosen to provide a discrete number of pulses corresponding to the selected input.

3. The cardiac monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a drive motor for said recording device, means for energIzing said motor upon operation of said switching circuit, and a time delay circuit for operating said timer a predetermined time after operation of said switching circuit.