SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A MULTI-LEVEL CURRENT DENSITY DIAGRAM OF A HUMAN BODY ORGAN

• US 3,717,141 A
• Filed: 09/15/1970
• Issued: 02/20/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Angelo L. Merlo, Lawrence H. Krohn
• Original Assignee: Angelo L. Merlo, Lawrence H. Krohn
• Inventors: Krohn, Lawrence H., Merlo, Angelo L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/072,432
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.6B,2.6E,2.6G,2.6R,2.6V,2.1E,2.1R
• US Class Current: 600/524
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/336 Magnetic recording apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

The system includes means for obtaining potential signals from discrete locations on the skin surface surrounding the organ in question. These signals, which are analog in nature, are converted to digital form and recorded. This digital information is then fed to a digital computer wherein the computer converts the recorded digital data into a series of multi-level current density diagrams. These diagrams represent functioning of the organ and may be compared, either automatically or visually, with corresponding diagrams of normal organ operation to facilitate medical diagnosis of the organ in question. Means are also provided to display the digital information in analog form.

Claims

1. A system for providing a multi-level current density diagram of a human body organ for the purpose of medical diagnosis comprising:

a. means for attaching a plurality of electrodes to a patient'"'"''"'"'s body in positions around the organ to detect continuous analogtype voltage signals resulting from electrical energy generated by the organ in the course of its functioning;

b. digital converting and recording apparatus connected to the electrodes, said apparatus inCluding means to multiplex a discrete portion of said signals, means to convert the multiplexed portion into digital form representing the magnitude thereof, and means to record the signals in digital form;

c. digital computer means to convert the recorded digital data into a series of multi-level current density diagrams, said computer being preset with respect to the time intervals of discrete portions of the recorded data and with respect to the correlative geometrical locations of the electrodes and with respect to the resistivity of the body parts between the electrodes and the organ to convert the voltage representations to current density representations.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that the human body organ is the heart, said electrodes being attached at discrete locations over a band of surface area on the front and back of the thorax of a patient.

3. A system as defined in claim 2, further characterized in that more electrodes are provided for attachment to the front of a patient than are provided for attachment on the back of a patient.

4. A system in defined in claim 3, further characterized in that the ratio is substantially two-to-one of electrodes for the front as compared with the electrodes for the back.

5. A system as defined in claim 4, further characterized in that ten electrodes are provided for the front and five electrodes are provided for the back.

6. A system as defined in claim 2, further characterized in that said means to multiplex a discrete portion of said signals includes means to selectively multiplex at least two heart beats.

7. A system as defined in claim 6, further characterized in that said discrete multiplexed portion comprises four intervals corresponding to four heart beats of a patient.

8. A system as defined in claim 6, further characterized in that said digital computer means includes means to print out a series of said multi-level current density diagrams corresponding to one heart beat.

9. A system for providing a multi-level current density diagram of a human body organ for the purpose of medical diagnosis comprising:

a. a plurality of electrodes, means for attaching said plurality of electrodes to a patient'"'"''"'"'s body in positions around the organ to detect continuous analog-type voltage signals resulting from electrical energy generated by the organ in the course of its functioning;

b. digital converting and recording apparatus connected to the electrodes, said apparatus including means to multiplex a discrete portion of said signals, means to convert the multiplexed portion into digital form representing the magnitude thereof, and means to record the signals in digital form;

means to add an arbitrary signal to the signals received from said electrodes, said means to multiplex including means to multiplex the arbitrary signal after each multiplexing of the electrode signals, said means to multiplex including counter means, said counter means including means to emit a separate signal at the termination of multiplexing of each set of electrode signals, negative saturate byte generator means connected to the output of said means to convert, said generator means including means to pass all the converted signals from the electrodes, means connecting said generator means to said counter means to receive said separate signal from the counter means, and means in said generator means to override the negative saturate byte signal and emit said arbitrary signal upon reception of said separate signal from the counter;

c. digital computer means to convert the recorded digital data into a series of multi-level current density diagrams, said computer being preset with respect to the time intervals of discrete portions of the recorded data and with respect to the correlative geometrical locations of the electrodes and with respect to the resistivity of the body parts between the electrodes and the organ to convert the voltage representations to current density representations;

And d. comparator means for comparing the diagrams with diagrams of normal organ functioning for medical diagnosis thereof.

10. A system as defined in claim 11 further characterized in the provision of digital to analog converter means operative to convert the digital information of the recording apparatus to analog information for displaying this information in analog fashion, said programmer being operative in one position to interconnect the output of the recorder to the input of the digital to analog converter means.

11. A system as defined in claim 10, further characterized in that said digital to analog converter means includes means for utilizing said recorded negative saturate byte for individually displaying the signal from each electrode.

12. A system as defined in claim 11, further characterized in that said digital to analog converter means includes means for extending the time of display of each signal beyond its normal length of time.

13. A system for providing a multi-level current density diagram of a human body organ for the purpose of medical diagnosis comprising:

a. a plurality of electrodes, means for attaching said plurality of electrodes to a patient'"'"''"'"'s body in positions around the organ to detect continuous analog-type voltage signals resulting from electrical energy generated by the organ in the course of its functioning;

b. digital converting and recording apparatus connected to the electrodes, said apparatus including means to multiplex a discrete portion of said signals, means to convert the multiplexed portion into digital form representing the magnitude thereof, and means to record the signals in digital form;

a hard-wire programmer for interconnecting various components of the digital converting and recording apparatus, said programmer including means for connecting said apparatus in a plurality of different configurations, one of said configurations being a high speed write condition wherein the output of the converter is connected to the input of a digital recorder forming part of the means to record for digital recording of said discrete portion of said signals, said means to multiplex including a multi-bit counter for control thereof, said means to record including means for providing a stepping signal correlated to the speed of recording, said recorder including means to receive said stepping signal and cause information to be recorded only when said stepping signal is received, step-line function generator means operably connected to said stepping signal means to control feeding of the stepping signal to the recorder, the output of one bit of said counter being operably connected to said step-line function generator means to cause said generator means to prevent said stepping signal means from feeding a stepping signal to the recorder upon the fall of said one bit, said one bit being selected to fall at the termination of recording of said discrete portion of said signals;

c. digital computer means to convert the recorded digital data into a series of multi-level current density diagrams, said computer being preset with respect to the time intervals of discrete portions of the recorded data and with respect to the correlative geometrical locations of the electrodes and with respect to the resistivity of the body parts between the electrodes and the organ to convert the voltage representations to current density representations; and

d. comparator means for comparing the diagrams with diagrams of normal organ functioning for medical diagnosis thereof.

14. A system as defined in claim 13, further characterized in the provision of time delay means operably connected to said step-line function generator means to cause said generator means to prevent feeding of the stepping signal to the recorder for a time interval at the initiation of recording sufficient to allow the recorder to mechanically accelerate to the high speed write condition.

15. A system as defined in claim 13, further characterized in the provIsion of an oscilloscope, wide band amplifier means connected to the output of said multiplexing means, said programmer including at least one position in which the output of the wide band amplifier is connected to the oscilloscope to permit visual examinations of the character of the electrode outputs to assure proper connections having been made with a patient.

16. A system as defined in claim 15, further characterized in the provision of an astable multi-vibrator, means for connecting the output of said vibrator to said counter to control the counter, said programmer connecting the output of the multi-vibrator to the counter in said one position.

17. A system as defined in claim 16, further characterized in means operably connected to said multi-vibrator to control the pulse rate thereof and thereby permit control of the time which the outputs of the leads are displayed on the oscilloscope.

18. A system as defined in claim 17, further characterized in that said multi-vibrator control means includes one position which will cause stopping of counting thereby permitting indefinite display of a particular electrode output on the oscilloscope.

19. A system as defined in claim 13, further characterized in the provision of manual recording means for recording patient information, said programmer being operative in one position to interconnect said manual recording means and the recorder to permit insertion of patient information.

20. A system as defined in claim 19, further characterized in the provision of parity mark insertion means, said programmer being operative in other positions to interconnect the manual recording means, the parity mark insertion means, and the recorder to permit manual recording of parity marks.

21. A system as defined in claim 19, further characterized in the provision of positive saturate block generator means operatively connectible to one output of said manual recorder means to cause said one output to be a series of positive saturate bytes when said manual recorder means is manually set to produce said one output, means to cause said recorder to record a predetermined number of bytes emanating from said manual recorder means, said programmer being operative in one position to simultaneously interconnect said last mentioned means and said one output of the recorder to thereby record a block of a predetermined number of positive saturate bytes.

22. A system as defined in claim 21, further characterized in the provision of search comparator and logic means connectible to the output of the recorder, manual patient search keyboard means integrated with said logic means, said keyboard means being manually settable to a particular number corresponding to the location of a particular positive saturate byte block on a recording which includes a plurality of such blocks, said logic circuit and keyboard circuit being integrated to emit a signal when the particular number has been reached upon energization of the recorder to cause recorder output, said signal being connectible to the recorder, said recorder including stop means to cause de-energization thereof upon reception of said signal, said programmer being operative in one position to cause interconnection of said components.

23. A system as defined in claim 13, further characterized in the provision of high speed line generator means operably connected to said recorder to cause starting and stopping of said recorder, said high speed line generator being operative to supply a signal to start the recorder when connected thereto by the programmer, the output of another bit of said counter being operably connected to said high speed line generator means to cause the generator means to re-activate the recorder upon the fall of said other bit, said other bit being selected to fall at the termination of recording of all discrete portions of said signals which it is desired to record.

24. A system for digitally recording analog-type voltage signals of a human body organ for the purpose of medical diagnosis comprising:

a. a plurality of electrodes, means for attaching said plurality of electrodes to a patient'"'"''"'"'s body in positions around the organ to detect continuous analog-type voltage signals resulting from electrical energy generated by the organ in the course of its functioning;

b. digital converting and recording apparatus connected to the electrodes, said apparatus including means to multiplex a discrete portion of said signals, means to convert the multiplexed portion into digital form representing the magnitude thereof, and means to record signals in digital form;

means to add an arbitrary signal to the signals received from said electrodes, said means to multiplex including means to multiplex the arbitrary signal after each multiplexing of the electrode signals, said means to multiplex including counter means, said counter means including means to emit a separate signal at the termination of multiplexing of each set of electrode signals, negative saturate byte generator means connected to the output of said means to convert, said generator means including means to pass all the converted signals from the electrodes, means connecting said generator means to said counter means to receive said separate signal from the counter means, and means in said generator means to override the negative saturate byte signal and emit said arbitrary signal upon reception of said separate signal from the counter.

25. A system as defined in claim 24, further characterized in display means connectible to the output of the recording apparatus and operative to convert the digital information of the recording apparatus to analog information and display this information in analog fashion, said programmer being operative in one position to interconnect the output of the recorder to the input of the display means.

26. A system as defined in claim 25, further characterized in that said display means includes means for utilizing said recorded negative saturate byte for individually displaying the signal from each electrode.

27. A system as defined in claim 26, further characterized in that said display means includes means for extending the time of display of each signal beyond its normal length of time.

28. A system for digitally recording analog-type voltage signals of a human body organ for the purpose of medical diagnosis comprising:

a. a plurality of electrodes, means for attaching said plurality of electrodes to a patient'"'"''"'"'s body in positions around the organ to detect continuous analog-type voltage signals resulting from electrical energy generated by the organ in the course of its functioning;

b. digital converting and recording apparatus connected to the electrodes, said apparatus including means to multiplex a discrete portion of said signals, means to convert the multiplexed portion into digital form representing the magnitude thereof, and means to record signals in digital form, a hard-wire programmer for interconnecting various components of the digital converting and recording apparatus, said programmer including means for connecting said apparatus in a plurality of different configurations, one of said configurations being a high speed write condition wherein the output of the converter is connected to the input of a digital recorder forming part of the means to record for digital recording of said discrete portion of said signals, said means to multiplex including a multi-bit counter for control thereof, said means to record including means for providing a stepping signal correlated to the speed of recording, said recorder including means to receive said stepping signal and cause information to be recorded only when said stepping signal is received, step-line function generator means operably connected to said stepping signal means to control feeding of the stepping signal to the recorder, the output of one bit of said counter being operably connected to said step-line function generator means to cause said generator means to prevent said sTepping signal means from feeding a stepping signal to the recorder upon the fall of said one bit, said one bit being selected to fall at the termination of recording of said discrete portion of said signals.

29. A system as defined in claim 28, further characterized in that the human body organ is the heart, said electrodes being attachable at discrete portions on the front and back of the thorax of a patient.

30. A system as defined in claim 29, further characterized in that said means to multiplex a discrete portion of said signals include means to selectively multiplex at least two heart beats.

31. A system as defined in claim 28, further characterized in the provision of manual recording means for recording patient information, said programmer being operative in one position to interconnect said manual recording means and the recorder to permit insertion of patient information.

32. A system as defined in claim 31, further characterized in the provision of positive saturate block generator means operatively connectible to one output of said manual recorder means to cause said one output to be a series of positive saturate bytes when said manual recorder means is manually set to produce said one output, means to cause said recorder to record a predetermined number of bytes emanating from said manual recorder means, said programmer being operative in one position to simultaneously interconnect said last mentioned means and said one output of the recorder to thereby record a block of a predetermined number of positive saturate bytes.

33. A system as defined in claim 32, further characterized in the provision of search comparator and logic means connectible to the output of the recorder, manual patient search keyboard means integrated with said logic means, said keyboard means being manually settable to a particular number corresponding to the location of a particular positive saturate byte block on a recording which includes a plurality of such blocks, said logic circuit and keyboard circuit being integrated to emit a signal when the particular number has been reached upon energization of the recorder to cause recorder output, said signal being connectible to the recorder, said recorder including stop means to cause de-energization thereof upon reception of said signal, said programmer being operative in one position to cause interconnection of said components.