APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MONITORING THE ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF THE HEART OF A HUMAN WITH ARMPIT LOCATED ELECTRODES

• US 3,792,700 A
• Filed: 03/01/1972
• Issued: 02/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Biomedical Corp (Meridian Medical Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Herbert E. Reinhold Jr, Stanley J. Sarnoff
• Inventors: Sarnoff, Stanley J., Reinhold, Herbert E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/230,753
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.5P,2.5R,2.5T,2.6E,2.6F,2.6R,2.1E,DIG.4
• US Class Current: 600/384
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance

Abstract

Apparatus and method for quickly, easily and reliably monitoring the electrical activity of the heart of a human. In the exemplary embodiment there is provided an electrode construction for use with well-known cardiac monitoring means comprising a carbon impregnated plastic body having a conductive grid embedded therein with a lead electrically connected thereto and extending from the body. These electrodes are adapted for placement and retention in the user'"'"''"'"'s armpits to pick up the heartbeat signal and transmit it to the cardiac monitor.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring the electrical activity of the heart of a human under one of a variety of conditions including self monitoring under emergency conditions by the use of a portable battery operated monitoring apparatus which includes a pair of electrode bodies having exterior surface means for enabling the bodies to be easily positioned in the armpits of the human to be monitored and to be conveniently and comfortably self-retained in such position solely by the human by engagement between the adjacent arm portions and torso in The armpit areas, said method comprising the steps of positioning said electrode bodies within the armpits of the human to be monitored and self-retaining the same therein solely by the human by engagement of the bodies between the adjacent arm portions and torso in the armpit areas, establishing a conductive circuit from a position spaced from said bodies which extends through said bodies to the exterior surface means thereof and between the latter through the torso of the human through which the electrical impulses within the torso of the human which trigger the heartbeats of the human are reliably conducted, amplifying the electrical impulses conducted in said circuit and substantially suppressing other electrical signals, such as artifact and the like, which may be conducted in said circuit, and reliably producing output indications representative of the electrical impulses of the heart of the human.

2. A method of monitoring the electrical activity of the heart of a human under one of a variety of conditions including self monitoring under emergency conditions by the use of a portable battery operated monitoring apparatus which includes a pair of electrode bodies having dry exterior surface means for enabling the bodies to be easily positioned in the armpits of the human to be monitored and to be conveniently and comfortably self-retained in such position solely by the human by engagement between the adjacent arm portions and torso in the armpit areas, said method comprising the steps of positioning said electrode bodies within the armpits of the human to be monitored in a dry condition and self-retaining the same therein solely by the human by engagement of the bodies between the adjacent arm portions and torso in the armpit areas, establishing a conductive circuit from a position spaced from said bodies which extends through said bodies to the dry exterior surface means thereof and between the latter through the torso of the human, without the provision of conductive paste or the like between said dry exterior surface means and the skin engaged thereby, through which circuit the electrical impulses within the torso of the human which trigger the heartbeats of the human are reliably conducted, amplifying the electrical impulses conducted in said circuit and substantially suppressing other electrical signals, such as artifact and the like, which may be conducted in said circuit, and reliably producing output indications representative of the electrical impulses of the heart of the human.

3. Apparatus for monitoring the electrical activity of the heart of a human under one of a variety of conditions including self-monitoring under emergency conditions, said apparatus comprising:

housing means for enabling the same to be easily and conveniently carried by a human operator, a pair of separate electrode bodies, said electrode bodies having exterior surface means for enabling said bodies to be easily positioned in the armpits of a human to be monitored and to be conveniently and comfortably self-retained in such position solely by the human by engagement between the adjacent arm portions and torso in the armpit areas, an elongated flexible lead element extending between each electrode body and said housing means, electrical conductor means operable when said electrode bodies are positioned and retained in the armpits of a human as aforesaid, for establishing an electrical circuit within said housing means which extends therefrom through said lead elements and through said electrode bodies to the exterior surface means thereof and between the latter through the torso of the human through which the electric impulses within the torso of the human which trigger the heartbeats of the human are reliably conducted from the torso to said housing means, and battery operated electric circuit means carried by said housing means operable in response to the conducting of said electrical impulses through the aforesaid eleCtrical circuit by said electrical conductor means to said housing means to amplify said electrical impulses and substantially suppress other electrical signals, such as artifact and the like, which may be conducted in said circuit, and to reliably produce output indications representative of the electrical impulses of the heart of the human.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein each of said electrode bodies is formed of electrically conductive material in a three dimensional configuration defining substantially the entire exterior surface means thereof for making electrical connection to the substantially enclosed skin surface areas of the human armpit when the upper arm is in its normal relaxed position substantially adjacent to the human body thus maximizing the area of electrical contact with the human armpit tissues.

5. Apparatus for monitoring the electrical activity of the heart of a human under one of a variety of conditions including self-monitoring under emergency conditions, said apparatus comprising:

housing means for enabling the same to be easily and conveniently carried by a human operator, a pair of separate electrode bodies, said electrode bodies having dry exterior surface means for enabling said bodies to be easily positioned in the armpits of a human to be monitored in a dry condition and to be conveniently and comfortably self-retained in such position solely by the human by engagement between the adjacent arm portions and torso in the armpit areas, an elongated flexible lead element extending between each electrode body and said housing means, electrical conductor means operable when said electrode bodies are positioned and retained in the armpits of a human as aforesaid, for establishing an electrical circuit within said housing means which extends therefrom through said lead elements and through said electrode bodies to the dry exterior surface means thereof and between the latter through the torso of the human, without the provision of conductive paste or the like between said dry exterior surface means and the skin engaged thereby, through which circuit the electric impulses within the torso of the human which trigger the heartbeats of the human are reliably conducted from the torso to said housing means, and battery operated electric circuit means carried by said housing means operable in response to the conducting of said electrical impulses through the aforesaid electrical circuit by said electrical conductor means to said housing means to amplify said electrical impulses and substantially suppress other electrical signals, such as artifact and the like, which may be conducted in said circuit, and to reliably produce output indications representative of the electrical impulses of the heart of the human.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein each of said electrode bodies is formed from a carbon loaded plastic material, which material defines substantially the entire dry exterior surface means thereof.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein each of said lead elements is embedded within the associated electrode body.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein each of said electrode bodies has an elongated configuration in one direction and the lead element associated therewith extends therefrom generally in said one direction.