HEARTBEAT RATE MONITORS

• US 3,807,388 A
• Filed: 08/16/1971
• Issued: 04/30/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roland Ogden, Thomas Orr
• Original Assignee: Roland Ogden, Thomas Orr
• Inventors: Orr, Thomas, Ogden, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/172,149
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.5P,2.5T,2.6F,2.5R,2.6A,2R 58/28A,28B,28D,26R,23TF 307/208
• US Class Current: 600/503
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data

Abstract

A heartbeat rate monitor or personal pulse indicator comprises a transducer for detecting heartbeats and supplying an electric signal corresponding to the heartbeat rate, and a display for indicating the heratbeat rate. The display is incorporated in a watch casing which also incorporates means to display the time of day, the watch casing preferably being mounted on a wrist-strap which carries the transducer.

Claims

1. A body worn, compact heartbeat rate monitor comprising:

a transducer to detect heartbeats and provide an electric signal the frequency of which corresponds to the heartbeat rate;

compact timing means to produce an electric timing signal;

comparison means connected in circuit with said transducer and timing means so as to compare the transducer signal with said timing signal to produce a heartbeat rate signal which represents the heartbeat rate per unit time;

a wrist watch type casing within which said compact timing means and said comparison means are incorporated; and

first and second display means operably connected with said circuit and mounted in said watch casing so as to be visible to a user;

the first display means being operable in dependence on said timing sIgnal to display the time of day, and the second display means being operable in dependence on said heartbeat rate signal to directly display the heartbeat rate.

2. A heartbeat rate monitor according to claim 1 wherein said timing signal is derived from a crystal controlled oscillator incorporated in said watch casing.

3. A heartbeat rate monitor according to claim 1 wherein said timing signal is derived from a conventional watch mechanism by means of an electromagnetic pick-off, said watch mechanism being incorporated in said watch casing.

4. A heartbeat rate monitor according to claim 1 wherein said timing signal is derived from a tuning fork incorporated in said watch casing.

5. A heartbeat rate monitor according to claim 1 wherein said timing signal is derived from an electrically impulsed pendulum incorporated in said watch casing.

6. A heartbeat rate monitor according to claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a pressure sensitive resistor.

7. A heartbeat rate monitor according to claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a pressure sensitive transistor.

8. A heartbeat rate monitor according to claim 1 wherein the second display means comprises a moving coil meter.

9. A heartbeat rate monitor according to claim 1 wherein the second display means comprises a pointer movable over a scale graduated in heartbeats per minute.

10. A heartbeat rate monitor according to claim 1 wherein the first and second display means each comprise light emitting diodes.

11. A heartbeat rate monitor according to claim 1 further comprising a wrist-strap on which said watch casing and said transducer are mounted.

12. A portable, body attached directly readable heartbeat rate monitor comprising in combination:

a transducer to detect heartbeats and to provide an electric signal the frequency of which corresponds to the heartbeat rate;

said transducer being a pressure sensitive device of which the impedance varies in dependence upon applied pressure thereon;

compact timing means to produce first and second electric timing signals;

comparison means connected in circuit with said transducer and timing means so as to compare the tranducer signal with said second timing signal to thereby produce a heartbeat rate signal which represents the heartbeat rate per unit time;

a watch casing within which said timing means and said comparison means are incorporated;

a wrist-strap on which said watch casing and said transducer are mounted, the mounting of the tranducer being such that when the wrist-strap is worn on the wrist of a user the transducer detects arterial heartbeats in the wrist of the user; and

first and second display means including light-emitting diodes mounted in said watch casing so as to be visible to the user;

the first display means being operable in dependence on said first timing signal to display the time of day, and the second display means being of a direct reading digital type operable in dependence on said heartbeat rate signal to display the heartbeat rate of the user in pulses per unit time.