PULSE MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 3,815,583 A
• Filed: 01/19/1972
• Issued: 06/11/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas R. Scheidt
• Original Assignee: Thomas R. Scheidt
• Inventors: Scheidt, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Application Number:
  US05/219,074
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.5R,2.5P,2.6F,2.6R,2A,2.1A
• US Class Current: 600/479
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A system for automatically monitoring the heart pulse rates of patients. Each patient is provided with a holder mounted to the patient'"'"''"'"'s ear having a light emitting diode which transmits light through the ear lobe to a light sensitive transistor. A transmitter located in the holder transmits the electrical signal received by the transistor as the light is pulsed by blood flowing through the lobe. Receivers are provided to pick up the electrical pulse signals of the transmitters. Heart failure detectors are connected to the receivers and determine when the electrical pulse signals or heart pulse rates exceed an upper preset limit or a lower preset limit. A visual and audio alarm is provided to indicate when the heart pulse rates exceed the preset limits. A clock is provided which automatically measures the expiration of time from the initiation of the alarm. The system includes a pulse monitor which allows the operator to select a given patient and determine the exact pulse rate of the patient.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the body functions of a patient'"'"''"'"'s body comprising:

a first wall and a second wall connected together but spaced apart with a portion of said body adapted to extend therebetween;

a source of light mounted on said first wall for directing light through said body;

light sensitive means mounted on said second wall and aligned with said source of light to receive said light sub-sequent to said light passing through said body, said means being operable to produce pulsing electrical signals in response to said light being pulsed by blood flowing through said body;

a radio transmitter connected to said light sensitive means to transmit said signals;

a radio receiver to receive said signals from said radio transmitter;

detector means connected to said receiver and being operable to continuously detect and immediately produce a detection signal when any of said electrical signals first become out of a range having a preset upper limiT and preset lower limit; and

, display means connected to said detector means and being operable to display blood data corresponding to any of said electrical signals;

alarm means connected to said detector means and being operable to produce a warning signal upon receipt of said detection signal;

said detector means includes two common collector transistors with emitters connected across a source of electrical energy and two variable resistors connected together to receive said electrical signals, said variable resistors being connected to the bases of said transistors, said detector means further includes a transistor with a control path connected to the emitter of one of said transistors and a load path connected at one end to said source of electrical energy and at the other end to said alarm means.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said alarm means includes a first and second relay and an audio alarm, said first relay has control means operably connected to said load path of said detector means and to a supply of electrical energy, said first relay having normally opened contacts connected to said supply, said second relay has control means connected to said supply and one of said normally opened contacts, said audio alarm is connected to said supply and the normally opened contacts of said second relay.

3. A system for monitoring the body functions of a patient'"'"''"'"'s body comprising:

a first wall and a second wall connected together but spaced apart with a portion of said body adapted to extend therebetween;

a source of light mounted on said first wall for directing light through said body;

light sensitive means mounted on said second wall and aligned with said source of light to receive said light subsequent to said light passing through said body, said means being operable to produce pulsing electrical signals in response to said light being pulsed by blood flowing through said body;

a radio transmitter connected to said light sensitive means to transmit said signals;

a radio receiver to receive said signals from said radio transmitter;

detector means connected to said receiver and being operable to continuously detect and immediately produce a detection signal when any of said electrical signals first become out of a range having a preset upper limit and preset lower limit; and

, display means connected to said detector means and being operable to display blood data corresponding to any of said electrical signals;

said source of light is a light emitting diode which emits monochromatic light and said light sensitive means is a photosensitive transistor;

a holder mountable to an ear of said patient including said first wall and said second wall positionable on either side of the ear lobe with said diode mounted in said first wall and with said transistor mounted in said second wall, said diode is arranged to direct light through said lobe to said transistor, said holder includes a casing fittable into the auditory ear canal with said transmitter mounted to said casing, said holder further includes a hollow tube connecting said wall to said casing, said tube has wires electrically connecting said transmitter to the diode and transistor.

4. A system for monitoring the body functions of a patient'"'"''"'"'s body comprising:

a first wall and a second wall connected together but spaced apart with a portion of said body adapted to extend therebetween;

a source of light mounted on said first wall for directing light through said body;

light sensitive means mounted on said second wall and aligned with said source of light to receive said light subsequent to said light passing through said body, said means being operable to produce pulsing electrical signals in response to said light being pulsed by blood flowing through said body;

a radio transmitter connected to said light sensitive means to transmit said signals;

a radio receiver to receive said signals from said radio transmittEr;

detector means connected to said receiver and being operable to continuously detect and immediately produce a detection signal when any of said electrical signals first become out of a range having a preset upper limit and preset lower limit; and

, display means connected to said detector means and being operable to display blood data corresponding to any of said electrical signals;

said source of light, said light sensitive means, and said radio transmitter are mounted in an earpiece having no external electrical connections.

5. A system for monitoring the body functions of a patient'"'"''"'"'s body comprising:

a first wall and a second wall connected together but spaced apart with a portion of said body adapted to extend therebetween;

a source of light mounted on said first wall for directing light through said body;

light sensitive means mounted on said second wall and aligned with said source of light to receive said light sub-sequent to said light passing through said body, said means being operable to produce pulsing electrical signals in response to said light being pulsed by blood flowing through said body;

a radio transmitter connected to said light sensitive means to transmit said signals;

a radio receiver to receive said signals from said radio transmitter;

detector means connected to said receiver and being operable to continuously detect and immediately produce a detection signal when any of said electrical signals first become out of a range having a preset upper limit and preset lower limit; and

, display means connected to said detector means and being operable to display blood data corresponding to any of said electrical signals;

a pulse monitor and selector means connected to said detector means for applying the electrical signals of said detector means to said pulse monitor;

said pulse monitor includes means for displaying a heart pulse rate corresponding to said electrical signals.