PULSE RATE AND AMPLITUDE MONITOR

• US 3,858,574 A
• Filed: 11/03/1972
• Issued: 01/07/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert E. Page
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Page
• Inventors: Page, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/303,560
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.5E,2.5P,2.5R,2.5T,2.6A,2.6E,2.6F,2.6R
• US Class Current: 600/479
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/68 Combinations of amplifiers, e.g. multi-channel amplifiers for stereophonics power amplifiers using a combination of several semiconductor amplifiers H03F3/211; combinations of amplifiers using coupling networks with distributed constants H03F3/602
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 21/08 Output circuits

Abstract

A pulse rate meter uses a photo optical monitoring system to obtain analog signals corresponding to the heartbeat of the patient. Suitable amplification and detection circuitry provide an audible tone corresponding to each pulse beat and a visual indication thereof as well as a digital read out of the pulse rate of the patient. Additionally, an auxillary input may provide the indication of the patient'"'"''"'"'s pulse at a separate point from that at which the first pulse was taken. The invention also provides for digital readout of the time difference of pulse detections in the separate channels. Provision is also made for obtaining an electrocardiograph output.

Claims

1. A biodynamic instrumentation system comprising:

sensor means including means providing a source of radiant energy, an enclosing support means for housing said source of radiant energy on one side thereof and configured to have a channel therein to receive a portion of the anatomy of a living adjacent said source of radiant energy, transducer means carried by said enclosing support in a position opposite said source of radiant energy on the other side of said channel such as to be occulted by the reception of the portion of anatomy of the living animal for generating an electrical analog signal of the variations in a light signal caused by circulatory variations in the living animal;

first circuit means electrically connected to said sensor means for producing a variable magnitude digital index signal in response to the electrical analog signal;

visual readout meaNs electrically connected to said first circuit means and responsive to the magnitude of the digital index signal for indicating the relative magnitude of the circulatory variations producing the variations of the light signal;

second circuit means electrically connected to said first circuit means for receipt of the digital index signals therefrom for producing a series of digital pulses of a predetermined frequency and of a duration determined by the interval between the digital signal pulses;

logic circuit means connected to said second circuit means to receive the digital pulses therefrom and to develop a count signal in response thereto during predetermined intervals of said digital signal pulses;

register circuit means connected to said logic circuit means for storage of the count developed by said logic circuit means during intervals when said logic circuit is developing the count signal; and

visual display means connected to said register circuit means for indicating a time related function of the variations in the circulatory system of the animal in response to the count stored in said register circuit means.

2. A biodynamic instrumentation system according to claim 1 further including:

audio circuit means effectively connected to said first circuit means and receiving said digital index signals therefrom for generating an audible tone in response to each of the digital index pulses.

3. A biodynamic instrumentation system according to claim 1 further including:

alarm circuit means electrically connected to said first circuit means for producing a signal in response to variations in said digital index from a predetermined rate.

4. A biodynamic instrumentation system according to claim 1 in which said sensor means includes a plurality of means configured and interconnected to permit placement at spaced intervals on the living animal.

5. A biodynamic instrumentation system according to claim 4 in which said first circuit means comprises a plurality of analog-to-digital signal processing means equal in number to the the number of sensor means and each connected to an associated one of said sensor means for producing a digital index signal in response to the electrical analog signal generated by each sensor means.

6. A biodynamic instrumentation system according to claim 5 in which each of said analog-to-digital processing means includes an amplifier and an output terminal connected thereto for providing an external output of an amplified analog signal.

7. A biodynamic instrumentation system according to claim 4 further including:

an electrical contact in each sensor means and positioned to contact the living animal for obtaining an electrocardiogram signal therefrom;

amplifier circuit means connected to each electrocardiogram electrode to receive the obtained signal therefrom for increasing the magnitude thereof; and

electrical connector means connected to said amplifier circuit means and configured to cooperate with a standard electrocardiograph display for providing a display of the signals picked up by the electrical contacts in each sensor means which may be viewed in conjunction with the display of the time related function by the aforesaid visual display means.

8. A biodynamic instrumentation system according to claim 1 in which said logic circuit means includes a gated clock signal generating means for developing a count signal which is indicative of the period between pulses.

9. A biodynamic instrumentation system according to claim 8 in which the aforesaid logic circuit means includes a divider means for dividing the count signal which is indicative of the period between pulses into a constant to obtain a time rate signal corresponding to the pulse rate of the living animal.

10. A biodynamic instrumentation system according to claim 8 in which the aforesaid logic circuit means further includes:

a programmed oscillator means controlled by said count signal for producing predetermIned oscillations; and

a count-down counter means connected to said programmed oscillator means for counting the predetermined oscillations thereof and preloaded to a predetermined value corresponding to the maximum pulse rate expected in the living animal.