Portable pulse sensor

• US 3,908,636 A
• Filed: 02/15/1974
• Issued: 09/30/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1974
• 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:
  US05/442,705
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.5A,2.5E,2.5P,2.5Q,2.5R,2.5S,2.5T 179/1UW,11A
• US Class Current: 600/479
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence

Abstract

A cardiovascular monitoring system employs a photoelectric monitoring circuit to obtain analog signals corresponding to the heartbeat of a subject. The monitoring system is housed within a small portable case which may be carried on the person of the subject. Cooperating amplification and detection circuitry are housed within the case and provide an audible tone corresponding to each pulse beat of the subject. Control switching is provided to initiate the monitoring of a subject'"'"''"'"'s pulse beat and to terminate it upon placement of a finger of the subject in the monitoring test station. Additionally, the arrangement and selection of components permit waterproofing such that underwater operation is possible.

Claims

1. A cardiovascular instrument for audible detection of cardiovascular activity of a living subject comprising:

a case adapted for portability and unobtrusive storage upon the person of the subject;

a test station within said case for receiving an appendage of a subject under test;

an aperture in said case positioned to communicate with said test station within said case for passing an appendage of the subject therethrough into said test station;

a light source positioned within and effectively mounted on said case, adjacent said aperture, and on one side of said test station in a position to impinge an appendage of the subject inserted through said aperture into said test station with light energy;

an electro-optical transducer means positioned within said test station and effectively mounted on said case opposite and in optical alignment with said light source for being occulted by a appendage of the subject when inserted through said aperture into said test station to thereby receive light which has passed through said appendage of the subject;

circuit means attached to said case and positioned therein and electrically connected to said photoelectric transducer for receipt of electrical signals therefrom and production of larger amplitude signals having a predetermined relationship to the cardiovascular activity of the subject and including a rate determining circuit which connects said larger amplitude signals to said electroacoustic transducer during a predetermined time interval;

electroacoustic transducer means attached to said case and positioned therewithin and electrically connected to said circuit means for producing acoustic signals in response to the larger amplitude electrical signals produced thereby;

electrical power source means mounted to and within said case and electrically connected to said light source and said circuit means for the supply of electrical operating potentials thereto; and

switch means attached to and positioned within said case means at the terminal end of said test station for engagement by the appendage of the subject when inserted through said aperture into said test station and electrically connected between said source of electrical power and said light source and said circuit means for establishing electrical power when the appendage of the subject is inserted and for interrupting electrical power when the appendage is withdrawn from said test station.

2. A cardiovascular instrument according to claim 1 in which case is made of an opaque material.

3. A cardiovascular instrument according to claim 1 in which said light source is an electric lamp.

4. A cardiovascular instrument according to claim 3 further including:

a transparent lens mounted in the wall of said case in juxtaposition to said electric lamp to indicate the operative condition of the instrument.

5. A cardiovascular instrument according to claim 1 further including a second switch means connected in circuit to selectively by-pass said rate determining circuit.

6. A cardiovasculaR instrument according to claim 1 in which said electroacoustic transducer means is a two-element piezoelectric unit.

7. A cardiovascular instrument according to claim 6 further including a water proof mounting in which said circuit means, said electro-optical transducer, and said electroacoustic transducer are encapsulated.