Cardiac signal augmentation apparatus

• US 3,923,041 A
• Filed: 03/19/1973
• Issued: 12/02/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Louis C. Cosentino, Peter Stasz
• Original Assignee: Louis C. Cosentino, Peter Stasz
• Inventors: Stasz, Peter, Cosentino, Louis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/342,701
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.5R,2.5T,2.6A,2.6F,2.6T,2.1A,419PG,419PT,419R,421,422,423
• US Class Current: 600/510
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371

Abstract

Apparatus for receiving pacemaker artifact signals and EKG signals having means for separating the artifact from the EKG, standardizing the artifact, and recombining the signals for use, for example, in telephone transmission. The apparatus also includes means for monitoring the pacemaker rate.

Claims

1. In cardiac instrumentation apparatus including electrode means adapted to be connected to a body to receive cardiac pacer pulses and EKG pulses, the improvement comprising:

input means for connection to the electrode means to receive the pulses;

output means;

EKG channel circuit means;

cardiac pacer pulse channel circuit means;

the EKG channel means including first means for substantially blocking pacer pulses;

the pacer pulse channel means including second means for substantially blocking EKG pulses;

means connecting the first and second means to the input means;

third means for providing uniform pacer pulses in response to pacer pulses;

means connecting the third means to the second means;

summing means connecting the first and third means to the output means for summing the EKG pulses with the uniform pacer pulses prior to output; and

the output means connected to means for receiving and displaying pulse information representative of the input signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which:

the first means comprises limiter means for preventing undistorted passage of pulses having a rate of rise over a predetermined rate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which:

the limiter means comprises a slew-rate limiter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which:

the second means comprises filter means for passing cardiac pacer pulses and substantially bLocking EKG pulses.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the third means includes:

absolute value amplifier means;

monostable multivibrator means;

the amplifier means connected between the second means and the multivibrator means; and

the multivibrator means connected between the amplifier means and the summing means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including:

rate circuit means for sensing the rate of cardiac pacer pulses;

the rate circuit means including rate display means; and

means connecting the rate circuit means to the third means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which:

the rate display means comprises visual indicator means for providing a signal dependent on the pacer pulse rate.

8. In cardiac instrumentation apparatus including electrode means adapted to be connected to a body to receive cardiac pacer pulses and EKG pulses, the improvement comprising:

input means for connection to the electrode means to receive the pulses;

DC amplifier means, slew-rate limiter means;

AC amplifier means;

summing means;

means connecting the DC amplifier means between the input means and the limiter means;

means connecting the AC amplifier means between the limiter means and the summing means;

means connecting the summing means to the output means;

high pass filter means;

second AC amplifier means;

absolute value amplifier means;

monostable multivibrator means;

means connecting the filter means between the DC amplifier means and the second AC amplifier means;

means connecting the absolute value amplifier means betweeen the AC amplifier means and the multivibrator means;

means connecting the multivibrator means to the summing means; and

output means connected to the summing means for receiving and displaying information therefrom.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 including:

means connected to the multivibrator means for sensing cardiac pacer pulse rate; and

means for visually indicating when the rate has changed by a predetermined percentage.