Electronic synchronizer-monitor system for controlling the timing of mechanical assistance and pacing of the heart
First Claim
1. Means for accurately controlling the operation of an assistance device having first and second operating states utilized to assist and augment the beating of the heart of a patent under treatment comprising:
- display means including a cathode ray tube and means for generating a timing bar which sweeps across one predetermined portion of the tube face along an imaginary straight line path at a rate related to the patient'"'"'s present heart beat;
first and second photocells positioned remote from said tube face;
first and second optical pick-up means and means for slidably positioning said first and second pick-up means at any location along said path;
first and second fiber optic bundles each being respectively connected between one of said first and second pick-ups and one of said first and second photocells whereby each photocell is activated as the timing bar passes its associated pick-up;
circuit means controlled by activation of said first and second photocells for alternately shifting said assistance device to its first and second operating states wherein the initiation of each operating state is dependent upon the relative positions of said pick-ups along said path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system which is capable of simultaneously displaying a plurality of waveforms on the face of a CRT which are representative of ECG, arterial pressures and operating states of the mechanical heart assistance devices, as well as a "timing bar" which sweeps across the CRT face in synchronism with the ECG grace, for example.
Optical pickups are slidably mounted adjacent the CRT face across the path of the "timing bar" sweep for activating photodetectors which in turn initiate inflation and deflation of mechanical assistive devices at any desired point along the ECG or pressure trace. Any one of the pressure or ECG traces may be "frozen" on the display face to facilitate comparison between a trace of the condition of the heart prior to the use of heart assistance and a trace of the augmented condition. All traces may be freely moved to any location upon the display face so as to permit close positioning and even superimposition of two or more traces to still further facilitate visual comparisons. The timing bar may also be utilized to provide an electrical pacing assist for controlling patient heart rate as well as for extending the heart refractory period enabling the assistance devices to operate at reduced rates.
151 Citations
12 Claims
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1. Means for accurately controlling the operation of an assistance device having first and second operating states utilized to assist and augment the beating of the heart of a patent under treatment comprising:
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display means including a cathode ray tube and means for generating a timing bar which sweeps across one predetermined portion of the tube face along an imaginary straight line path at a rate related to the patient'"'"'s present heart beat; first and second photocells positioned remote from said tube face; first and second optical pick-up means and means for slidably positioning said first and second pick-up means at any location along said path; first and second fiber optic bundles each being respectively connected between one of said first and second pick-ups and one of said first and second photocells whereby each photocell is activated as the timing bar passes its associated pick-up; circuit means controlled by activation of said first and second photocells for alternately shifting said assistance device to its first and second operating states wherein the initiation of each operating state is dependent upon the relative positions of said pick-ups along said path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification