System for sensing and recording medical information

• US 4,033,336 A
• Filed: 11/19/1975
• Issued: 07/05/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medical Scientific International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Medical Scientific International Corporation
• Inventors: Murawski, Frank H., Johns, Gordon L., Elliott, James W., Richards, Fred W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/633,411
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2 D, 128/2 F, 128/2 R, 128/2 S, 128/2.05 A, 128/2.05 M, 128/2.05 R, 128/2.06 B, 128/2.06 R, 128/2.1 A, 33/174 D, 346/33 ME
• US Class Current: 600/495
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02208 using the Korotkoff method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/107 Measuring physical dimensions, e.g. size of the entire body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/20 for measuring urological functions restricted to the evaluation of the urinary system A61B5/4375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/308 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons

Abstract

A system for sensing and recording items of medical information relating to the human body includes a plurality of sensing devices responsive to various parameters associated with the human body for producing data signals determined by the sensed parameters, a code generator for producing different code signals indicative of the various parameters to be sensed, and a recorder for recording the code signals and data signals in a predetermined relationship on a recording medium. The system is embodied as an insurance data collection system for automatically measuring and recording such characteristics of the human body as height, weight, girth (waist and chest expansion), blood pressure and electrocardiogram test results on a magnetic tape cassette. In addition, an input arrangement is provided to allow the results of an independent test, e.g., a urine examination, to be recorded on the cassette.

Claims

1. A system for measuring and recording various characteristics relating to the human body on a magnetic tape cassette, comprising:

an anthropometer for measuring height, weight and girth of the human body;

a blood pressure monitor including a cuff and microphone pickup mounted on said cuff for sensing the sounds produced by pulsations of the blood stream;

an electrocardiogram unit comprising a plurality of input electrodes for connection to the limbs of the human body and a sensing circuit responsive to said input electrodes for providing the standard electrocardiogram leads;

each of said anthropometer, blood pressure monitor and electrocardiogram unit producing analog data signals representative of the various measurements taken;

a plurality of controls for selectively actuating said anthropometer, blood pressure monitor, and electrocardiogram unit;

control means including a test code generator responsive to actuation of said controls for producing different test code signals corresponding to the various measurements to be performed;

an analog to digital converter for converting said test code signals and said analog data signals into digital code signal and digital data signals, respectively;

multiplexer means responsive to said test code signals for selectively supplying said analog data signals from said anthropometer, blood pressure monitor and electrocardiogram unit to said analog to digital converter; and

means for recording said digital code signals and said digital data signals produced by said analog to digital converter in a predetermined relationship on a magnetic tape cassette.

2. The system of claim 1, which includes a voice recording arrangement comprising:

a microphone;

an amplifier coupled to said microphone;

a multiplexer having a first input connected to the amplifier output, a second input connected to the output of said analog to digital converter, and an output connected to said recorder;

a selector circuit for operating said multiplexer;

a manually operable control for actuating said selector circuit to operate said multiplexer to connect its first input to said recorder;

said control means normally applying an inhibit signal to said selector circuit for operating said multiplexer to connect its second input to said recorder.

3. The system of claim 1, which includes:

a urine module for producing different analog signals to indicate the results of a urine test; and

a plurality of manually operable controls connected to said module for operating said module to generate an analog data signal representative of the test result.

4. The system of claim 1, which includes:

a plurality of prompt lights operable in succession to indicate a predetermined sequence of the characteristics to be sensed and recorded.

5. The system of claim 1, which includes:

means rendered operable upon actuation of any one of said controls for inhibiting the operation of the remainder of said controls until the measurement corresponding to said one control is recorded.

6. The system of claim 1, including

means responsive to actuation of one of said controls for operating said multiplex means to sequentially supply the analog signals representing height, weight and girth to said analog to digital converter.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the blood pressure monitor includes:

an inflatable cuff;

means responsive to the actuation of one of said controls for inflating the cuff to a predetermined pressure;

means for subsequently deflating said cuff at a predetermined rate; and

means responsive to the detection of a Korotkoff sound for reinflating said cuff to a predetermined pressure whereafter deflation of said cuff continues at the same predetermined rate.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrocardiogram unit includes:

an optional chest electrode; and

a resistor summing network responsive to the signals applied to said electrodes for providing the standard electrocardiogram leads.