Heart rate monitor

• US 4,295,472 A
• Filed: 10/01/1979
• Issued: 10/20/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Adams, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/080,597
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 128/690, 128/706, 128/710, 128/642, 128/734, 128/689
• US Class Current: 600/503
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A wrist watch size heart rate monitor coupled with a flexible metal expansion band detects a electrocardiac signal on one arm and applies that detected signal to electronic circuitry within the monitor. Means are also included for receiving a second electrocardiac signal from the other arm to obtain an electrocardiac lead I signal. The receiving means may be a contact member adapted to being placed in physical contact with a second flexible metal expansion band around the wrist of the other arm and having a like contact member associated therewith or the receiving means may be metal members adapted to having the thumb and a finger of the hand of the other arm squeezed thereagainst.

Claims

1. A cardiac signal detector comprising:

a housing containing circuitry for detecting and counting individual heartbeats of a person as said heartbeats are manifested by a pair of electric signals, each one of which signals manifests the electrocardiac potential at a different limb of said person, said circuitry including means for selecting the time during which said detected beats are counted to be six or sixty seconds;

a band member of an electrically conductive material selected to be capable of detecting electric signals on the skin of such person, said band being affixed to said housing and said housing and band combination being capable of firmly contacting one of said limbs, said band and housing combination further being in electric communication with said circuitry to provide the signal at said one limb as one of said pair of signals;

receiving means electrically isolated from said housing and band combination, said receiving means being adapted for physical contact with said other limb and being in electrical communication with said circuitry to provide the other one of said pair of signals;

display means for providing a signal representative of the heart rate of said person;

timing means responsive to the state of said means for selecting for providing timing signals to cause said detecting beats to be counted for said selected time;

means responsive to said timing signals and the counted beats for providing signals representative of the heart rate of said person to said display means;

means responsive to said means for selecting whereby in the event a sixty second timing signal is selected, said display means displays the number of detected and counted heartbeats;

and

decade means responsive to said means for selecting whereby in the event a six second timing signal is selected, said display means displays ten times the number of detected and counted heartbeats.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said decade means comprises means for applying the count of said detecting and counting means to the "10'"'"'s" and higher significant digits of said display.

3. A cardiac signal detector comprising:

a housing containing circuitry for sensing a pair of electric signals, each one of which manifests the electric signal at a different limb of a person;

a first band member of an electrically conductive material selected to be capable of detecting electric signals on the skin of such person, said first band being affixed to said housing and said housing and first band combination being capable of firmly contacting one of said limbs, said first band and housing combination further being in electric communication with said circuitry to provide the signal at said one limb as one of said pair of signals;

a second band member of electrically conductive material selected to be capable of detecting electric signals on the skin of said person and adapted to firmly contact the other one of said pair of limbs; and

a contact plate carried by said first band and housing combination and electrically isolated therefrom, said contact plate further being adapted for physical contact with said second band member and in electrical communication with said circuitry to provide the other one of said pair of signals.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said contact plate is carried by said first band member.