Vital signs monitor

• US 4,308,870 A
• Filed: 06/04/1980
• Issued: 01/05/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Original Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Inventors: Arkans, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/156,246
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/644, 128/670, 128/671, 128/687-690, 128/736, 128/721-723, 128/774, 128/782, 128/775, 128/171, 73/777, 338/6, 338/36, 338/38
• US Class Current: 600/382
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287

Abstract

A vital signs monitor comprising, a plurality of pads having a front surface for contacting the chest of a patient, and containing equipment for monitoring a body function of the patient. The monitor has a device connected between a pair of pads for detecting expansion and contraction of the patient'"'"'s chest.

Claims

1. A vital signs monitor, comprising:

at least two pads having a front surface for contacting the chest of a patient, and means for connecting said pads together;

means connected between said two pads for detecting movement of the chest; and

means in said pads for monitoring a body function of the patient, with at least one of said pads containing an ECG electrode, and a conductive lead connected to said electrode.

2. The monitor of claim 1 wherein the pads comprise a foam material.

3. The monitor of claim 1 wherein the detecting means comprises an elastic tube extending between adjacent pads, said tube having a lumen filled with a liquid conducting material.

4. The monitor of claim 3 wherein the conducting material comprises mercury.

5. The monitor of claim 1 wherein the pads include adhesive on the front surface for attachment of the pads to the patient.

6. The monitor of claim 1 wherein the detecting means detects expansion and contraction of the patient'"'"'s chest.

7. A vital signs monitor, comprising:

at least two pads having a front surface for contacting the chest of a patient, and means for connecting said pads together;

means connected between said two pads for detecting movement of the chest; and

means in said pads for monitoring a body function of the patient, with at least one of said pads containing a sound detection device, and a conductive pad connected to the sound detection device.

8. The monitor of claim 7 wherein the detection device comprises a microphone.

9. A vital signs monitor, comprising:

at least two pads having a front surface for contacting the chest of a patient, and means for connecting the pads together;

means connected between said two pads for detecting movement of the chest; and

means in said pads for monitoring a body function of the patient, with at least one of said pads containing a temperature sensor, and a conductive lead connected to said sensor.

10. A vital signs monitor, comprising:

four pads having a front surface for contacting the chest of a patient;

means connected between a pair of said pads for detecting movement of the chest; and

means in said pads for monitoring a body function of the patient, with the monitor including means connecting the pads in a generally rectangular configuration.

11. The monitor of claim 10 wherein the connecting means for said pads comprises leads extending between adjacent pads and electrically connected to the monitoring means.

12. A vital signs monitor comprising, four pads including means for connecting the pads in a rectangular configuration, with three of said pads having ECG electrodes, at least one of said pads different from the pads with the electrodes having a sound detection device, at least one of said pads having a temperature sensor, and a plurality of conductive leads individually connected to said electrodes, sound detection device, and sensor.

13. The monitor of claim 12 including means connected between a pair of said pads for detecting expansion and contraction of the chest.