Continuity detector for heartbeat rate measuring system
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for monitoring a succession of heartbeats and estimating heart rate, comprising:
- first and second electrodes adapted to contact a patient and transmit an EKG signal indicative of heartbeat activity;
heart rate means, connected to the first and second electrodes, for monitoring the EKG signal and estimating heart rate;
means for coupling a prescribed continuity signal to the first electrode, for transmission through the patient to the second electrode;
means for detecting the presence of the continuity signal at the second electrode and producing an inhibit signal whenever the continuity signal is not detected; and
means for inhibiting the heart rate means in response to the inhibit signal.
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Abstract
A continuity detection method and apparatus for use in a system for monitoring a patient'"'"'s EKG signal and estimating heartbeat rate. The continuity detection apparatus continuously monitors continuity between two EKG electrodes contacting the patient and inhibits the system from its measuring of heartbeat intervals whenever poor continuity is detected. This eliminates the effects on the system of any undetected heartbeats or heartbeat artifacts of the type caused by poor continuity, and thereby improves the accuracy of the system'"'"'s heartbeat rate estimate.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring a succession of heartbeats and estimating heart rate, comprising:
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first and second electrodes adapted to contact a patient and transmit an EKG signal indicative of heartbeat activity; heart rate means, connected to the first and second electrodes, for monitoring the EKG signal and estimating heart rate; means for coupling a prescribed continuity signal to the first electrode, for transmission through the patient to the second electrode; means for detecting the presence of the continuity signal at the second electrode and producing an inhibit signal whenever the continuity signal is not detected; and means for inhibiting the heart rate means in response to the inhibit signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for estimating heartbeat rate, comprising:
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first and second electrodes adapted to contact a patient at spaced locations and transmit an EKG signal indicative of heartbeat activity; heart rate means connected to the first and second electrodes, for detecting the successive heartbeats of the EKG signal, and for measuring the time intervals therebetween and estimating heartbeat rate based on those measurements; continuity detection means for detecting electrical continuity from one electrode through the patient to the other electrode, the continuity detection means including means for coupling a prescribed continuity signal to the first electrode, for transmission through the patient to the second electrode, and means for detecting the presence of the continuity signal at the second electrode and producing an inhibit signal whenever the continuity signal is not detected; and inhibit means for inhibiting the heart rate means from measuring the current heartbeat interval, whenever the inhibit signal is present and at least until the heart rate means detects the first heartbeat after the inhibit signal terminates, whereby erroneous heartbeat estimates caused by a lack of continuity between the first and second electrodes are prevented. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for estimating heartbeat rate, comprising:
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first and second electrodes adapted to contact a patient at spaced locations and transmit an EKG signal indicative of heartbeat activity; heart rate means, connected to the first and second electrodes, for detecting the successive heartbeats of the EKG signal, measuring the time intervals therebetween, and estimating heartbeat rate based on those measurement; continuity detection means for detecting electrical continuity from one electrode through the patient to the other electrode, the continuity detection means including means for coupling a prescribed ac continuity signal to the first electrode, for transmission through the patient to the second electrode, the continuity signal having a frequency spectrum distinct from that of the EKG signal, means for determining the difference between the amplitude of the continuity signal present at the first electrode and the amplitude of the continuity signal present at the second electrode and for producing a corresponding amplitude signal, and p1 means for comparing the amplitude signal to a prescribed threshold and for producing an inhibit signal whenever the threshold is exceeded; inhibit means for inhibiting the heart rate means from measuring the current heartbeat interval whenever the inhibit signal is present and at least until the heart rate means detects the first heartbeat after the inhibit signal terminates, whereby erroneous heartbeat estimates caused by a lack of continuity between the first and second electrodes are prevented; up/down counter means for accumulating a measurement of the amount of time the inhibit signal is present in excess of the amount of time the inhibit signal is present in excess of the amount of time the inhibit signal is not present; and threshold detector means for inhibiting the heart rate means from estimating heartbeat rate if the up/down counter means measurement ever exceeds a prescribed threshold.
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13. A method for monitoring a succession of heartbeats and estimating heartbeat rate, comprising the steps of:
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connecting first and second electrodes to a patient, for transmitting an EKG signal indicative of heartbeat activity; monitoring the EKG signal present on the first and second electrodes, and estimating heartbeat rate; coupling a prescribed continuity signal to the first electrode, for transmission through the patent to the second electrode; detecting the presence of the continuity signal at the second electrode and producing an inhibit signal whenever the continuity signal is not detected; and; inhibiting the heart rate means in response to the inhibit signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification