ECG recorder

• US 4,580,576 A
• Filed: 01/17/1984
• Issued: 04/08/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chiltern International Limited Kynance Manor Road Buckinghamshire England HP10 8JB
• Original Assignee: Chiltern International Ltd. (Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings)
• Inventors: Blackwood, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shein, Mitchell J.
• Application Number:
  US06/571,589
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 200/51.09, 200/51.1, 200/51.11, 128/639-640, 128/644, 128/695-696, 128/709-710, 128/908, 128/711
• US Class Current: 600/524
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/273 Connection of cords, cables or leads to electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/308 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/336 Magnetic recording apparatus

Abstract

An ECG recorder apparatus includes a recorder and a lead arrangement comprising a pair of manually operable resiliently biased jaws carrying electrodes. The electrodes are connected via a connection and a lead to a jack plug which on insertion in the corresponding socket in the recorder causes the recorder to commence operation. The apparatus may be applied by a patient to record an ECG when symptoms are perceived. The electrode arrangement may be easily and reliably applied and the fact that the recorder begins operating automatically reduces the possibility of patient error.

Claims

1. A portable ECG data collection and storage apparatus comprising:

recorder means for recording data in a data storage medium, said recorder means being electrically operated and normally in an unenergized state, said recorder means including;

a source of operating current,

socket means having at least a pair electrically isolated data input terminals and a pair of further electrically isolated current supply terminals, the establishment of a short circuit between said current supply terminals causing energization of said recorder means whereby data may be recorded in the storage medium,

differential amplifier means connected to said socket means data input terminals for providing output signals commensurate with the differences between the potentials applied to a pair of input terminals of said amplifier means, said differential amplifier means input terminals being connected to respective of said socket means data input terminals,

voltage-to-frequency converter means for receiving the signals provided by said amplifier means and providing a variable frequency output signal commensurate therewith,

means for recording said variable frequency output signals in said data storage medium, and

output terminal means, the recorded variable frequency signals appearing at said output terminal means upon playback of said recording means;

electrode means adapted for self-application by a patient to an extremity of his body, said electrode means comprising at least two pairs of manually operable jaws, the jaws of each of said pairs being pivotally interconnected and being resiliently biased toward one another, said jaws being operable against said resilient bias to open to a degree necessary to receive therebetween an extremity of the patient, at least one of said jaws of each pair being provided with an electrode configured to establish electrical contact with the surface of an extremity of the patient'"'"'s body disposed between the jaws of the pair;

plug means, said plug means being complementary to said recorder means socket means whereby insertion of said plug means into said socket means will establish substantially a short circuit between said current supply terminals whereby said recorder means be energized from said source of operating current, said plug means additionally including at least a pair of electrically isolated data supply terminals which will be electrically connected to said recorder means socket data input terminals upon insertion of said plug means into said socket means;

flexible conductor means for connecting an electrode on each of said pairs of jaws to one of said plug means data supply terminals; and

decoder means, said decoder means converting said recorded variable frequency signals to electrical potentials for inputing to an electrocardiographic recording apparatus for producing a record thereof which may be visually examined.