Device for monitoring body signals

• US 4,662,378 A
• Filed: 10/30/1984
• Issued: 05/05/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wendl Thomis
• Original Assignee: Wendl Thomis
• Inventors: Thomis, Wendl
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/666,359
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 128/644, 128/799, 128/802, 128/690, 128/687, 128/639, 128/640, 128/641, 128/903, 128/696, 128/708, 128/695
• US Class Current: 600/382
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck

Abstract

A necklace device has two skin electrodes mechanically tethered to it at relatively widely separated locations to detect the wearer'"'"'s heart beat or another body signal. The electrodes are electrically connected, by the necklace itself or by conductors which it conceals, to circuitry in a pendant or other necklace ornament. The pendant circuit processes the body signal and may store it, display information obtained from it or transmit it to a separate receive and processing/display element.

Claims

1. A personal ornamental device for monitoring body signals, such device comprising

a necklace loop for hanging loosely about the neck, said loop incorporating electrically conductive means for electrical connection to each of first and second electrodes,

a first and second electrode engaging means for mechanically engaging the said electrodes, said first and second engaging means being located at diametrically opposing positions about said loop,

a housing carried by the loop,

signal means within the housing for receiving electrode signals through said conductive means and for developing an output indicative of body signals,

at least one said engaging means being attached to at least one of said loop and said housing so as to anchor the loop in a substantially fixed orientation about the neck when engaged with a said electrode adhered to the skin.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which said loop includes an ornamental feature defining a normal orientation of the loop about the neck, such that said engaging means are located near a vertebrate bone at the back of the neck, and near the center of the breast.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which said loop includes an ornamental feature defining a normal orientation of the loop about the neck, such that said engaging means are located on opposite sides of the neck.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which said conductive means comprises an electrical conductor for electrical connection to at least one of said first and second electrodes.

5. A device according to claim 1 in which said loop means includes pendant means and electrical circuit means housed in said pendant means for responding to the electrical signal sensed by said first and second electrodes.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which said electrical circuit means further includes means for transmitting said sensed electrical signal to a receiver separate from said loop element.

7. A device according to claim 6 further including a second personal ornamental device for wearing on the body, and means located within said second device for receiving, storing and processing said transmitted electrical signal.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said second personal ornamental device includes an ornamental housing having said means for receiving, storing and processing located therein, said housing further including means for mounting on a wristband.

9. A device according to claim 8 further including means for indicating information about the condition of the heart generated by said receiving, storing and processing means, and housed in said second personal device, and wherein said indicating means includes timing means for providing time information.

10. A necklace-like device for the non-intrusive monitoring of human body electrical signals, said device comprising

first and second electrode means for placement on the body skin,

a necklace,

electrical circuit means carried by said necklace and operative in response to body electrical signals sensed by said electrode means for developing an output representative thereof,

means forming first and second electrical conductor means interconnecting said circuit means and said first and second electrode means, respectively, for placing said electrode means in circuit with said circuit means,

said first conductor means extending along said necklace and concealed therewith from said circuit means to a first body location where it connects to said first electrode means so as to anchor the necklace thereto,

said second conductor means extending from said circuit means to a second body location where it connects to said second electrode means, said second location being distal along said necklace and on said body from said first location.

11. A necklace-like device according to claim 10 further comprising a necklace ornament element carried on said necklace and housing said electrical circuit means therewithin.