Monitoring device for bio-signals

• US 4,709,704 A
• Filed: 08/26/1986
• Issued: 12/01/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Original Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Inventors: Lukasiewicz, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/900,267
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639-641, 128/644, 128/670, 128/671, 128/693, 128/713, 128/734, 128/798, 128/802, 128/903, 128/380, 128/385, 340/573
• US Class Current: 600/382
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0535 Impedance plethysmography for measuring blood flow A61B5/0295
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A monitoring device comprising, a belt having a sufficient length for placement around a patient'"'"'s body, a conductive electrode on the belt for contacting the patient'"'"'s skin, and a device for securing the belt about the patient'"'"'s body. The monitoring device has a transmitter of electromagnetic waves connected to the belt and electrically connected to the electrode in order to transmit bio-signals from the patient'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. A portable bio-information monitoring device, comprising:

a signal processing unit for converting neck and abdominal electrode signals applied to a pair of inputs thereof to a single composite signal containing bio-information suitable for radio transmission thereof;

an FM radio transmitter having an input coupled to the output of the signal processing unit for transmitting radio waves containing the bio-information of the composite signal;

an open collar electrode assembly for producing a neck electrode signal including

an elongate, flexible open collar having an intermediate portion adapted to be held in a upright position against the back of the patient'"'"'s neck when the patient is standing or sitting upright and elongate end portions at opposite sides thereof, said portions being of sufficient length to be drapable over and at least partially supportable by the opposite shoulders of the patient when the patient is standing or sitting upright and having free ends spaced from one another at the patient'"'"'s throat to preclude any restriction of the patient'"'"'s throat and to facilitate attachment and removal of the collar electrode assembly,

an elongate, flexible neck electrode carried by said open collar at an inner surface thereof for making electrical contact with a patient'"'"'s neck, and

an elongate lead attached to the collar to be supported thereby and connected to the neck electrode, said lead having sufficient length for extending downwardly from the collar to the patient'"'"'s abdominal area for connection with an input to said signal processing unit carried thereat; and

an abdominal belt electrode assembly for producing an abdominal electrode signal including,

an elongate, flexible abdominal belt of sufficient length for placement around a patient'"'"'s abdominal region,

an elongate, flexible, belt electrode carried by said belt at an inside surface thereof for making electrical contact with a patient'"'"'s back,

means for attaching the signal processing unit and the radio transmitter to the abdominal belt to be carried thereby with an input of the signal processing unit connected with the belt electrode, and

a connector connected with the elongate lead carried by the belt at an outside surface thereof and coupled to another input of the signal processing unit for connection of said other input with the neck electrode through said elongate lead.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is releasably attached to the belt.