Portable, life detection monitor system

• US 5,029,590 A
• Filed: 08/09/1985
• Issued: 07/09/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry Halperin, Joseph L. Allain
• Original Assignee: Henry Halperin, Joseph L. Allain
• Inventors: Halperin, Henry, Allain, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/764,837
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 128/696, 128/702, 128/709, 128/710, 128/711, 128/902, 128/640, 128/670, 128/671, 128/695, 128/700, 128/731, 128/734
• US Class Current: 600/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices

Abstract

An electronic, miniaturized, pocket-size device having a multiplicity of tri-electrode sets (note FIGS. 3 and 6A) for monitoring and storing EKG or EEG signals, one being positive and the other negative, with the third being a possible signal opposite to the signal received sent in the opposite direction (to the electrode), lessening background noise. Each is connected to one or more amplifiers joined in a central amplifier which breaks up the signals into two separate, related signals, one being the difference in the bias voltages of the positive and negative voltages and the second being the amplified difference of the signals. The first is sent to a voltage sensitive detector, which sends a signal out when this difference becomes sufficient, the detector being set for triggering when an electrode becomes detached or otherwise defective, as in even an abnormal EKG or EEG the voltages will not be greatly different. The second signal is sent to a filter and then to appropriate detection equipment for monitoring the condition of the EKG or EEG, for example a peak detector, grounded needle meter, analog-to-digital converter, noise indicator, outside jack, etc. The peak detector is connected to an indicator and to the analog-to-digital converter to keep track of when peaks are reached to get a "print out" record of them. A central processor capable of storage or output is used with the analog-to-digital converter to send the signal to a screen or saving it for future reference.

Claims

1. In a portable life detection monitor system having a plurality of electrodes for attachment to a human body for monitoring electrical potentials generated by said body between selected points thereon, circuit means for processing said electrical signals, and a utilization device connected to said circuit means, the improvement wherein said circuit means includes

an electrical filter connected to receive signals from said electrodes, switch means connected to said electrical filter to selectively optimize the output of said filter according to whether a said plurality of electrodes are (1) on the skull of said human body to monitor EEG signals or (2) on the chest of said human body to monitor EKG signals.

2. The portable life detection monitor system defined in claim 1 wherein said monitor system include lead fail detector means for detecting the failure of one or more of said electrodes and, means for indicating an output from said lead fail detector means.

3. The portable life detection monitor defined in claim 1 including a peak detector connected to said filter and indicator means connected to said peak detector.

4. The portable life detection monitor defined in claim 1 including an analog-to-digital converter connected to said filter, a microprocessor connected to said analog-to-digital converter, and a liquid crystal display connected to said microprocessor to display the waveform signals produced by said electrodes.

5. The portable life detection monitor defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of electrodes includes first and second electrodes and first and second high impedance amplifiers having their respective inputs connected to said first and second electrodes, respectively, and circuit means connected to receive the outputs of said first and second high impedance amplifiers and produce a difference signal, and means for utilizing said difference signal.

6. In a portable life monitor system having a plurality of electrodes for attachment to selected positions on a human body to detect electrical signals generated by said human body, circuit means for processing said electrical signals and utilization means connected to said circuit means, the improvement comprising,

said circuit means including:

means for producing a difference signal corresponding to the difference of signals from a selected pair of said electrodes,

filter means connected to optimize said difference signal, means for modifying said filter according to the useful signal related to the position of said electrodes on the human body,

analog-to-digital converter means for digitizing said difference signal,

microprocessor means connected to said analog-to-digital converter and programmed to analyze said difference signal, and

said utilization means including;

display means connected to said microprocessor for displaying the waveform of said difference signal.