Detection of electrode/patient motion and fast restore limits
First Claim
1. A method of detecting relative motion between an electrode and a patient, the electrode being coupled to the patient and to a medical instrument, the instrument providing a signal related to the impedance of the electrode/patient interface, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) comparing the signal to a first range of values;
(b) storing a first inside time representative of the time during which the signal is within the first range of values and a first outside time representative of the time during which the signal is outside the first range of values;
(c) setting the first inside and outside times to zero when the first inside time exceeds a first inside time limit; and
(d) producing a motion detection output indicative of relative motion between the electrode and the patient when the first outside time exceeds a first outside time limit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A defibrillator/monitor (10) employing a motion detection circuit 18 and control and processing circuit (20) that cooperatively detect motion at a patient-electrode interface. In that regard, an impedance measurement circuit (24) produces an output indicative of the impedance of the interface. This output is then processed by a number of filter elements before being analyzed by a motion detection routine (52). The motion detection routine includes subroutines (62 and 64) that compare the impedance against distinct upper and lower limits and then monitor the time at which the signal is above and below the limits. Basically, motion is indicated if the signal undergoes relatively large variations for a short time, or smaller variations for a longer time. A third motion clear subroutine (66) is used to determine when motion is no longer detected. Finally, a similar scheme (102) is employed to quickly restore the various filter elements after saturation.
52 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of detecting relative motion between an electrode and a patient, the electrode being coupled to the patient and to a medical instrument, the instrument providing a signal related to the impedance of the electrode/patient interface, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) comparing the signal to a first range of values; (b) storing a first inside time representative of the time during which the signal is within the first range of values and a first outside time representative of the time during which the signal is outside the first range of values; (c) setting the first inside and outside times to zero when the first inside time exceeds a first inside time limit; and (d) producing a motion detection output indicative of relative motion between the electrode and the patient when the first outside time exceeds a first outside time limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for use with an instrument in detecting motion between a patient and an electrode, the electrode being couplable to the patient and the instrument, said system comprising:
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impedance detection means for producing a signal representative of the impedance between the electrode and the patient; comparator means for producing a first output indicative of whether the signal is within a first impedance range; timer means for monitoring the first output to produce a first inside signal representative of an interval of time the signal is inside the first impedance range and a first outside signal representative of an interval of time the signal is outside the first impedance range; reset means for setting the first inside and outside signals to zero when the first inside signal exceeds a first inside time limit; and motion detection means for producing a motion detection output indicative of relative motion between the electrode and the patient when the first outside signal ecceeds a first outside time limit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A limit detection system for use in a medical instrument to analyze a signal that is related to a patient parameter, said limit detection system comprising:
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threshold means for comparing the signal to a first range of values; inside timer means for storing an indication of a first inside time during which the signal is within the first range of values; inside procedure means for instructing the instrument to initiate a first inside procedure when the first inside time exceeds a first inside time limit; outside timer means for storing an indication of a first outside time during which the signal is outside the first range of values; and outside procedure means for instructing the instrument to initiate an procedure when the first outside time exceeds a first outside time limit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of detecting the limits of a physiological signal processed by a medical instrument comprising the steps of:
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(a) comparing the signal to a first range of values; (b) storing an inside time, representative of the time during which the signal is substantially within the range of values, and an outside time, representative of the time during which the signal is substantially outside the range of values; (c) producing an inside action signal when the inside time exceeds a first inside time limit and an outside action signal when the outside time exceeds a first outside time limit; and (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) for a second range of values. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of restoring a filter circuit used to process a physiological signal to a medical instrument comprising the steps of:
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(a) comparing the signal to a first range of values; (b) storing a first inside time representative of the time during which the signal is within the first range of values and a first outside time representative of the time during which the signal is outside the first range of values; (c) setting the first inside time and outside times to zero when the first inside time exceeds a first inside time limit; (d) producing a fast restore output indicative of excessive charging of the filter circuit when the first outside time exceeds a first outside time limit.
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22. A method of detecting relative motion between an electrode and a patient and restoring a filter circuit employed in the detection of motion, the electrode being coupled to the patient and to a medical instrument including the filter circuit, the instrument providing a signal related to the impedance of the electrode/patient interface, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) comparing the signal to a first range of values; (b) storing a first inside time representative of the time during which the signal is within the first range of values and a first outside time representative of the time during which the signal is outside the first range of values; (c) setting the first inside and outside times to zero when the first inside time exceeds a first inside time limit; (d) producing a motion detection output indicative of relative motion between the electrode and the patient when the first outside time exceeds a first outside time limit; (e) comparing the signal to a second range of values; (f) storing a second inside time representative of the time during which the signal is within the second range of values and a second outside time representative of the time during which the signal is outside the second range of values; (g) setting the second inside and outside times to zero when the second inside time exceeds a second inside time limit; and (h) producing a fast restore output indicative of excessive charging of the filter circuit when the second outside time exceeds a second outside time limit. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification