Non-invasive multi-electrocardiographic apparatus and method of assessing acute ischaemic damage

• US 5,419,337 A
• Filed: 02/11/1993
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Ulster
• Original Assignee: Agnes A. Adgey, George J. Dempsey, John M. Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, John M., Dempsey, George J., Adgey, Agnes A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/016,528
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 128/696, 128/699, 128/702, 128/703, 128/710
• US Class Current: 600/515
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/35 by template matching

Abstract

An apparatus for the detection, recording and analysis of the electrical activity of a cardiac comprises an array of from 40 to 100 electrodes each capable of detecting an electrical signal associated with the ST component of a heartbeat. The array is connected to a microprocessor controlled interface which in turn is connected to a microprocessor controlled analyser and display apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the detection and display of the electrical activity of an animal heart, said apparatus comprising:

a 2-dimensional array of a number n of electrodes, where n is an integer from 40 to 100, for individually detecting an electrical signal associated with the ST component of a heartbeat, interface means for converting an output signal of each electrode to digital form, and display means responsive to the digital signals to provide a 3-dimensional graphical display of the ST component levels detected by the electrodes as a measure of cardiac condition.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface means includes a respective amplifying and sample/hold means for each electrical signal, a plurality of multiplexers less than the number of electrodes, each multiiplexer having a plurality of inputs respectively connected to the outputs of a plurality of sample/hold means, and an analog to digital converter connected to the output of each multiplexer.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each multiplexer has from 2 to 20 inputs.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection and display apparatus includes means for recording the digital signals onto a memory card.

5. A method for the detection and display of the electrical activity of an animal heart, comprising the steps of:

applying to the torso of the animal a 2-dimensional array of a number n of electrodes, where n is an integer from 40 to 100, detecting with each electrode an electrical signal associated with the ST component of a heartbeat, converting an analog output signal from each electrode to digital form, and producing from the digital signals a 3-dimensional graphical display of the ST component levels detected by the electrodes.