Heart monitoring apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ambulatory heart monitoring apparatus comprising:
- sensor means for detecting an electrocardiographic signal;
interface means for receiving an IC card and for transferring data thereto;
user input means for inputting user commands;
determining means for detecting operational parameters of the apparatus and producing operation data in dependence thereon; and
control means responsive to operation of said user input means to cause a block of ECG data, derived from signals detected by said sensor means during a predetermined period, and said operation data to be sent to the interface means for storage in an IC card.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ambulatory heart monitoring apparatus (1) is provided with a slot (3) for receiving an IC card (2). A user places electrodes (7,8) on his body. Operation of a switch (5) causes the apparatus to record EGG signals from the electrodes (7,8) onto the IC card (2). Operation data, including, for example, battery voltage data, data representing the impedance between the electrodes (7,8) and calibration data, are stored on the IC card (2) in association with the recorded ECG signal. The operation data is useful for managing remote subjects. Also the calibration data can be used to normalize the recorded ECG data when it is processed at a remote processing station.
24 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An ambulatory heart monitoring apparatus comprising:
-
sensor means for detecting an electrocardiographic signal; interface means for receiving an IC card and for transferring data thereto; user input means for inputting user commands; determining means for detecting operational parameters of the apparatus and producing operation data in dependence thereon; and control means responsive to operation of said user input means to cause a block of ECG data, derived from signals detected by said sensor means during a predetermined period, and said operation data to be sent to the interface means for storage in an IC card. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of monitoring electrocardiographic signals, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) detecting operation of a user input means; (b) detecting electrocardiographic signals for a predetermined period using means for detecting ECG signals; (c) storing a block of ECG data representing electrocardiographic signals detected during said predetermined period in an IC card together with associated operation data representing at least one operational parameter of the ECG signal detecting means; (d) transferring said IC card to a data reading station; and (e) reading said ECG data and said operation data from said card. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of monitoring electrocardiographic signals, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) detecting operation of a user input means; (b) detecting electrocardiographic signals for a predetermined period using means for detecting ECG signals; (c) storing a block of ECG data representing electrocardiographic signals detected during said predetermined period in an IC card together with associated operation data representing at least one operational parameter of the ECG signal detecting means; (d) transferring said IC card to a data reading station; (e) reading said ECG data and said operation data from said card, wherein steps (a) to (c) are repeatedly performed before step (d) is performed; (f) if said user input means is operated for less than a predetermined duration, displaying the number of spaces available for ECG data blocks left on said IC card; and (g) if said user input means is still being operated at the end of said predetermined duration continuing with step (b) until the end of the predetermined period else aborting step (b) and returning to step (a).
-
-
21. An ambulatory heart monitoring apparatus comprising:
-
sensor means for detecting an electrocardiographic signal; interface means for receiving an IC card and for transferring data thereto; user input means for inputting user commands; and control means responsive to operation of said user input means to cause a block of ECG data, derived from signals detected by said sensor means during a predetermined period, and an instrument ID code to be sent to the interface means for storage in an IC card.
-
-
22. A method of monitoring electrocardiographic signals, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) detecting operation of a user input means; (b) detecting electrocardiographic signals for a predetermined period using means for detecting ECG signals; (c) storing a block of ECG data representing electrocardiographic signals detected during said predetermined period in an IC card together with an instrument ID code; (d) transferring the IC card to a data reading station; and (e) reading the ECG data and instrument ID code from the card.
-
Specification