Method of interference-tolerant transmission of heartbeat signals

• US 5,632,279 A
• Filed: 06/15/1995
• Issued: 05/27/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Heikkil a, Ilkka
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US08/464,658
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 128/696, 128/903, 128/706-710, 607/30, 607/32, 607/60
• US Class Current: 600/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A method of interference-tolerant heartbeat measurement, in which method the heartbeat signal of a person is measured from a suitable part of the body and transmitted as burst signals from a transmitter (1-4) to a receiver (5-10) by telemetric data transmission, the transmitting interval of the burst signals being proportional to the measured heartbeat rate of the person. The burst signal is amplitude-modulated with a frequency or a frequency sequence characteristic of each transmitter/receiver unit, or a phase-shift sequence characteristic of each transmitte/receiver unit is caused in the burst signal at desired intervals, the receiver recognizing bursts intended for it on the basis of this sequence.

Claims

1. A method of interference-tolerant heartbeat measurement, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a person'"'"'s heartbeat signal at a suitable part of said person'"'"'s body;

(b) forming burst signals corresponding to individual heartbeats of said heartbeat signal;

(c) amplitude-modulating said burst signals with an identifier including at least one of;

(i) a frequency; and

(ii) a frequency sequence which are characteristic of a transmitter/receiver unit;

(d) transmitting said burst signals, at a transmitting interval, from a transmitting means of said transmitter/receiver unit to a receiver of said transmitter/receiver unit by means of telemetric data transmission, said transmitting interval of said burst signals being proportional to a heartbeat rate corresponding to said person'"'"'s measured heartbeat signal;

(e) receiving said burst signals in said receiver; and

(f) identifying said burst signals as emanating from said transmitting means on the basis of sensing said identifier so that said receiver recognizes those of said burst signals intended for it.

2. A method of interference-tolerant heartbeat measurement, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a person'"'"'s heartbeat signal at a suitable part of said person'"'"'s body;

(b) forming burst signals corresponding to individual heartbeats of said heartbeat signal;

(c) causing a phase-shift sequence in said burst signals at desired intervals, said phase-shift sequence being characteristic of a transmitter/receiver unit;

(d) transmitting said burst signals, at a transmitting interval, from a transmitting means of said transmitter/receiver unit to a receiver of said transmitter/receiver unit by means of telemetric data transmission, said transmitting interval of said burst signals being proportional to a heartbeat rate corresponding to said person'"'"'s measured heartbeat signal;

(e) receiving said burst signals in said receiver; and

(f) identifying said burst signals as emanating from said transmitting means on the basis of sensing said phase-shift sequence so that said receiver recognizes those of said burst signals intended for it.

3. A method of interference-tolerant heartbeat measurement, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a person'"'"'s heartbeat signal at a suitable part of said person'"'"'s body;

(b) forming burst signals corresponding to individual heartbeats of said heartbeat signal;

(c) amplitude-modulating said burst signals with a first identifier including at least one of;

(i) a number of different frequencies; and

(ii) a number of different frequency sequences;

(d) causing a number of different phase-shift sequences in said burst signals at desired intervals, said phase-shift sequences forming a second identifier, said first and second identifiers forming a combination characteristic of a transmitter/receiver unit;

(e) transmitting said burst signals, at a transmitting interval, from a transmitting means of said transmitter/receiver unit to a receiver of said transmitter/receiver unit by means of telemetric data transmission, said transmitting interval of said burst signals being proportional to a heartbeat rate corresponding to said person'"'"'s measured heartbeat signal;

(f) receiving said burst signals in said receiver; and

(g) identifying said burst signals as emanating from said transmitting means on the basis of sensing said combination formed by said first and second identifiers so that said receiver recognizes those of said burst signals intended for it.