Monitoring system and method for use during an electrophysiology study

• US 5,640,967 A
• Filed: 03/16/1995
• Issued: 06/24/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Marquette Medical Systems, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Quinton Electrophysiology Corporation
• Inventors: Bartlett, Peter Leigh, Fine, Ian Michael, Coin, Randy Au, Wodlinger, Harold Max
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/405,065
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 128/696, 128/709, 128/710, 128/712
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/226 comprising means for identifying the connector, e.g. to prevent incorrect connection to socket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/304 Switching circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A versatile electrophysiology study monitoring system including an amplification system, a real time display monitor and a chart recorder as well as an optional data management and analysis system wherein the display monitor and chart recorder are controllable directly from the amplification system which may be positioned at the bedside of the patient to provide a portable system which may be used at the bedside of the patient or in the electrophysiology laboratory and which also includes a 32 channel display of physiological data and user settable filter settings for high and low pass filters.

Claims

1. An electrophysiology monitoring system for monitoring the physiological data of a patient from an electrophysiology study, the system comprising

an amplification system for receiving and amplifying physiological data from a patient during an electrophysiology study;

said amplification system including a physiological data receiver for receiving the physiological data from a patient;

a physiological data amplifier for receiving the received physiological data and amplifying the physiological data;

an analog to digital converter for receiving the amplified physiological data and converting the amplified physiological data into digital physiological data;

a digital signal processor for receiving the digital physiological data and performing a signal switching operation on the digital physiological data;

a physiological data output for outputting the switched physiological data from said amplification system; and

a real time monitor display system for displaying the switched physiological data received from said amplification system wherein the display of the switched physiological data on said display system is controlled by command signals transmitted from said amplification system to said display system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said monitoring system further includes a data management system in operative communication with said amplification system and said display system is alternately controllable by said amplification system and said data management system upon receipt of said command signals from said amplification system.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said display system includes a monitor including a triggered sweep mode which overlays current physiological data on previously displayed physiological data on said monitor.

4. The system of claim 1 including a chart recorder for printing physiological data and said display system including a display monitor wherein said chart recorder and said display monitor are independently configurable upon receipt of communications from said amplification system.

5. The system of claim 1 further including a separate data management system having a microprocessor therein which is in communication with and receives said command signals from said amplification system and said display system includes a real time display monitor operatively associated therewith and the operation of said monitor and said data management system is in response to said command signals received from said amplification system.

6. The system of claim 1 further including a separate chart recorder operatively connected thereto and including a receiver therein to receive said command signals from said amplification system and said display system includes a real time display monitor operatively associated therewith and the operation of said monitor and said chart recorder being in response to said command signals received from said amplification system.

7. The system of claim 6 further including said amplification system generating separate command signals from said amplification system for receipt by said chart recorder and said display system to enable the independent operation of said chart recorder and said display system.

8. An electrophysiology monitoring system for monitoring the physiological data of a patient from an electrophysiology study, said monitoring system including

an amplification system for receiving and amplifying physiological signals from the body of the patient during an electrophysiology study;

said amplification system including a physiological signal receiver for receiving the physiological signals from a patient;

a physiological signal amplifier for receiving the received physiological signals and amplifying the physiological signals;

an analog to digital converter for receiving the amplified physiological signals and converting the amplified physiological signals into digital physiological signals;

a digital signal processor for receiving the digital physiological signals and performing a signal switching operation on the digital physiological signals;

a physiological signal output for outputting the switched physiological signals from said amplification system and said switched physiological signals are representative of the physiological signals received from a patient;

said amplification system further including means for generating control signals for transmission to said display system;

a display system in operative communication with said display system including,

an interface means for interfacing with said switched physiological signals received from said amplification system; and

a video display means for outputting said switched physiological signals from said interface means to a means for displaying the switched physiological signals in response to receipt of said control signals from said amplification system and wherein said display means includes a means static display of said switched physiological signals and a means for panning display of said switched physiological signals therein.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the output of said means for static display of said switched physiological signals overlays the output of said means for panning display of said switched physiological signals on said means for displaying the switched physiological signals.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the output of said means for panning display overlays the output of said means for static display on said means for displaying switched physiological signals.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for displaying the switched physiological signals of said video display means includes a real time display monitor and a chart recorder for the display and printing of the switched physiological signals.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said amplification system includes user settable filters therein to apply high and low pass filters to said digital physiological signals.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said amplification system includes notch filters therein which are selectable to filter selected portions of said digital physiological signals.

14. A method of performing the monitoring of physiological signals from a patient during an electrophysiology study using an electrophysiology monitoring system which includes an amplification system having a display screen thereon and a display system controlled by the amplification system, the method including the steps of;

receiving a physiological signal from the patient with a receiver from the amplification system;

amplifying the physiological signal received by the receiver with an amplifier to create an amplified signal;

converting the amplified signal received from the amplifier with an analog to digital converter to create a digital physiological signal;

performing a switching operation on the digital physiological signal received from the converter with a digital signal processor to create a switched digital physiological signal;

outputting the switched physiological signal from the amplification system; and

actuating a portion of the display screen on the amplification system to select settings for the application of high and low pass filters to the digital physiological signal in the amplification system.

15. A method of performing the monitoring of an electrophysiology study using an electrophysiology monitoring system which includes an amplification system having a display screen thereon and a display system controlled by the amplification system, the method including the steps of;

receiving a physiological signal from the patient with a receiver from the amplification system;

amplifying the physiological signal received by the receiver with an amplifier to create an amplified signal;

converting the amplified signal received from the amplifier with an analog to digital converter to create a digital physiological signal;

performing a switching operation on the digital physiological signal received from the converter with a digital signal processor to create a switched digital physiological signal;

outputting the switched physiological signal from the amplification system;

actuating the display screen on the amplification system to access a catheters screen for performing catheter setup, grid formation, real time display or screen modes, mapping, tagging, charting or storage for the amplification system;

actuating the display screen on the amplification system to access a signals screen for selecting notch filter settings and settings for high and low pass filters, channel names, limiter settings, gain settings and channel selections; and

actuating the display screen on the amplification system to access a display screen to adjust channel color and channel location and to turn selected channels on or off.

16. A method of performing the monitoring of physiological signals from a patient during an electrophysiology study using an electrophysiology monitoring system which includes an amplification system with a chart recorder and a display system controlled by the amplification system, the method including the steps of;

receiving a physiological signal from the patient with a receiver from the amplification system;

amplifying the physiological signal received by the receiver with an amplifier to create an amplified signal;

converting the amplified signal received from the amplifier with an analog to digital converter to create a digital physiological signal;

performing a switching operation on the digital physiological signal received from the converter with a digital signal processor to create a switched digital physiological signal;

outputting the switched physiological signal from the amplification system; and

generating a control signal in the amplification system for transmission to the chart recorder and display system to enable the amplification system to control the operation of the chart recorder and display system.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein a plurality of control signals are generated by the amplification system to separately control the operation of the chart recorder and the display system.