Automatic lead switching for ECG monitor
First Claim
1. An electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor for detecting and displaying an ECG waveform of a patient, comprising:
- a plurality of electrodes including a reference electrode and at least two detecting electrodes which detect an ECG waveform of the patient;
electrode status detection means for detecting whether said detecting electrodes and reference electrode are connected to the patient and for generating electrode status signals;
reference lead switching means responsive to said electrode status signals for selecting a detecting electrode as a new reference electrode when said electrode status detection means detects that at least said reference electrode is not connected to the patient and for selecting electrodes of said plurality of electrodes to be used to generate a common mode drive signal for application to said new reference electrode; and
means for processing ECG waveforms acquired from said detecting electrodes in response to application of a common mode drive signal to said new reference electrode and for displaying said ECG waveforms to an operator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-lead ECG monitor which determines whether the reference electrode has been disconnected and, if so, switches to another reference electrode to continue ECG monitoring. Disconnection of the reference electrode can be determined by observing that no ECG signal is being received from any of the electrodes. When this is detected, the reference electrode is switched to another electrode which is selected in accordance with a predetermined priority scheme. After a stabilization period, the system then determines if any electrodes are still connected. If not, then, as before, it is determined that the new reference electrode is not connected and that a new reference electrode needs to be selected. The switching of the reference electrode continues in this manner until it is determined that electrodes are connected. If sufficient electrodes including the new reference electrode are still connected to the patient to permit ECG monitoring, then ECG monitoring continues and a status message is presented to the operator identifying which electrodes are disconnected. Once complete electrode connection is regained, the ECG monitor automatically switches back to the preferred settings with the desired reference electrode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor for detecting and displaying an ECG waveform of a patient, comprising:
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a plurality of electrodes including a reference electrode and at least two detecting electrodes which detect an ECG waveform of the patient; electrode status detection means for detecting whether said detecting electrodes and reference electrode are connected to the patient and for generating electrode status signals; reference lead switching means responsive to said electrode status signals for selecting a detecting electrode as a new reference electrode when said electrode status detection means detects that at least said reference electrode is not connected to the patient and for selecting electrodes of said plurality of electrodes to be used to generate a common mode drive signal for application to said new reference electrode; and means for processing ECG waveforms acquired from said detecting electrodes in response to application of a common mode drive signal to said new reference electrode and for displaying said ECG waveforms to an operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A modular patient monitor for monitoring selected vital signs of a patient, said patient monitor comprising at least one removable electronic module for processing vital signs data from said patient and a display for displaying the processed vital signs data, wherein said at least one removable electronic module comprises an electrocardiogram (ECG) module which detects and processes ECG waveforms received from a plurality of electrodes including a reference electrode and at least two detecting electrodes which detect an ECG waveform of the patient, said ECG module comprising:
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electrode status detection means for detecting whether said detecting electrodes and reference electrode are connected to the patient and for generating electrode status signals; reference lead switching means responsive to said electrode status signals for selecting a detecting electrode as a new reference electrode when said electrode status detection means detects that at least said reference electrode is not connected to the patient and for selecting electrodes of said plurality of electrodes to be used to generate a common mode drive signal for application to said new reference electrode; and means for processing ECG waveforms acquired from said detecting electrodes in response to application of a common mode drive signal to said new reference electrode and for displaying said ECG waveforms to an operator. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of detecting an ECG waveform of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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applying a plurality of electrodes to the patient, the electrodes including a reference electrode and at least two detecting electrodes which detect an ECG waveform of the patient; applying a drive signal to the reference electrode; detecting whether said detecting electrodes and reference electrode are connected to the patient; selecting a detecting electrode as a new reference electrode when it is determined in said detecting step that at least said reference electrode is not connected to the patient; and applying a new drive signal to the new reference electrode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification