Electrocardiogram signal collecting apparatus

• US 6,360,117 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terry B.J. Kuo
• Original Assignee: Terry B.J. Kuo
• Inventors: Kuo, Terry B. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/317,517
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 600/508-527, 607/9, 607/25
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/301 providing electrical separation, e.g. by using isolating transformers or optocouplers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/308 for electrocardiography [ECG]

Abstract

An electrocardiogram signal collecting apparatus includes an electrode, a first stage filtering and amplifying section, a second stage filtering and amplifying section, a comparison circuit, a first reference voltage generator, a battery, a battery voltage monitor, a voltage-current converter, a photo-isolator, a current-voltage converter, an analog to digital converter, and a second reference voltage generator. The electrocardiogram signal collection apparatus in accordance with the present invention can be connected to a personal computer or a notebook computer to perform analysis. The electrocardiogram signal collecting apparatus has a simple structure, and occupies a small space. In addition, the electrocardiogram signal collection apparatus is low-cost and easily operated.

Claims

1. An electrocardiogram signal collecting apparatus comprising:

an electrode to sense the constriction a person'"'"'s heart;

a first stage filtering and amplifying section to filter out the DC component and high frequency component and amplify the signal from the electrode;

a second stage filtering and amplifying section to further filter and amplify the signal from the first stage filtering and amplifying section;

a photo-isolator to electrically isolate the signal from the second stage filtering and amplifying section and the output;

an analog to digital converter to convert the output of the photo-isolator into a digital signal; and

a printer input/output port to serve as an interface between said analog to digital converter and a personal computer or notebook computer printer port.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a battery for supplying power to the first and second stage filtering and amplifying sections.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said analog to digital converter is powered by said battery.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a battery monitor connected to said battery for monitoring the battery power and providing an alarm when the battery power is low.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said battery monitor comprises an indicator to be turned on when the battery power is low.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a voltage-current converter connected between the second stage filtering and amplifying section and the photo-isolator to convert the signal from the second stage filtering and amplifying section into a current signal to drive the photo-isolator.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said voltage-current converter comprises an operational amplifier.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first stage filtering and amplifying section comprises a first stage high-pass filter, a first stage amplifier and a first stage low-pass filter, while the second stage filtering and amplifying section comprises a second stage high-pass filter, a second stage amplifier and a second stage low-pass filter.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the first stage high-pass filter, first stage amplifier, first stage low-pass filter, second stage high-pass filter, second stage amplifier and second stage low-pass filter comprises an operational amplifier.