Galvanic isolation of a medical apparatus
First Claim
1. A medical apparatus that is configured for providing compact storage of, and electrical isolation between, each of a plurality of signal conductive pathways, comprising:
- a front conductive pathway that includes a first and a second end, said first end is configured to receive electrical signals that are associated with a patient, said second end is configured to make electrical contact with a first end of a rear conductive pathway, said front conductive pathway is detachable from and re-attachable to said rear conductive pathway via an electrical connection that is substantially enclosed within a housing;
said rear conductive pathway includes a second end that is configured to make electrical contact with electronics that are configured to process said electrical signals, said rear conductive pathway includes a resistor that is located between said first end and said second end of said rear conductive pathway and that is configured to protect said electronics from damaging effects of a voltage surge that could travel through said front conductive pathway and into said rear conductive pathway; and
wheresaid housing includes an outer surface that substantially encloses said electrical connection and that provides substantial protection of said electrical connection from electrical contact resulting from physical contact with an object that is located outside of said housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring apparatus, provides galvanic isolation between low voltage electronics and a plurality of externally exposed ECG (patient contact) lead wires and electrodes. The ECG lead wires and/or electrodes can potentially make unwanted contact with sources of high voltage, such as from defibrillation pulses generated by defibrillation devices. The defibrillation pulses can cause damage to the low voltage electronics within the ECG monitoring apparatus. Electrical resistance is provided outside of the ECG lead wires and electrodes and separate from the low voltage electronics to protect against misdirection of a defibrillation pulse towards the low voltage electronics, and to protect against misdirection of a defibrillation pulse away from the patient for which the benefit of the defibrillation pulse is intended.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medical apparatus that is configured for providing compact storage of, and electrical isolation between, each of a plurality of signal conductive pathways, comprising:
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a front conductive pathway that includes a first and a second end, said first end is configured to receive electrical signals that are associated with a patient, said second end is configured to make electrical contact with a first end of a rear conductive pathway, said front conductive pathway is detachable from and re-attachable to said rear conductive pathway via an electrical connection that is substantially enclosed within a housing; said rear conductive pathway includes a second end that is configured to make electrical contact with electronics that are configured to process said electrical signals, said rear conductive pathway includes a resistor that is located between said first end and said second end of said rear conductive pathway and that is configured to protect said electronics from damaging effects of a voltage surge that could travel through said front conductive pathway and into said rear conductive pathway; and
wheresaid housing includes an outer surface that substantially encloses said electrical connection and that provides substantial protection of said electrical connection from electrical contact resulting from physical contact with an object that is located outside of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An ECG monitoring apparatus that is configured for providing compact storage of, and electrical isolation between, each of a plurality of ECG lead wires, comprising:
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a lead wire that includes a first and a second end, said first end is configured to receive electrical signals that are associated with a patient, said second end is configured to make electrical contact with a first end of a rear conductive pathway, said lead wire is detachable from and re-attachable to said rear conductive pathway via an electrical connection that is disposed within an enclosure; said rear conductive pathway includes a second end that is configured to make electrical contact with electronics that are configured to process said electrical signals, said rear conductive pathway includes a resistance that is located between said first end and said second end of said rear conductive pathway and that is configured to protect said electronics from damaging effects of a voltage surge that could travel through said lead wire and into said rear conductive pathway; and
wheresaid enclosure includes an outer surface that substantially encloses said electrical connection and that provides substantial protection of said electrical connection from electrical contact resulting from physical contact with an object that is located outside of said enclosure.
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20. An method for providing compact storage of, and electrical isolation between, each of a plurality of ECG signal conductive pathways, comprising the steps of:
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providing a front conductive pathway and a rear conductive pathway, said front conductive pathway includes a first and a second end, said first end is configured to receive ECG signals from a patient, said second end is configured to make electrical contact with a first end of said rear conductive pathway, said front conductive pathway is detachable from and re-attachable to said rear conductive pathway via an electrical connection that is substantially enclosed within a housing; and where said rear conductive pathway includes a second end that is configured to make electrical contact with electronics that are configured to process said ECG signals, said rear conductive pathway includes a resistor that is located between said first end and said second end of said rear conductive pathway and that is configured to protect said electronics from damaging effects of a voltage surge traveling through said front conductive pathway and into said rear conductive pathway; and
wheresaid housing includes an outer surface that substantially encloses said electrical connection and that provides substantial protection of said electrical connection from electrical contact resulting from physical contact with an object that is located outside of said housing.
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Specification