Pulse rate indicator

• US 3,978,849 A
• Filed: 04/17/1975
• Issued: 09/07/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Corporation (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation
• Inventors: Geneen, Harold S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/568,884
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.05 P, 128/2.05 R, 128/2.05 T, 128/2.06 A, 128/2.06 F, 128/2.06 R
• US Class Current: 600/503
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head

Abstract

A pulse rate indicator automatically indicates a person'"'"'s pulse rate and changes in this rate. The indicator is individually programmed for each user to account for the overall physiological characteristics of the user. The indicator may be mounted on a wristband and the pulse count is averaged over a time increment, stored and displayed as a reference or rest value. As the user undergoes physical exercise, the subsequent pulse rate is visually indicated and compared with the reference or rest value. When the pulse rate increases, but not to a dangerous level, the color of the indicator changes to inform the user that continued exercise is permissible. When an excessive pulse rate is reached, the indicator changes color and an audible alarm is sounded. The programmable feature therefore allows each person to exercise up to his particular limits for physical fitness tailored to his own physiological makeup, with sufficient advance warning to avoid excessive strain on the heart.

Claims

1. A body mounted pulse rate indicator comprising in combination:

pulse sensing means for detecting heart pulse beats of a wearer and translating said heart pulse beats into corresponding electrical pulses;

counting means coupled to count said electrical pulses to provide a pulse rate;

averaging means for determining the average pulse rate of the wearer at rest to establish a rest pulse rate;

programming means for automatically adding a predetermined increment to said reference pulse rate to denote an optimum safe exercise pulse rate;

means for setting a predetermined maximum level pulse rate into said indicator to denote a danger level pulse rate; and

means for continuously comparing the pulse rate at any time to said optimum safe exercise pulse rate and said danger level pulse rate to denote the state of the pulse rate.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 that further includes means for displaying said rest pulse rate, said optimum safe exercise pulse rate and said danger level pulse rate in differing indicia.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said differing indicia comprise differing colors.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said differing colors comprise green for said rest pulse rate, amber for said optimum safe exercise pulse rate and red for said danger level pulse rate.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said differing indicia are displayed in numeric form.