Cardiac monitor wristwatch
First Claim
1. In an electronic wristwatch which includes a face portion having timing circuitry mounted therein which includes a digital readout of time, and a wrist strap portion for securing said face portion about the wrist of the wearer, a cardiac monitoring improvement thereto which comprises:
- means mounted in said wrist strap portion for transmitting a signal towards the radial artery of the wearer and means mounted in said wrist strap portion for receiving the signal reflected therefrom;
means mounted in said wrist strap portion which is responsive to said transmitted and received signals for producing an analog signal proportional to the relative movement of said artery;
means mounted in said face portion for converting said analog signal to a digital signal indicative of the pulse rate of the wearer; and
means connected to said timing circuitry of said electronic wristwatch for selectively displaying said pulse rate on said digital readout;
wherein said transmitting means and said receiving means each comprise an ultrasonic transducer;
wherein said transmitting means further comprises a crystal-controlled oscillator for driving the transmitting ultrasonic transducer; and
further comprising amplifier means connected between said oscillator and said transmitting ultrasonic transducer for matching the respective impedances thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cardiac monitoring system easily incorporated into existing electronic digital wristwatches. The self-contained unit monitors the arterial pulse rate by means of a pair of highly directional ultrasonic transducers positioned in a special mounting in the wrist band of the watch. This special mounting also includes an integrated circuit which contains the transmitter and receiver-detector electronics for connection to the transducers. The output signal from the receiver in the special mount is fed via a shielded cable in the wrist band to the processing electronics physically located within the face mounting of the watch. The processing electronics monitors the user'"'"'s pulse rate and provides a digital output indication thereof if it exceeds pre-established upper and lower threshold limits. The processing circuitry also includes means for detecting an erratic heartbeat, such as a missing pulse or other irregularities, and provides an output alarm indication, both audio and visual, when such is detected. The unit is entirely self-contained and utilizes the wristwatch'"'"'s standard battery power supply. External select switches are preferably provided for selection of either a time or pulse rate readout.
159 Citations
37 Claims
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1. In an electronic wristwatch which includes a face portion having timing circuitry mounted therein which includes a digital readout of time, and a wrist strap portion for securing said face portion about the wrist of the wearer, a cardiac monitoring improvement thereto which comprises:
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means mounted in said wrist strap portion for transmitting a signal towards the radial artery of the wearer and means mounted in said wrist strap portion for receiving the signal reflected therefrom; means mounted in said wrist strap portion which is responsive to said transmitted and received signals for producing an analog signal proportional to the relative movement of said artery; means mounted in said face portion for converting said analog signal to a digital signal indicative of the pulse rate of the wearer; and means connected to said timing circuitry of said electronic wristwatch for selectively displaying said pulse rate on said digital readout; wherein said transmitting means and said receiving means each comprise an ultrasonic transducer; wherein said transmitting means further comprises a crystal-controlled oscillator for driving the transmitting ultrasonic transducer; and further comprising amplifier means connected between said oscillator and said transmitting ultrasonic transducer for matching the respective impedances thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A portable, continuously useable cardiac monitor wristwatch which comprises:
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a face which includes digital display means; strap means connected to said face for retaining said wristwatch about the wrist of the wearer, a portion of said strap means traversing the radial artery of the wearer; a first highly directional ultrasonic transducer mounted in said portion of said strap means for transmitting an ultrasonic signal towards the radial artery of the wearer; a second highly directional ultrasonic transducer mounted in said portion of said strap means for receiving ultrasonic signals reflected from the radial artery of the wearer; means responsive to said transmitted and received signals for producing an analog signal proportional to the relative movement of said artery which comprises means for producing a dc current signal whose amplitude is proportional to the time duration between successive pulses of the wearer, said dc current signal producing means including the series connection of amplifier means, multivibrator means, calibrating means, shunt means and buffer amplifier means; means connected to receive the output of said buffer amplifier means for converting said analog signal to a digital signal indicative of the pulse rate of the wearer; and means for selectively displaying said pulse rate on said digital display means. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification