Portable temperature and pulse monitor

• US 4,090,504 A
• Filed: 06/21/1976
• Issued: 05/23/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yehuda Nathan
• Original Assignee: Yehuda Nathan
• Inventors: Nathan, Yehuda
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US05/697,851
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.05 P, 128/2.05 R, 128/2.05 S, 128/2.05 T, 128/2 H, 128/2.06 E, 128/2.06 F, 128/DIG. 29
• US Class Current: 600/483
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/15 Hook and loop type fastener

Abstract

A medical diagnostic and monitoring apparatus for electronically measuring a patient'"'"'s internal body temperature and pulse frequency. An electrothermic transducer and an electroacoustic transducer are placed within a yieldable mounting pad attached to a flexible shoulder strap and provide a signal sending unit. The sending unit is adapted for placement in an underarm axillary space for temperature detection and pulse sensing. A portable display console includes a power source for actuating output signals from the sending unit and includes digital logic circuitry for processing and converting the signals for readout on a visual numeric display.

Claims

1. A medical diagnostic and monitoring apparatus for electronically measuring a patient'"'"'s internal body temperature and pulse frequency comprising at least two sensing components for respectively detecting a patient'"'"'s physiological variables of temperature and pulse rate, support means for retaining said sensing components under the patient'"'"'s arm, the support means including a strap, said strap being adapted to circumscribe the patient'"'"'s shoulder, yieldable mounting means on said strap for accommodating said sensing components, fastening means for adjustably securing the strap to the patient with the sensing components being anatomically positioned in continuous contact with the patient'"'"'s body at the apex of the axially space, said contact within the axillary space providing a source of input data detectable by the sensing components, said support means further including a receptacle mounted on said strap and conductively interconnected to said sensing components, a companion display unit, said display unit being selectively connectible to the receptacle for actuating the sensing components to transmit electrical signals corresponding to said physiological variables, and digital logic circuitry within said display unit for processing said signals to provide a visual numeric display.

2. A medical dignostic and monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensing components comprise an electroacoustic transducer for responding to pulse pressure change and an electrothermic transducer for responding to temperature variation.

3. A medical diagnostic and monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature sensing component comprises a thermistor for detecting body temperature at the apex of the axillary space, and further including means for measuring resistance and converting same to be corresponding visual numeric readout in degrees of temperature.

4. A medical diagnostic and monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the output from the thermistor is processed through an analog to digital converter.

5. A medical diagnostic and monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pulse rate detection sensing component comprises an electro-acoustic transducer and further including bistable multivibrator means for converting an input signal to a square wave pulse, oscillator means for generating fixed frequency pulses, gating means actuated by said fixed frequency pulses for determining selected period measurments of the square wave pulses and decimal counting assembly means for counting and displaying the square wave pulses counted during the selected period.

6. A medical diagnostic and monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sensing component comprises a microphone and the bistable multivibrator means includes a Schmitt trigger.

7. A medical diagnostic and monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the oscillator means comprises a stable quartz crystal adapted to provide fixed frequency clock signals.

8. A medical diagnostic and monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the yieldable mounting means includes a cushion pad formed on an interior face of the strap, said pad defining recessed pockets for receiving the respective sensing components to provide comfortable patient contact during operative placement of the strap.

9. A medical diagnostic and monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display unit has a self-contained power source and is adapted for conductive interconnection with the receptacle and the support means being suitable for disposable patient use.

10. A portable temperature and pulse monitor for measuring a patient'"'"'s internal body temperature and pulse rate comprising disposable shoulder strap means adapted for adjustable securement encircling a patient'"'"'s shoulder and underarm, said strap means having sensing means for detecting the patient'"'"'s temperature and pulse rate, yieldable mounting means within said strap means for accommodating the sensing means and positioning same in cushioned contact with the patient'"'"'s body within the axillary space, said strap means further including integral wiring extending from the sensing means and terminating at a receptacle on an external face of the strap, a hand-held portable console means having a self-contained power source, said console means having a connector plug for selective interconnection to the receptacle for receiving and processing input signals from the sensing means and for converting same to a visual display corresponding to the physiological variables being monitored.