Continuous electrocardiogram monitoring method and system for cardiac patients
First Claim
1. System for providing cardiac information from a cardiac patient to a remote station comprising:
- means for recording electrocardiogram signals produced by the patient in real time at a first predetermined rate;
means for reproducing said recorded signals at a second predetermined rate, said second predetermined rate being greater than said first predetermined rate thereby compressing the time required to reproduce said signals as compared to the time to record said signals;
means for monitoring said reproduced signals;
a communication interface which includes a telephone system having direct dialing capability coupling said reproducing means to said monitoring means;
an automatic telephone dialing means coupled to said telephone system; and
timer means, said timer means activating said automatic dialing means for controlling the periodicity of transmission of recorded signals from said recording means to said monitoring means.
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Abstract
A system which is capable of allowing an attending physician to continuously monitor the electrocardiogram (ECG) signals produced by a cardiac patient. The signals, generated by the patient, are first recorded in real time over a predetermined time period established by the physician. At the conclusion of the predetermined time period a monitoring station is automatically alerted by telephone and commences receiving the patient'"'"'s real time ECG signals directly. The recorded ECG signals are then transmitted in a compressed time fashion to the monitoring station simultaneously with the real time ECG signals. The monitoring station receives the compressed time and the real time transmitted signals and following analysis thereof transmits a report of selected portions of the ECG to the physician. Upon instructions from the physician, the monitoring station either returns the recording apparatus to its normal operational status for a predetermined time period, or continues to receive and analyze the real time ECG signal until the patient'"'"'s signal is sufficiently stable and then returns the recording apparatus to its normal operational status. This process repeats continuously. The physician communicates directly with the monitoring station and with the patient as may be required. The system and method provides close and complete monitoring of the patient with complete ECG data retrieval and individualized close patient surveillance.
250 Citations
38 Claims
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1. System for providing cardiac information from a cardiac patient to a remote station comprising:
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means for recording electrocardiogram signals produced by the patient in real time at a first predetermined rate; means for reproducing said recorded signals at a second predetermined rate, said second predetermined rate being greater than said first predetermined rate thereby compressing the time required to reproduce said signals as compared to the time to record said signals; means for monitoring said reproduced signals; a communication interface which includes a telephone system having direct dialing capability coupling said reproducing means to said monitoring means; an automatic telephone dialing means coupled to said telephone system; and timer means, said timer means activating said automatic dialing means for controlling the periodicity of transmission of recorded signals from said recording means to said monitoring means. - 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)
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25. Method for providing cardiac information from a cardiac patient to a remote station comprising:
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recording the electrocardiogram signals produced by the patient in real time at a first predetermined rate; reproducing said recorded signals at a second predetermined rate, said second predetermined rate being greater than said first predetermined rate thereby compressing the time required to reproduce said signals as compared to the time to record said signals; automatically dialing a telephone to connect said reproduced signals to a station remote from said patient; transmitting said reproduced signals by said telephone to said station remote from said patient; analyzing said reproduced signals; and varying the periodicity of transmission of said reproduced signals responsive to said analysis. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. System for providing cardiac information from a cardiac patient to a remote station comprising:
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means for recording electrocardiogram signals produced by the patient in real time at a first predetermined rate; means for reproducing said recorded signals at a second predetermined rate, said second predetermined rate being greater than said first predetermined rate thereby compressing the time required to reproduce said signals as compared to the time to record said signals; means for monitoring said reproduced signals; a communication interface which includes a telephone system having direct dialing capability coupling said reproducing means to said monitoring means; an automatic telephone dialing means coupled to said telephone system; and means manually operable by said patient for activating said telephone communication interface thereby to connect said signals to said monitoring means upon demand of said patient. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification