Cardiac monitoring apparatus
First Claim
1. Circuit means for a cardiac rate monitoring circuit comprising:
- means for detecting a signal manifesting a heartbeat in response to an electrocardiac signal applied thereto;
means responsive to the rate of said detected signals for providing a voltage related to said rate;
integrating means for integrating said voltage and providing first and second control signals as said integrated signal increases beyond respective first and second magnitude;
counter means for being reset by said first signal to count from an initial value and to provide a signal manifesting said heart rate as related to the count therein upon the occurrence of said second signal;
wherein said counter counts to a certain count above the count therein at the time said second control signal is provided; and
wherein said circuit means further includes means responsive to said counter reaching said certain count for resetting said integrating means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed herein a wristwatch size cardiac monitoring apparatus which is worn on the wrist of one arm. A conductive material housing acts as one electrode when held firmly in contact with the wrist of the arm on which it is worn. A finger of the other limb is placed on a receiving electrode of the casing which acts as the second electrode. Together, these two electrodes provide a Lead I electrocardiac signal to electronics within the housing. The second electrode consists of a metal layer on which is placed a dielectric material and when the finger is placed on top of the dielectric material, a capacitor is formed and the electric signal on the finger is transferred to the metal layer. Additionally, there is described circuitry which is used to operate the rate monitor. This circuitry includes means for detecting a QRS complex and for causing a count in beats per minute to be displayed, manifesting the heartbeat rate. The circuitry includes means for updating the heartbeat rate displayed every two seconds and for automatically turning the system off when no heartbeats are detected for a six second interval.
96 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Circuit means for a cardiac rate monitoring circuit comprising:
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means for detecting a signal manifesting a heartbeat in response to an electrocardiac signal applied thereto; means responsive to the rate of said detected signals for providing a voltage related to said rate; integrating means for integrating said voltage and providing first and second control signals as said integrated signal increases beyond respective first and second magnitude; counter means for being reset by said first signal to count from an initial value and to provide a signal manifesting said heart rate as related to the count therein upon the occurrence of said second signal; wherein said counter counts to a certain count above the count therein at the time said second control signal is provided; and wherein said circuit means further includes means responsive to said counter reaching said certain count for resetting said integrating means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. Circuit means for a cardiac rate monitoring circuit comprising:
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means for detecting a signal manifesting a heartbeat in response to an electrocardiac signal applied thereto; means responsive to the rate of said detected signals for providing a voltage related to said rate; integrating means for integrating said voltage and providing first and second control signals as said integrated signal increases beyond respective first and second magnitudes; counter means for being reset by said first signal to count from an initial value and to provide a signal manifesting said heart rate as related to the count therein upon the occurrence of said second signal; wherein said means for providing said voltage related to said heart rate includes first capacitance means for being charged at a determined rate, second capacitance means, switch means for transferring the voltage on said first capacitance means to said second capacitance means each time a heartbeat is detected, means for discharging said first capacitance means after each heartbeat is detected, and means for applying the voltage stored by said second capacitance means to said integrating means as said voltage related to said rate; wherein said counter counts to a certain count above the count therein at the time said second control signal is provided; and wherein said circuit means further includes means responsive to said counter reaching said certain count for resetting said integrating means. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Circuit means for a cardiac rate monitor comprising:
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means for detecting a signal manifesting a heartbeat in response to an electrocardiac signal applied thereto; clock means for providing a series of clock signals at a constant frequency; counter means for counting said clock signals from an initial reset count to a higher predetermined count; control means in response to said detected heartbeats for providing a control signal to said counter means to capture a count therein, less than said predetermined count, which captured count is related to said heart rate; shift register means, which in response to signals applied thereto when said counter reaches said predetermined count, shifts an applied data value therethrough to an output thereof; display means having data and enable inputs for displaying a number related to signals applied to the display inputs upon application of a signal to said enable input; means for connecting the captured count of said counter to the data input of said display means; and means for connecting the output of said shift register to said enable input of said display means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification