Apparatus and method for automatic lead selection in electrocardiography
First Claim
1. An ECG monitor comprising:
- a plurality of ECG leads and associated electrodes for coupling said leads to a patient;
an ECG signal preprocessor coupled to said leads for combining the signals of said leads in accordance with selected ECG lead configurations chosen from a plurality of possible lead configurations to generate a combined ECG signal, said ECG signal preprocessor further comprising switching means for switching to said selected configurations of ECG leads in response to command signals;
means coupled to said ECG leads for identifying lead failures continuously during monitoring of said ECG signal; and
processor means for generating said command signals and coupled to said switching means for automatically switching said leads to change said ECG lead configuration in response to the output of said identifying means.
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Abstract
An ECG electrode impedance measuring approach is utilized which can determine, simultaneously, the condition of all electrodes in a three or five lead ECG monitoring configuration. A CPU automatically selects an ECG lead configuration in which all electrodes are attached to the patient and are below an impedance threshold. If the CPU cannot select a good ECG lead configuration, then the CPU signals a total lead failure. Electrode impedance is determined by passing a small DC current through each active electrode and the current is returned via the reference electrode. A comparator tests the resultant offset voltage induced between each active electrode and the reference. If the offset voltage exceeds a fixed threshold, then a flag is set and transferred to the CPU. The CPU can change the ECG lead configuration by issuing commands to an electrode lead switching network. The CPU software tests each lead configuration in a logical sequence to find one in which all the necessary electrodes are functional and a good quality ECG waveform can be processed and displayed. If a useable lead configuration cannot be found, then an alarm is activated to alert the operator to check all electrodes.
209 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An ECG monitor comprising:
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a plurality of ECG leads and associated electrodes for coupling said leads to a patient; an ECG signal preprocessor coupled to said leads for combining the signals of said leads in accordance with selected ECG lead configurations chosen from a plurality of possible lead configurations to generate a combined ECG signal, said ECG signal preprocessor further comprising switching means for switching to said selected configurations of ECG leads in response to command signals; means coupled to said ECG leads for identifying lead failures continuously during monitoring of said ECG signal; and processor means for generating said command signals and coupled to said switching means for automatically switching said leads to change said ECG lead configuration in response to the output of said identifying means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of monitoring a patient'"'"'s ECG signal formed from a plurality of ECG leads and associated electrodes combined in a selected one of a plurality of possible lead configurations comprising the steps of:
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automatically identifying electrode failures continuously during the monitoring of the patient'"'"'s ECG signal; and automatically changing said selected lead configuration to another lead configuration in response to said identification. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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Specification