User-worn apparatus for monitoring and recording electrocardiographic data and method of operation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for monitoring and recording electrocardiographic data from a user, comprisinga portable monitoring, storing and recording unit;
- sensing electrode means for sensing the user'"'"'s electrocardiographic data, including data representative of a arrythmia episode;
means for supporting said sensing electrode means on the user'"'"'s body;
amplifying means operatively connected to said electrode means for receiving therefrom and amplifying the analog electrical signals corresponding to said electrocardiographic data received from said electrode;
means for converting the entire analog signals to digital signals corresponding to said electrocardiographic data;
signal storage means for continuously receiving and storing said digital signals during successive predetermined time increments, said signal storage means including means for storing the digital signals representative to one time increment over the stored signals representative of a previous time increment, whereby the signals stored in the signal storage means at any given time comprise the signals received and stored during the most recent time increment;
means operatively connected to said signal storage means for halting further said storage of said digital signals upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, whereby the signals stored in the signal storage means will include those signals corresponding to the electrocardiographic data for the most recent time increment immediately prededing the occurrence of said predetermined event; and
means for providing an output of said stored signals for subsequent analysis of said electrocardiographic data.
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Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed that can be worn by a user for monitoring and recording electrocardiographic data from the user. The apparatus provides for continuous storage of predetermined time increments of such data in digital form, with new data being stored over preexisting data and the apparatus being operable by the user halt further such recordings to hold for subsequent output the data corresponding to such a predetermined time increments.
171 Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring and recording electrocardiographic data from a user, comprising
a portable monitoring, storing and recording unit; -
sensing electrode means for sensing the user'"'"'s electrocardiographic data, including data representative of a arrythmia episode; means for supporting said sensing electrode means on the user'"'"'s body; amplifying means operatively connected to said electrode means for receiving therefrom and amplifying the analog electrical signals corresponding to said electrocardiographic data received from said electrode; means for converting the entire analog signals to digital signals corresponding to said electrocardiographic data; signal storage means for continuously receiving and storing said digital signals during successive predetermined time increments, said signal storage means including means for storing the digital signals representative to one time increment over the stored signals representative of a previous time increment, whereby the signals stored in the signal storage means at any given time comprise the signals received and stored during the most recent time increment; means operatively connected to said signal storage means for halting further said storage of said digital signals upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, whereby the signals stored in the signal storage means will include those signals corresponding to the electrocardiographic data for the most recent time increment immediately prededing the occurrence of said predetermined event; and means for providing an output of said stored signals for subsequent analysis of said electrocardiographic data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Portable apparatus for monitoring and storing data representative of the cardiac condition of a user, said apparatus comprising:
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a portable monitoring unit; means for dupporting the portable apparatus on the user'"'"'s body; means coupled with said portable unit for sensing the user'"'"'s cardiac condition during a succession of predetermined time increments, including any arrhythmia event occurring during any time increment, and providing a data input to said portable unit representative thereof; electronic circuit means carried by said portable unit including; means for continuously receiving and storing entire signals representative of said data input from said electrode for each time increment, said receiving and storing means including means for storing said signals for each time increment over any earlier stored signals of a previous time increment, means for initiating a halt to storage of signals by said storage means, and means for permitting operation of said storage means for a predetermined time period following initiation of said halt to storage; and
whereinmeans for providing an output of said stored signals the storage of data inputs for each time increment over data of a previous time increment permits continuous, remote operation of said portable apparatus until the occurrence of an arrhythmia in the user'"'"'s cardiovascular system, at which time operation of said halt initiation means permits the retention of said data input for the most recent time increment. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. Portable apparatus for monitoring, storing and recording data representative of a cardiac condition of a user, said apparatus comprising:
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a portable monitoring, storing and recording unit; means for supporting the apparatus on the user'"'"'s body; means coupled with said portable unit for sensing the user'"'"'s cardiac condition during a succession of predetermined time increments, including any arrhythmia event occurring during any time increment, and providing a data output to said portable unit representative thereof; electronic circuit means carried by said portable unit, said circuit means having random access memory and indluding means defining a continuous storage mode during which entire signals representative of the user'"'"'s cardiac condition are continuously stored in said random access memory during said succession of predetermined time increments, said circuit means further including means for storing said signals for each time increment over any earlier stored signals of a previous time increment; a record mode during which signals representative of the user'"'"'s cardiac condition are in said random access memory during a predetermined time period; said circuit means further including means for automatically stopping recording at the end of said predetermined time period; and an output mode for reading said data representative of the cardiac condition of the user out of said random access memory, means carried by said portable unit for switching between said storage, record, and output modes. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for monitoring and recording data representative of the cardiac condition of a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a portable monitoring and recording unit adapted to be carried by the user, said unit including an electrode for sensing the user'"'"'s cardiac condition during successive predetermined time increments, including any arrythmia event occurring during any time increment, and providing a data output to said portable unit representative thereof; continuously receiving and recording entire signals representative of said data input from said electrode for each time increment; recording signals for each time increment over the earlier recorded signals of a previous time increment; initiating a signal to halt further recording of daid signals responsive to an input from the user; continuing the recording of said signals for a Predetermined time period following initiation of said halt signal and; transmitting said signals to a central site for further analysis.
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Specification