Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for eliminating interference due to artefacts of a person's movement or having a non-biological origin such as various electrical interference or noises generated by appliances. To this end, pulses of an electrical current are recorded wherein said pulses are function of a phase component of the derma electrical activity. The incoming time of a first time-derivative pulse is then determined using the logarithm of the numerical value of a current that is recorded at the moment when the value of a second derivative exceeds a threshold value. The form of the pulse is further analysed and, when parameters of this form correspond to given criteria, said pulse is related to the phase component pulses. When the parameters of this form do not correspond to the given criteria, the pulse is related to the artefacts. The analysis of pulse form may be performed using instruments or programmes.
Abstract:
A system and method is provided for learning, training and rehabilitation in which comparison is made of representative electrical signals produced by both a teacher (12) and a student (14) during attempted replication by the student (14) of a movement behavior demonstrated by the teacher (12), with corresponding feedback to the student (14) to inform the student (14) as to whether the replication is suitably compliant to the demonstration. The preferred embodiment is a myoelectric feedback system (10) employing wireless transmission of the myoelectric signals generated by the relevant muscles of the teacher (12) and the student (14) during the demonstration and attempted replication, with vibratory feedback to the student (14) upon comparison of the myoelectric signals at a remote processing station (18). A delayed or "non-line" teaching capability is provided by a videotape processing machine (28) and a computer (30). An alternative embodiment provides that the video images of the demonstration performed by the teacher are stored in digitized form, e.g. on a CD-ROM (74). In the alternative embodiment, decision-making software (76) may be incorporated to provide for an interactive learning system.
Abstract:
A sensor equipment (1) to be fitted to a subject has a set of electrodes (2-4) for detecting electromagnetic signals and delivering them as output signals to processing means (6) for shaping said signals prior to the storage thereof. The set of electrodes includes working electrodes having one or more acquisition electrodes (3) as well as a secondary electrode (4) to be connected to the processing means as a floating mass. The output of at least each working electrode is provided with an impedance adapter means (AO2, AO3). The device further comprises a common power supply (10) for said impedance adapter means, as well as a circuit (14) for maintaining an intermediate electric potential, connected to said supply (10), at the electric potential of the secondary electrode (E4).
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method of interference rejection in electrical recording systems, which rejects the voltage drop IDMV caused by the interference sources Vinterf at Ztl and Zt2, but amplifies the signals uncorrupted. A recording system according to the invention consists of the recording inputs (E1, E2, E3, and E4, ... En, respectively) and an output (6). An input stage (7) and a computing stage (9) provide a transfer function Vout = f(V1, V2, V3, and V4, ... Vn, respectively), which exhibits the above-mentioned interference rejection properties.
Abstract:
In order to sense weak electromagnetic fields, in particular bioelectric fields caused by currents in nerve fibres, an electromagnetic grid (1) is created made up of electromagnetic force lines that cross each other in a plane, are periodically repeated and successively generated in time, so that the bioelectric fields cause changes in the electromagnetic force lines. The bioelectric fields are sensed by means of an outer stimulus (16) applied to a human or animal body through the sense organs (17), for example the sense of touch, and are transmitted by nerve bundles (20) to the brain (21). The fields obtained with the electromagnetic grid are transmitted to a coding unit (14) that retransmits the signals, together with a code corresponding to the outer stimulus, to a computer (22) that evaluates and stores the signals.
Abstract:
This invention concerns a method and apparatus for treating cardiac arrhythmias with no discrete focus. More particularly, one or more catheters (not shown) are used to collect local information concerning a conduction block (70) within a patient's heart, the information is analyzed to determine where lines or points of ablation should be made, and then the lines (lambda) or points (not shown) of ablation are made.
Abstract:
The method of identifying sets of metal medical instruments includes the steps of creating a color plan for identifying metal medical instruments (902, 904, 906, 908), providing at least one medical instrument having a metal portion, and electro-depositing at least one colored waterborne urethane coating on the metal portion of each metal medical instrument in accordance with the plan. Each of the coatings is resistant to sterilization conditions with each color of the coatings contrasting with the instrument and with any other coating. The method further provides for allowing the coating to cure at a temperature in the range of 270 degrees to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for a time period in the range of 2 minutes to 50 minutes.
Abstract:
This invention is systems and methods to examine heart tissue morphology using a pair of electrodes (38), at least one of which is located in contact with heart tissue (12). The systems and methods transmit electrical current in a path through the contacted heart tissue (12) between the pair of the electrodes to derive a tissue electrical characteristic based, at least in part, upon sensing the impedance of the tissue lying in the path. The system and methods also sense with at least one of the electrodes the timing of local depolarization events in the contacted heart tissue. The systems and methods make possible the use of multiple endocardial electrodes (30) for taking multiple measurements of the electrical characteristics of heart tissue. Multiplexing can be used to facilitate data processing. The systems and methods also make possible the identification of regions of low relative electrical characteristics, indicative of infarcted tissue, without invasive surgical techniques.
Abstract:
This invention is systems and methods to examine heart tissue morphology using three or more spaced electrodes (38), at least two of which are located within the heart in contact with endocardial tissue. The systems and methods transmit electrical current through a region of heart tissue lying between selected pairs of electrodes (224), at least one of the electrodes in each pair being located within the heart. The systems and methods derive the electrical characteristic of tissue between the electrode pairs (206) based, at least in part, upon sensing tissue impedances.
Abstract:
A recording and ablation catheter system for creating linear lesions in the right atrial chamber of a heart is disclosed which includes an array of readily controlled electrodes (143) arcuate distal working catheter shapes that are easily deployed to contact the inner wall surface of the recording and mapping of impulses and thereafter facilitates sustained contact so that linear lesions can be produced from an array of mapping and ablation electrode devices (143) serially spaced along the working catheter shape.