Abstract:
An improved telemetry transmission system (10) for transmitting electrocardiographic information, indications of the occurrence of the pacing pulse and digitally encoded information from an implanted pacer, drug dispensing device or the like to a remote receiver (12). Two-way telemetry is provided by switch (32) which tunes the tank circuit (40, 42) by means of a capacitor (44) to receive external control signals.
Abstract:
A portable childbirth chair including a base (10) having a seat portion (12) and two leg portions (20) and (22) extending outwardly therefrom, two leg supports (80) and (82) each one being hingedly attached to a different one of the leg portions, two footrests (48) and (50), each one being adjustably attached to a different one of the leg supports, adjustment straps (36) and (38) for adjusting the inclination of the leg supports relative the base, a backrest (60) hingedly attached to the seat portion, a backrest support frame (118) extending from the seat portion, and a pair of backrest adjustment rods (126) and (130) pivotally attached to the backrest at one end and having other ends adapted to engage apertures formed along the backrest support frame so as to adjust the inclination of the backrest relative to the base. The chair may be compactly collapsed for easy shipment and storage by telescoping the backrest support frame into the base, and folding the backrest and the two leg support over the base. The chair also includes electronic monitoring apparatus (66).
Abstract:
An electrode assembly (12) for use in a biomedical electrode unit (10) having a contact pad (20) with a hole in it for receiving the electrode assembly including: a first member (16) disposed on one side of the pad and having a stud portion (30) extending axially through the hole in the pad and having a first mating area (34); a second member (14) disposed on the other side of the pad and having an aperture (38) with a second mating area (36) for snugly engaging the first mating area (34) of the stud portion (30); and a connector member (18) extending axially through the hole in the pad and into the first (16) and second (14) members for securely connecting together the first (16) and second (14) members with the pad (20) between them.
Abstract:
Acquisition and analysis of electrocardiogram signals, to non-invasively detect and quantify presence of abnormal cardiac conduction patterns in patients at risk of heart disease. Signals from the orthogonal (X, Y, and Z) surface leads are amplified (44, 36, 48), digitized (40) and either stored for later processing or processed immediately. The incoming beats can either be R wave triggered, aligned and ensemble averaged for patients at risk for ventricular pathologies, or P wave triggered, aligned and ensemble averaged for patients at risk for atrial pathologies. QRS onset and offset, and P wave onset and offset are calculated for ventricular and atrial post-analysis applications respectively. The windowed Fourier transform of the second derivative (acceleration) of the signal averaged ECG is calculated for regions of interest for each lead. A Spectral Change Index, calculated from the "acceleration spectrum" for each lead serves to quantify the degree of spectral fragmentation within a pre-specified bandwidth.
Abstract:
An electrode catheter for cardiac electrophysiology is provided. An elongated body (11) suitable for intravascular insertion and forming an axial lumen (15) is provided. A tip electrode (31) defines an axial hole extending inward from a distal end of the tip electrode and is directly mounted to a distal end of the elongated body on a proximal end of the tip electrode. An eye electrode (30) is located within the axial hole substantially concentric to and electrically insulated from the tip electrode. Electrode lead wires (19) run through the axial lumen. One of the electrode lead wires is electrically connected to the eye electrode and another of the electrode lead wires is electrically connected to the tip electrode.
Abstract:
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for automatically predicting epileptic seizures and to monitor and analyze brain wave (EEG or MEG) signals. Steps include acquiring the brain wave data from the patient (11); digitizing the data; obtaining nonlinear measures of the data via chaotic time series analysis tools; obtaining time serial trends in the nonlinear measures; comparing the trends to known seizure predictors; and providing notification that a seizure is forthcoming.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for automatically detecting epileptic seizures by monitoring and analyzing brain wave (EEG or MEG) signals of a patient (11) using EEG electrodes (13). Steps include: acquiring the brain wave data from the patient; digitizing the data; obtaining nonlinear measures (15) of the data via chaotic time series analysis; obtaining time serial trends in the nonlinear measures; determining that one or more trends in the nonlinear measures indicate a seizure, and providing notification of seizure occurrence.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for heating or ablating tissue use a multifunctional electrode assembly (20). The electrode assembly includes a wall (22) comprising an electrically conductive material peripherally surrounding an interior area. The wall has an interior surface facing the interior area and an oppositely facing exterior surface. A first element operatively associated with the exterior surface of the wall is adapted to carry out a first predetermined electrical transmitting or sensing function affecting body tissue. A second element operatively associated with the interior surface of the wall is adapted to carry out, independent of the first element, a second predetermined electrical transmitting or sensing function affecting body tissue different than the first predetermined electrical function.
Abstract:
Systems for ablating body tissue comprise a family of electrode assemblies. Each electrode assembly (22) includes an extruded wall carrying an amount of electrically conductive material co-extruded within it. The extruded walls possess different electrical resistivity values by virtue of different amounts of electrically conductive material co-extruded within the walls. The systems also include means for specifying, among the family, use of the electrode assemblies according to a function that correlates desired tissue ablation effects with electrical resistivity values of the walls.
Abstract:
Orthogonal sensors, which are comprised of two or more electrodes (12) and generally disposed circumferentially on the catheter (10), receive signals which are different within a differential amplifier (28) to produce a signal indicative only of the localized bio-potential heart activity at a predetermined point in the myocardium. The orthogonal sensors are disposed in an ablative tip (14) of the catheter (10) to allow sensing of the localized cardiac activity which is adjacent to or in contact with the ablative tip (14) during the extirpation procedure or during the delivery of radio frequency energy during ablation. Sensing of the localized cardiac activity occurs simultaneously with the ablation so that detailed and accurate electrocardiograms of the very tissue being ablated can be recorded.