Abstract:
Apparatus for processing waveform signals of physiological origin includes circuitry (18) for developing a signal representative of the peak-to-peak amplitude between each waveform signal peak and the next successive waveform signal peak as well as circuitry (21) for developing a signal representative of the slew rate of the waveform signal between successive waveform signal peaks. In a preferred embodiment, developed signals are stored in resettable memories, the memories being reset on the occurrence of a sign or polarity change in the slope of the waveform signal. Sampling circuitry is provided for establishing a maximum peak-to-peak amplitude within the waveform signal as well as its associated slew rate. Within the context of an ECG, the maximum peak-to-peak amplitude and associated slew rate represent the QRS complex and the apparatus of the present invention may be employed within a pacemaker as a sense amplifier. Alternatively, the apparatus of the present invention may be employed to determine whether or not a pacing lead is properly placed and the pacemaker is suitable for application to the patient.
Abstract:
Apparatus for effectively eliminating pace pulses from an ECG wave without introducing distortion comprising means (8,10,14) for comparing the slope of the ECG wave with a threshold slope derived from the wave that is greater than the maximum slope produced in the wave by heart action alone and substituting (26) values for a portion of the wave between first and second points on either side of the place in the wave where its slope exceeds the threshold value, due to a pace pulse, noise or artifact, the substituted values being interpolations of the value of the ECG wave occurring at said points. In a preferred embodiment, means (22) are provided for preventing the substitution from occurring unless a pace pulse is detected within a given distance of the said place in the ECG wave and means (24) are also provided for setting said first point at a place in the ECG wave that occurs prior to a tail that precedes it.
Abstract:
A transparent plastic collapsible balloon (7) is attached to the distal end of a flexible bronchoscope or angioscope (6). The inflatable balloon has a cavity or "working well" (8) at its distal end which communicates by means of a tube with the central channel (11) of the angioscope. Separate channels (12)-(14) of the angioscope allow inflation of the balloon (7) and visualization of tissue against which the distal end of the balloon is pressed. A laser fiber, forceps, or other instrument can be passed through an opening (10) into the working well cavity (8) to allow lasing or other procedures to be performed on tissue abutted by the balloon and isolated by the working well cavity. Channels (12)-(14) allow direct visualization of such procedures.
Abstract:
An electrocardiographic electrode comprises a synthetic resin element (1) having a head portion (11) with a lead attached thereto, a neck portion (12) and a bottom portion (13). The outer surface of the synthetic resin element (1) is made electrically conductive by a metal powder coating (15). An expansible member (2) can be locked in an engagement portion (12a) of the neck (12). A adhesive film (5) is applied to the expansible member (2) in order to hold it in close contact with the skin of a living body.
Abstract:
An electrode securement sheet for securing to the skin surface M of a living body an electrode 7 held in close contact with the skin surface for deriving a weak current from the living body comprises: a substantially circular electrode securement section 1 which is to be secured to the skin surface M to cover the electrode 7; a lead securement section 2 which extends integrally from the electrode securement section 1 for securing to the skin surface a lead for leading the weak current extracted through the electrode to an electrocardiogram; and a lead securement piece 6 provided separately of the electrode securement section 1 and lead securement section 2, these sections being separably bonded to a cardboard.
Abstract:
A low-noise, high gain differential amplifier suitable for EEG amplification is constructed in a shielded metal enclosure. preferably on a ground plane circuit board. The amplifier is battery powered to eliminate all possibility of noise from the power system. The amplifier utilizes a pair of operational amplifiers to provide high input impedence for each of two input signals. A differential amplifier generates an internal signal which is filtered and amplified by a pair of band-pass amplifiers and overlapping low-pass and high-pass amplifiers.
Abstract:
@ An evoked potential autorefractometry system includes a computer driving an alternating checkerboard mirror stimulus to project a stimulus pattern directly to a patient through a continuously variable focus lens controlled by the computer and maintaining a constant image size on the patient's retina. The evoked potentials produced by the patient are amplified and asynchronously filtered both in an analog and digital fashion to allow peak to peak detection of the evoked potentials to determine amplitude. The digital filter includes a 255 point running sum. The peak to peak amplitudes are asynchronously digitally filtered using a 16 point running sum to produce an amplitude measure of the evoked potentials. The lens is swept rapidly from one extreme of focus to the other extreme in relatively large steps to determine the area in which the peak amplitude occurs. The lens is then swept in smaller and smaller range sweeps using smaller and smaller steps around the peak amplitude until the peak in the amplitude is pinpointed within a desired diopter at which point the lens position is printed out on the printer as the patient's prescription.
Abstract:
A signal conditioner (34) for use with cardiographic data and other biological signals includes a baseline shift circuit (42) and a variable gain amplifier (44). A feedback loop is provided for the output signal with a reference which designates the maximum value of the output signal. Within the baseline shifting circuit (42), there is provided circuitry which compares the amount of offset of the negative excursions of the waveform from a reference lead so as to introduce a feedback compensation signal which shifts the baseline and thereby compensates for drift in the baseline. Integration circuitry (50) in the form of counters of clock pulses are provided in the control of both amplifier gain and baseline shift. Timing circuitry (60) provides forthe interleaving of set-up intervals with data aquisition intervals, the gain adjustment and baseline adjustment being accomplished only during the set-up intervals. Sensing of temporal data by waveform analysis (58) is utilized for restarting the timing sequence (60) whenever the format of the sensed biological signal falls outside of the predetermined limits.
Abstract:
Unit for continuously monitoring and detecting variations in physiological cardiorespiratory variables, such as electrocardiogram signals (ORS-T), heart rate, ventilation/minute (VE), breathing rate, systolic output (SO), cardiac output (CO) and arterial pressure (AP). The said unit comprises a first subcutaneous part (1) having means (6, 9, 12) for detecting first physiological parameters, such as the difference in potential between electrodes, transthoracic impedance and subcutaneous blood pressure, and means for handling first signals, depending on the said physiological parameters, and for transmitting them, by radio-frequency, to a second part (18) outside the body; the latter part having means for receiving the said physiological variables, which are then processed for detecting critical conditions and activating alarm means (35, 36).