Abstract:
Un esfigmomanometro automatizado en el cual la duracion de interrupcion de períodos de desinflado respectivos durante los cuales se pueden detectar complejos oscilatorios es alternado de tal manera que el monitor se puede sincronizar con el ritmo cardíaco para más de un paso de desinflado. Las duraciones de interrupcion en cada paso de desinflado se alternan para tener duraciones larga-corta-larga-corta, de tal manera que la duracion global del ciclo de medicion es preferiblemente casi el mismo que los monitores convencionales en los que los períodos de interrupcion tienen todos la misma duracion. Una vez que se han detectado los complejos oscilatorios, la interrupcion típicamente no se necesita y el procedimiento avanza el siguiente paso de desinflado de una manera convencional.
Abstract:
The disposable transducer includes a small housing constructed of lightweight plastic material. The housing is shaped so as to form a transparent chamber within which is situated a very small piezoresistive strain gauge in the form of a resistive bridge network diffused onto a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is electrically isolated by means of a nonconductive gel which partially fills the transparent chamber in which the semiconductor substrate is positioned. The resistive bridge network of the semiconductor substrate is also electrically connected to a plurality of calibration resistors which are separately formed on the semiconductor substrate, making the entire apparatus economically disposable after a single use.
Abstract:
An automatic sphygmomanometer incorporating a pneumatic pump (20) for inflating a cuff wrapped around an arm of a patient includes a blood pressure instrument package (12) having a compartment (24) in which the pump (20) is accommodated. The pump (20) is supported by a resilient body (26) so as not to contact the inner surface of the compartment (24), and is sealed within the compartment (24). Such an arrangement does not allow vibration generated by the pump (20) during blood pressure measurement to be transmitted to the outside of the instrument package (12). It also prevents noise produced by the operating pump (20) from leakage to the outside.
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).
Abstract:
57 A pocket-sized, self-contained electrocardiogram monitor with a dot-matrix, liquid-crystal display. The monitor uses dry electrodes and is suitable for direct placement against the patient's chest without the use of paste or gel to insure electrical contact. An A/D converter converts an ECG signal to a digital signal which is then processed by a microprocessor and then displayed on the liquid-crystal display in real time. The microprocessor is programmed to select the maximum and minimum digital values from four consecutive samples from the A/D converter and to supply data representative of the maximum and minimum values to the display at one-fourth the conversion sampling rate.
Abstract:
Automated blood pressure monitors utilizing a pressurized cuff are adapted automatically to work with a variety of cuff sizes, including neonatal. An acoustical pressure pulse is generated at the monitor, propagated to and through the cuff, and back to a pressure transducer in the monitor. The total time of propagation is indicative of the cuff size being utilized.
Abstract:
A medical instrument for monitoring foetal heart rate and having an electrode for insertion by rotation in the foetal head, and a torque limiting device for preventing over- penetration of the electrode. The torque limiting device is preferably a helical spring rotatable with the electrode at low torque and arranged to disengage from frictional driving contact at the torque limit.
Abstract:
A flexible catheter which is useful for positioning in a blood vessel an electrical sensor used to measure cardiac output. The catheter has a sinuously contoured portion exhibiting shape memory properties which permit it to be transluminally inserted into a blood vessel in a straightened position and released into the normal configuration after positioning. The sensor is positioned relative to the contoured portion such that after positioning the contoured portion prevents the sensor from approaching the blood vessel wall, thereby eliminating artifacts in the output signal from the sensor.
Abstract:
A pulse oximeter wherein light of two different wavelengths is passed through body tissue, such as a finger, an ear or the scalp, so as to be modulated by the pulsatile component of arterial blood therein and thereby indicate oxygen saturation. A tonal signal is emitted having a pitch proportional to the ratio of oxygen saturation and a sequential repetition proportional to pulse. A visual cue consisting of an array of strobed light emitting diodes is flashed having a total light output proportional to the magnitude of the pulse and a sequential flashing rate proportional to pulse rate. A systematic rejection of extraneous or irregular detected data prevents undue sounding of alarms.
Abstract:
A continuity detection method and apparatus for use in a system for monitoring a patient's EKG signal and estimating heartbeat rate including continuity detection apparatus for continuously monitoring electrical continuity between to EKG electrodes contacting the patient to inhibit the system from its measuring of heartbeat intervals whenever poor continuity is detected.