Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Cardiovascular
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-07
2002-08-20
Getzow, Scott M. (Department: 3762)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Cardiovascular
Reexamination Certificate
active
06438412
ABSTRACT:
FEDERAL RESEARCH STATEMENT
NA
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to electrocardiographs and, more particularly, relates to a portable electrocardiograph capable of transmitting electrocardiographic signals to a remote display terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cornerstone in the diagnosis of heart abnormalities is the electrocardiograph. With a typical electrocardiograph, conductive leads connect electrodes that are placed on skin of a patient to a stationary measuring machine while the patient rests on a cot or the like.
For episodic abnormalities, the electrocardiogram (“ECG”) recorded by the electrocardiograph desirably covers a period of time preceding the episode (“pre-symptom data”) and after the episode (“post-symptom data”). Yet immobilizing the patient during the acquisition of such pre-symptom and post-symptom data is impractical because of the general lack of predictability as to the time of occurrence of the episode. In such situations, therefore, it is known to employ a portable ECG recorder that allows the patient to be ambulatory during the measurement period. Such portable ECG equipment employs a magnetic tape to capture data during a period as long as 24 hours.
With advances in computer electronics, the so-called “memory loop recorder” has been developed. The memory loop recorder samples and digitizes the ECG signal which may then be stored as numeric values in a computer memory. Such computer memories typically have a capacity less than that obtainable by use of magnetic tape storage, however, the computer memory may be readily operated to store the ECG signal in a loop fashion over an indefinite period of time. For example, at any given time the memory loop recorder might store the last twenty minutes of ECG data. Newly arriving data continues to replace the oldest data in the memory.
The patient is provided with a control that is to be activated when an episodic abnormality is detected. At this time the recording continues for a predetermined time and then stops so that the memory holds both pre- and post-symptom data.
As any episodic cardiac abnormality may prove to be life-threatening, it is desirable to have the recorded ECG data reviewed by an electrocardiographer as soon as possible. In this regard, it is known to employ telephone line for the transmission of recorded ECG data to a remote display device where it can be reviewed and analyzed. In such systems, the stored ECG data is played back over the telephone line from beginning to end so that the electrocardiographer can view the progression of the abnormal episode.
At certain times, such as when conventional ECG recorders are performing tasks associated with standard operation, real-time recording of ECG data will not be possible. For instance, real-time ECG data is not sampled during a series of self tests, which typically occur once the patient decides to erase previously stored data after transmission to clear up the memory. Additionally, ECG data is not sampled while the user is programming various preferences into the recorder. Furthermore, conventional recorders are incapable of sampling real-time ECG data either during or immediately after stored ECG events are transmitted to the electrocardiographer. It is easily appreciated that any ECG episodes experienced by the patient during these times will not be recorded and, consequently, will not be examined.
What is therefore needed is an ECG recorder that is capable of performing the necessary tasks associated with operation while sampling real-time ECG data without interruption.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention allows sampling of electrocardiographic data while performing other tasks associated with operation in a functionally concurrent manner.
An apparatus for recording electrocardiographic data from a patient includes an acquisition circuit operable to receive at least one electrocardiographic signal having a time-varying amplitude from the patient at a plurality of instants in time to produce samples and further digitizing the samples of the electrocardiographic signal to indicate the amplitude of the electrocardiographic signal at the plurality of instants to produce digitized samples, at least one memory operable to receive and store the digitized samples according to their associated sampling instants in time, and a processor communicating with the acquisition circuit and the memory to transfer the digitized samples from the acquisition circuit to the memory as a first task while executing a second task on a functionally concurrent basis, wherein the second task is selected from the group consisting of transmitting electrocardiographic data and setting user preferences.
These as well as other features and characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from the description which follows. In the Detailed Description below, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention. Rather the invention may be employed in other embodiments, and reference should therefore be made to the claims herein for interpreting the breadth of the invention.
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Medisana, Instructions for Cardiocheck, 7 pages.
Professor Dr. med. Bernd Kronig, Medisana, Importance of Self-Measurement, 8 pages.
Medisana Cardiocheck Self-EKG.
Cardiac Evaluation Center, Inc.
Getzow Scott M.
Quarles & Brady LLP
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