System for monitoring animals in motion

Claim 1

A measuring system for continually monitoring an animal taking violent exercise comprising a plurality of rigid noncollapsible metal suction cup electrodes for direct attachment to spaced selected areas of the animal''s skin for determining potentials arising from heart action, means providing an apertured hollow fitting on each electrode, a flexible tube of electrically insulating material connected between each fitting and adapted to be connected to an external source of vacuum, and a flexible metal electrical conductor attached at one end within each of said electrodes and extending away from the electrode within the associated one of said tubes, whereby each electrode is operable in a hostile, aqueous environment, a heart action meter, and electrically insulated means remote from the electrodes conveying the other ends of all of said conductors from said tubes into operative connection with said heart action meter, and means defining a downwardly projecting sharp annular edge about the lower periphery of each suction cup whereby each suction cup is firmly engaged with the skin of the animal without cutting the skin.