Arrhythmia counter

Claim 2

A cardiac monitor unit comprising: a. means for detecting time intervals between successive R peaks on a cardiac wave, b. means for comparing the time difference between successive R time intervals to a preselected time difference value Established as normal, and c. means for registering the total number of occasions successive R peak time intervals differ from each other by more than the preselected normal difference value.

Claim 3

The cardiac monitor unit of claim 1, wherein: a. the detecting means includes plural electrodes adapted to be connected to the user and worn under clothing, b. the circuits of the unit are transistorized and powered by a small battery which will provide power for more than 24 hours of service, c. the unit can be carried in a pocket to permit the user to carry the unit on his person without difficulty, whereby a patient cardiac activity can be continuously monitored over a prolonged period including his usual daily activities.

Claim 4

The cardiac monitor unit of claim 1, wherein: a. the comparing means includes settable means for varying the preselected time difference valve.

Claim 5

The cardiac monitor unit of claim 1, wherein: a. the preselected time difference value is 120 milliseconds.

Claim 6

The cardiac monitor unit of claim 1, including: a. bradycardia and tachycardia responsive circuits, connected to the detector means and the register means for producing a control signal respectively indicating long and short duration R intervals.

Claim 7

An arrhythmia comprising: a. sensing means for detecting R peaks in a cardiac wave, b. circuit means connected to the sensing means for measuring the time interval between the most recent R-R peaks of a cardiac wave and the time interval between the immediately preceding R-R peaks, c. comparison circuit means connected to the measuring circuit means for comparing the difference in the time intervals and producing a signal when the difference between the time intervals is greater than a preselected clinically significant time difference, d. counting means connected to the comparison circuit and responsive to the signal produced, for counting each occasion when the successive R-R time interval differences exceed the preselected time difference and recording the total number of such occasions.

Claim 8

An arrhythmia comprising: a. sensing means for detecting R peaks in a cardiac wave, b. circuit means connected to the sensing means for measuring the time interval between the most recent R-R peaks of a cardiac wave and the time interval between the immediately preceding R-R peaks, c. comparison circuit means connected to the measuring circuit means for comparing the difference in the time intervals and producing a signal when the difference between the time intervals is greater than a preselected clinically significant time difference, d. counting means connected to the comparison circuit and responsive to the signal produced, for counting each occasion when the successive R-R time interval differences exceed the preselected time difference and recording the total number of such occasions.

Claim 9

The arrhythmia unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. said unit is battery powered and portable and can be carried on the person of the subject whose cardiac pulse is to be monitored.

Claim 10

The arrhythmia unit as set forth in claim 6 wherein: a. readout means is provided for giving an accumulated total number of counts.

Claim 11

The arrhythmia unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. readout means is provided which is operable by the medical examiner to give a total number of counts.

Claim 12

An arrhythmia unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. readout means is provided for giving a total number of accumulated counts, and b. reset means is provided for erasing the previously accumulated total count.

Claim 13

The arrhythmia unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. adjustable circuit means is provided for varying the preselected time difference value between successive time intervals at which a count is made.

Claim 14

The arrhythmia counter unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. said sensing means includes two chest pickup electrodes and associated electrical means for producing an electrical output signal.

Claim 15

The arrhythmia counter unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. said measuring means includes electrical pulse generating means responsive to the amplitude of said R peak pulses.

Claim 16

An arrhythmia counting unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. said measuring means includes a linear feedback amplifier having a band-pass value which attenuates all but the R component of the electrocardiograph waveform.

Claim 17

The arrhythmia counting unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. said measuring means includes electrical storage means for producing a voltage dependent upon the time interval between said R peaks.

Claim 18

The arrhythmia counter unit as set forth by claim 6, wherein: a. said electrical storage means is a capacitor.

Claim 19

The arrhythmia counter unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. a pair of electrical storage units are alternatively actuated to reflect the length of time between succeeding R peak pulses.

Claim 20

The arrhythmia counter unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. said measuring means includes a linear voltage generator actuated by an R peak pulse which is a measure of the time interval between R peaks.

Claim 21

The arrhythmia counting unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. said comparison means includes a differential comparator.

Claim 22

The arrhythmia counter as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. said counting means includes a cascaded chain of binary flip-flop units.

Claim 23

The arrhythmia counting unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein: a. said counting means includes a binary counter.

Claim 24

The arrhythmia counter as set forth in claim 21, wherein: a. readout means is connected to said binary counter and which includes a plurality of readout lamps.

Claim 25

An arrhythmia unit, comprising: a. means for detecting the R peaks of a cardiac wave, b. electrical voltage generating means connected to the detecting means and responsive to the time interval between said R peaks of said cardiac wave, c. an electrical storage element which receives the voltage generated by said electrical voltage generating means, d. a differential comparator circuit connected to the electrical storage element and responsive to the voltage therein, including circuitry referenced to a preselected clinically significant time difference, so that a signal is produced from the differential comparator circuit when the voltage of the electrical storage element reflecting the time difference between succeeding R-R peaks of a cardiac wave exceeds the preselected time difference, and

Claim 26

An arrhythmia unit, comprising: a. means for detecting the R peaks of a cardiac wave, b. electrical voltage generating means connected to the detecting means and responsive to the time interval between said R peaks of said cardiac wave, c. an electrical storage element which receives the voltage generated by said electrical voltage generating means, d. a differential comparator circuit connected to the electrical storage element and responsive to the voltage therein, including circuitry referenced to a preselected clinically significant time difference, so that a signal is produced from the differential comparator circuit when the voltage of the electrical storage element reflecting the time difference between succeeding R-R peaks of a cardiac wave exceeds the preselected time difference, and

Claim 27

arrhythmia unit as set forth in claim 23, wherein; a. bradycardia detector means is connected in circuit for detecting R peak frequency below a preselected frequency level and transmitting a signal to the counter means; b. tachycardia detector means connected in circuit for detecting R peak frequency above a preselected frequency level and producing a signal which is supplied to the counting means.

Claim 28

The arrhythmia unit as set forth in claim 23, wherein: a. said counter means includes a binary counter, and b. readout lamps connected to said binary counter which give a reading of total counts of the output from the differential comparator.

Claim 29

The arrhythmia unit as set forth in claim 23, wherein: a. said differential comparator circuit includes means for actuating said counting means at different time interval differences between successive R peaks of a cardiac wave.

Claim 30

The arrhythmia unit as set forth in claim 23, wherein: a. resettable readout means for the total number of output signals from said differential comparator circuit is connected to the counter means.