Cardiac monitor

Claim 2

A cardiac monitor for analyzing cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. means for providing an analog signal responsive to said cardiac rhythms including the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; b. analog to digital converter means for converting said analog signal into a series of pulses including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; c. means for generating a series of clock pulses; d. means for generating delayed R pulses occurring at a predetermined time interval subsequent to the occurrence of said R pulse; e. counter means responsive to said R pulses and said clock pulses for producing a count signal indicative of the number of clock pulses occurring between successive R pulses; f. decoding means coupled to receive said count signal and said clock pulses for producing a first potential level signal when said count is less than said predetermined number; and g. means responsive to said first potential level signal and said delayed R pulses for producing an output signal indicative of an abnormally short time interval between successive R pulses.

Claim 3

The cardiac monitor for analyzing cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. means for providing an analog signal responsive to said cardiac rhythms including the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; b. analog to digital converter means for converting said analog signal into a series of pulses including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; c. means for generating a series of clock pulses; d. first counter means responsive to said R pulses and said clock pulses for producing a first count signal indicative of the number of clock pulses occurring between successive R pulses; e. decode means responsive to said count signal and said clock pulses for producing decode signals when the number of clock pulses exceeds a first predetermined number but is less than a second prEdetermined number; f. second counter means responsive to a first decode signal and said R pulses for establishing a heartbeat depended interval by producing a second count signal indicative of the number of successive R pulses occurring after occurrence of the first decode signal; g. second decode means responsive to said second count signal for generating an interval signal at the end of said heartbeat dependent interval when a predetermined number of successive R pulses have been counted; h. tally means responsive to said decode signals and said interval signal for producing a tally signal indicative of the number of decode signals occurring during said hearbeat dependent interval; and i. third decode means responsive to said tally signal for producing an output signal indicative of an abnormally high number of decode signals during said heartbeat dependent interval.

Claim 4

The cardiac monitor for analyzing cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. means for providing an analog signal responsive to said cardiac rhythms including the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; b. analog to digital converter means for converting said analog signal into a series of pulses including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; c. means for generating a series of clock pulses; d. first counter means responsive to said R pulses and said clock pulses for producing a first count signal indicative of the number of clock pulses occurring between successive R pulses; e. decode means responsive to said count signal and said clock pulses for producing decode signals when the number of clock pulses exceeds a first predetermined number but is less than a second prEdetermined number; f. second counter means responsive to a first decode signal and said R pulses for establishing a heartbeat depended interval by producing a second count signal indicative of the number of successive R pulses occurring after occurrence of the first decode signal; g. second decode means responsive to said second count signal for generating an interval signal at the end of said heartbeat dependent interval when a predetermined number of successive R pulses have been counted; h. tally means responsive to said decode signals and said interval signal for producing a tally signal indicative of the number of decode signals occurring during said hearbeat dependent interval; and i. third decode means responsive to said tally signal for producing an output signal indicative of an abnormally high number of decode signals during said heartbeat dependent interval.

Claim 5

A cardiac monitor for analyzing cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. means for providing an analog signal responsive to said cardiac rhythms including the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; b. analog to digital converter means for converting said analog signal into a series of pulses including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; c. means for generating a series of clock pulses; d. means for generating delayed R pulses occurring at a predetermined time interval subsequent to the occurrence of said R pulse; e. means for generating TB pulses indicative of the interval between an R pulse and a successive P pulse; f. gate means responsive to said delayed R pulses and said TB pulses for generating signals indicative of ectopic R pulses; g. counter means responsive to said ectopic R pulses and said clock pulses for generating a count signal indicative of the number of clock pulses occurring after the occurrence of a first ectopic R pulse; h. first decode means responsive to said count signal for generating a first decode signal when said count signal indicates that said counter means has counted a predetermined number of clock pulses; i. tally means responsive to said ectopic R pulses and said first decode signal for generating a tally signal indicative of the number of ectopic R pulses which occur between the first ectopic R pulse and said first decode signal; and j. second decode means responsive to said tally signal for generating a second decode signal indicative of an abnormally high number of ectopic R pulses occurring between said first ectopic R pulse and said tally signal.

Claim 6

A cardiac monitor for analyzing cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. means for providing an analog signal responsive to said cardiac rhythms including the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; b. analog to digital converter means for converting said analog signal into a series of pulses including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; c. means for generating a series of clock pulses; d. means for generating delayed R pulses occurring at a predetermined time interval subsequent to the occurrence of said R pulse; e. means for generating TB pulses indicative of the interval between an R pulse and a successive P pulse; f. gate means responsive to said delayed R pulses and said TB pulses for generating signals indicative of ectopic R pulses; g. counter means responsive to said ectopic R pulses and said clock pulses for generating a count signal indicative of the number of clock pulses occurring after the occurrence of a first ectopic R pulse; h. first decode means responsive to said count signal for generating a first decode signal when said count signal indicates that said counter means has counted a predetermined number of clock pulses; i. tally means responsive to said ectopic R pulses and said first decode signal for generating a tally signal indicative of the number of ectopic R pulses which occur between the first ectopic R pulse and said first decode signal; and j. second decode means responsive to said tally signal for generating a second decode signal indicative of an abnormally high number of ectopic R pulses occurring between said first ectopic R pulse and said tally signal.

Claim 7

A cardiac monitor for analyzing cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. means for providing an analog, signal responsive to said cardiac rhythms including the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; b. analog to digital converter means for converting said analog signal into a series of pulses including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; c. means for generating delayed R pulses occurring at a predetermined time interval subsequent to the occurrence of said R pulse; d. means for generating P-Rd pulses indicative of the interval between the P pulse and the delayed R pulse; e. means for generating TB pulses indicative of the interval between the R pulse and the next succeeding P pulse; f. gate means responsive to R pulses, TB pulses and P-Rd pulses for producing a missed P pulse when P pulses are missing from said cardiac rhythms signal; g. latch means responsive to said missed P pulse for generating a first latch signal when a first missed P signal occurs; h. tally means responsive to said first latch signal and said missed P pulses for providing a tally signal indicative of the number of missed P signals; i. counter means responsive to said first latch signal and said R pulses for providing a count signal when said counter means counts a predetermined number of R pulses, said count signal being coupled to said latch means to produce a second latch signal, said tally means being responsive to said second latch signal to terminate counting of said missed P signals; and j. decode means responsive to said tally signal for producing an output signal indicative of an abnormally high number of missed P signals.

Claim 8

A cardiac monitor for analyzing cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. means for providing an analog, signal responsive to said cardiac rhythms including the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; b. analog to digital converter means for converting said analog signal into a series of pulses including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; c. means for generating delayed R pulses occurring at a predetermined time interval subsequent to the occurrence of said R pulse; d. means for generating P-Rd pulses indicative of the interval between the P pulse and the delayed R pulse; e. means for generating TB pulses indicative of the interval between the R pulse and the next succeeding P pulse; f. gate means responsive to R pulses, TB pulses and P-Rd pulses for producing a missed P pulse when P pulses are missing from said cardiac rhythms signal; g. latch means responsive to said missed P pulse for generating a first latch signal when a first missed P signal occurs; h. tally means responsive to said first latch signal and said missed P pulses for providing a tally signal indicative of the number of missed P signals; i. counter means responsive to said first latch signal and said R pulses for providing a count signal when said counter means counts a predetermined number of R pulses, said count signal being coupled to said latch means to produce a second latch signal, said tally means being responsive to said second latch signal to terminate counting of said missed P signals; and j. decode means responsive to said tally signal for producing an output signal indicative of an abnormally high number of missed P signals.

Claim 9

A cardiac monitor for analyzing cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. means for providing an analog signal responsive to said cardiac rhythms including the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; b. analog to digital converter means for converting said analog signal into a series of pulses including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; c. means for generating delayed P pulses occurring at a predetermined time interval after said P pulses; d. means for generating first delayed R pulses occurring at a first predetermined time after the occurrence of said R pulses; e. means for generating second delayed R pulses occurring at a predetermined time after the occurrence of said first delayed R pulses; f. means for generating P-Rdd pulses indicative of the time interval between said P pulse and said second delayed R pulses; g. means for generating a series of clock pulses; h. first counter means responsive to said P-Rdd pulse and said clock pulses for producing a first count signal indicative of the number of clock pulses occurring during the duration of said P-Rdd pulse signal; i. decode means responsive to said count signal for generating a decode signal when the number of clock pulses counted by said counter means is less than a predetermined number; and j. means responsive to said first delayed R pulses; said delayed P pulses and said decode signal for producing short P-R signals indicative of an abnormally short time interval between said P pulse and said R pulse.

Claim 10

A cardiac monitor for analyzing cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. means for providing an analog signal responsive to said cardiac rhythms including the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; b. analog to digital converter means for converting said analog signal into a series of pulses including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; c. means for generating delayed P pulses occurring at a predetermined time interval after said P pulses; d. means for generating first delayed R pulses occurring at a first predetermined time after the occurrence of said R pulses; e. means for generating second delayed R pulses occurring at a predetermined time after the occurrence of said first delayed R pulses; f. means for generating P-Rdd pulses indicative of the time interval between said P pulse and said second delayed R pulses; g. means for generating a series of clock pulses; h. first counter means responsive to said P-Rdd pulse and said clock pulses for producing a first count signal indicative of the number of clock pulses occurring during the duration of said P-Rdd pulse signal; i. decode means responsive to said count signal for generating a decode signal when the number of clock pulses counted by said counter means is less than a predetermined number; and j. means responsive to said first delayed R pulses; said delayed P pulses and said decode signal for producing short P-R signals indicative of an abnormally short time interval between said P pulse and said R pulse.

Claim 11

The cardiac monitor of claim 5 further including: a. second counter means responsive to said short P-R signals and said R pulses for providing a second count signal when said second counter means counts a predetermined number of R pulses; b. tally means responsive to said second count signal and said short P-R signal for providing a tally signal indicative of the number of short P-R signals which occur between the first short P-R signal and said second count signal; and c. second decode means responsive to said tally signal and said short P-R signals for generating an output signal indicative of an abnormally high number of short P-R signals.

Claim 12

A cardiac monitor for analyzing cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. means for providing an analog signal to said cardiac rhythms including the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; b. analog to digital converter means for converting said analog signal into a series of pulses including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; c. means for generating a series of clock pulses; d. means for generating Q and S pulses which are the inverse of said Q pulses and said S pulses; e. means for generating TB pulses representative of the interval between an R pulse and the next succeeding P pulse; f. means responsive to said Q, S and TB pulses for providing a signal indicative of the trailing edge of said S pulses; g. means for generating TB pulses which are the inverse of said TB pulses; h. means responsive to said Q, S and TB pulses for producing a signal indicative of the leading edge of said Q pulses; i. means responsive to the signals indicative of the leading edge of said Q pulses and the trailing edge of said S pulses for generating QRS pulses indicative of the interval between the Q and S pulse and QRS pulses which are the inverse of said QRS pulses; j. counter means responsive to said QRS pulses and said clock pulses for providing a count signal indicative of the number of clock pulses counted during the duration of said QRS pulses; and k. decode means responsive to said count signal and said QRS pulses for producing an output signal when there is an abnormally long duration between a Q pulse and an S pulse.

Claim 13

A cardiac monitor for analyzing cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. means for providing an analog signal to said cardiac rhythms including the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; b. analog to digital converter means for converting said analog signal into a series of pulses including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; c. means for generating a series of clock pulses; d. means for generating Q and S pulses which are the inverse of said Q pulses and said S pulses; e. means for generating TB pulses representative of the interval between an R pulse and the next succeeding P pulse; f. means responsive to said Q, S and TB pulses for providing a signal indicative of the trailing edge of said S pulses; g. means for generating TB pulses which are the inverse of said TB pulses; h. means responsive to said Q, S and TB pulses for producing a signal indicative of the leading edge of said Q pulses; i. means responsive to the signals indicative of the leading edge of said Q pulses and the trailing edge of said S pulses for generating QRS pulses indicative of the interval between the Q and S pulse and QRS pulses which are the inverse of said QRS pulses; j. counter means responsive to said QRS pulses and said clock pulses for providing a count signal indicative of the number of clock pulses counted during the duration of said QRS pulses; and k. decode means responsive to said count signal and said QRS pulses for producing an output signal when there is an abnormally long duration between a Q pulse and an S pulse.

Claim 14

A cardiac monitor for providing a real time analysis of cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. a sensor including means for providing an analog EKG signal responsive to said cardiac rhythms and normally including P, Q, R, S and T components; b. a processor remote from said sensor for analyzing said analog EKG signal, said processor including: i. analog to digital converter means for providing a series of pulse signals including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; ii. means for providing a series of clock pulses; iii. first digital means responsive to said clock pulses and said P, Q, R, S and T pulse signals for providing an ectopic pulse signal corresponding to an ectopic R component of said analog EKG signal occurring during an interval between the regular occurrence of the R components of said analog EKG signal; iv. second digital means responsive to said ectopic pulse signal for producing an alarm signal indicative of the occurrence of said ectopic pulse signal; and c. means for coupling said analog EKG signal from said sensor to said remote processor.

Claim 15

A cardiac monitor for providing a real time analysis of cardiac rhythms, comprising: a. a sensor including means for providing an analog EKG signal responsive to said cardiac rhythms and normally including P, Q, R, S and T components; b. a processor remote from said sensor for analyzing said analog EKG signal, said processor including: i. analog to digital converter means for providing a series of pulse signals including P, Q, R, S and T pulses corresponding to the P, Q, R, S and T components of said cardiac rhythms; ii. means for providing a series of clock pulses; iii. first digital means responsive to said clock pulses and said P, Q, R, S and T pulse signals for providing an ectopic pulse signal corresponding to an ectopic R component of said analog EKG signal occurring during an interval between the regular occurrence of the R components of said analog EKG signal; iv. second digital means responsive to said ectopic pulse signal for producing an alarm signal indicative of the occurrence of said ectopic pulse signal; and c. means for coupling said analog EKG signal from said sensor to said remote processor.

Claim 16

The cardiac monitor of claim 8 wherein said first digital means further includes tally means responsive to said ectopic pulse signals for counting said ectopic pulse signals and providing a first signal when said tally means has counted a predetermined number of ectopic pulse signals, said second digital digital means being responsive to said first signal for producing said signal when said tally means has counted a predetermined of ectopic pulse signals.

Claim 17

The cardiac monitor of claim 9 wherein said tally means further includes tally interval means for establishing a tally interval, said tally interval means being responsive to a first ectopic pulse signal for starting said tally interval, said tally interval extending for a predetermined time interval after the occurrence of said first ectopic pulse, said first signal being provided when said tally means counts a predetermined number of ectopic pulse signals during said tally interval.