Physiological waveform detector

Claim 1

A device for detecting the R-wave of an ECG waveform by identifying the time rate of change or slope of the R-wave as criteria of its existence to the exclusion of other waveform and noise characteristics, comprising: a. means for differentiating said waveform and producing a differentiated waveform signal having peaks and valleys, b. means for receiving said differentiAted signal waveform and for converting it to a waveform signal representative of the absolute values of said peaks and valleys, c. comparator means having an input for receiving said absolute value signal and another input for receiving a reference signal, said comparator means producing an output signal change for a period during which the magnitude of said absolute value signal is greater than said reference signal, d. means for producing a reference signal including peak detector means receiving said absolute value signal and producing a signal corresponding with the maximum peak value thereof, and means for storing said peak signal for a short period, e. second means and normally nonconductive switch means interposed between said storing means and second means, said switch means being responsive to a control signal by transferring said peak signal to said second means, f. means connected to said second means for producing a signal having a magnitude equal to a predetermined percent of the signal magnitude of said second means, said last named signal constituting said reference signal which is applied to another of said comparator means inputs, said reference signal being representative of the magnitude of said waveform portion, g. timing means responsive to occurrence of an output signal change by said comparator means by initiating measurement of a first time interval which, if completed, is indicative of said R-wave having occurred, said timing means also being responsive to terminate measurement of said first interval if said comparator output signal change discontinues before expiration of said characteristic period as indicative of a signal other than an R-wave having occurred, h. means responsive to completion of said first time interval by actuating said timing means to continue to measure second and third time intervals, i. means responsive to completion of said second time interval by producing a control signal for operating said switch means to transfer said existing peak signal to said second means, and, j. means responsive to completion of said third time interval by resetting the signal on said first peak detector means to a level at which it can accept the next ensuing peak.

Claim 2

A device for detecting the R-wave of an ECG waveform by identifying the time rate of change or slope of the R-wave as criteria of its existence to the exclusion of other waveform and noise characteristics, comprising: a. means for differentiating said waveform and producing a differentiated waveform signal having peaks and valleys, b. means for receiving said differentiAted signal waveform and for converting it to a waveform signal representative of the absolute values of said peaks and valleys, c. comparator means having an input for receiving said absolute value signal and another input for receiving a reference signal, said comparator means producing an output signal change for a period during which the magnitude of said absolute value signal is greater than said reference signal, d. means for producing a reference signal including peak detector means receiving said absolute value signal and producing a signal corresponding with the maximum peak value thereof, and means for storing said peak signal for a short period, e. second means and normally nonconductive switch means interposed between said storing means and second means, said switch means being responsive to a control signal by transferring said peak signal to said second means, f. means connected to said second means for producing a signal having a magnitude equal to a predetermined percent of the signal magnitude of said second means, said last named signal constituting said reference signal which is applied to another of said comparator means inputs, said reference signal being representative of the magnitude of said waveform portion, g. timing means responsive to occurrence of an output signal change by said comparator means by initiating measurement of a first time interval which, if completed, is indicative of said R-wave having occurred, said timing means also being responsive to terminate measurement of said first interval if said comparator output signal change discontinues before expiration of said characteristic period as indicative of a signal other than an R-wave having occurred, h. means responsive to completion of said first time interval by actuating said timing means to continue to measure second and third time intervals, i. means responsive to completion of said second time interval by producing a control signal for operating said switch means to transfer said existing peak signal to said second means, and, j. means responsive to completion of said third time interval by resetting the signal on said first peak detector means to a level at which it can accept the next ensuing peak.

Claim 10

A device for detecting R-wave of an ECG waveform signal in the presence or absence of other signals by determining the magnitude and predetermined slope of the R-wave signals to the exclusion of other signals, comprising: a. means for differentiating said waveform signal which produces negative going and positive going signals, b. means for converting said signals to signals representative of their absolute values, c. comparator means for comparing said absolute value of said differentiated signals with a reference signal, said comparator means undergoinG an output signal change in response to the absolute value of said differentiated signals being greater than the magnitude of said reference signal, said greater signal being a criteria for waveform signals of interest as well as for other signals, d. means for detecting the peak of said absolute value signal including first means and second means for storing said peak signal, e. switch means selectively operative to transfer said peak signal from said first to said second storage means, f. means controlled by said second signal storage means to produce a signal representing a predetermined percent of said peak signal magnitude, said last named signal constituting said reference signal, g. time measuring means responsive to said comparator means undergoing an output signal change by measuring the time interval during which said change exists, said time measuring means being responsive to it measuring a predetermined interval by continuing to measure a second time interval, and said switch means being operative to transfer said peak signal in response to said measuring means measuring said second time interval.

Claim 11

A device for detecting R-wave of an ECG waveform signal in the presence or absence of other signals by determining the magnitude and predetermined slope of the R-wave signals to the exclusion of other signals, comprising: a. means for differentiating said waveform signal which produces negative going and positive going signals, b. means for converting said signals to signals representative of their absolute values, c. comparator means for comparing said absolute value of said differentiated signals with a reference signal, said comparator means undergoinG an output signal change in response to the absolute value of said differentiated signals being greater than the magnitude of said reference signal, said greater signal being a criteria for waveform signals of interest as well as for other signals, d. means for detecting the peak of said absolute value signal including first means and second means for storing said peak signal, e. switch means selectively operative to transfer said peak signal from said first to said second storage means, f. means controlled by said second signal storage means to produce a signal representing a predetermined percent of said peak signal magnitude, said last named signal constituting said reference signal, g. time measuring means responsive to said comparator means undergoing an output signal change by measuring the time interval during which said change exists, said time measuring means being responsive to it measuring a predetermined interval by continuing to measure a second time interval, and said switch means being operative to transfer said peak signal in response to said measuring means measuring said second time interval.

Claim 12

A device for detecting R-wave of an ECG waveform signal in the presence or absence of other signals by determining the magnitude and predetermined slope of the R-wave signals to the exclusion of other signals, comprising: a. means for differentiating said waveform signal which produces negative going and positive going signals, b. means for converting said signals to signals representative of their absolute values, c. comparator means for comparing said absolute value of said differentiated signals with a reference signal, said comparator means undergoinG an output signal change in response to the absolute value of said differentiated signals being greater than the magnitude of said reference signal, said greater signal being a criteria for waveform signals of interest as well as for other signals, d. means for detecting the peak of said absolute value signal including first means and second means for storing said peak signal, e. switch means selectively operative to transfer said peak signal from said first to said second storage means, f. means controlled by said second signal storage means to produce a signal representing a predetermined percent of said peak signal magnitude, said last named signal constituting said reference signal, g. time measuring means responsive to said comparator means undergoing an output signal change by measuring the time interval during which said change exists, said time measuring means being responsive to it measuring a predetermined interval by continuing to measure a second time interval, and said switch means being operative to transfer said peak signal in response to said measuring means measuring said second time interval.

Claim 13

A device for detecting R-wave of an ECG waveform signal in the presence or absence of other signals by determining the magnitude and predetermined slope of the R-wave signals to the exclusion of other signals, comprising: a. means for differentiating said waveform signal which produces negative going and positive going signals, b. means for converting said signals to signals representative of their absolute values, c. comparator means for comparing said absolute value of said differentiated signals with a reference signal, said comparator means undergoinG an output signal change in response to the absolute value of said differentiated signals being greater than the magnitude of said reference signal, said greater signal being a criteria for waveform signals of interest as well as for other signals, d. means for detecting the peak of said absolute value signal including first means and second means for storing said peak signal, e. switch means selectively operative to transfer said peak signal from said first to said second storage means, f. means controlled by said second signal storage means to produce a signal representing a predetermined percent of said peak signal magnitude, said last named signal constituting said reference signal, g. time measuring means responsive to said comparator means undergoing an output signal change by measuring the time interval during which said change exists, said time measuring means being responsive to it measuring a predetermined interval by continuing to measure a second time interval, and said switch means being operative to transfer said peak signal in response to said measuring means measuring said second time interval.

Claim 23

A device for determining in a blood pressure waveform signal the peak and valley representative of systolic and diastolic blood pressure by detecting the systolic upslope of the waveform signal, comprising: a. means for receiving and differentiating said waveform signal and producing a differentiated signal corresponding with said upslope, b. means for detecting the minimum magnitude of said differentiated signal and means for storing said minimum peak signal, c. means controlled by said stored signal to produce a reference signal proportional thereto, d. comparator means having an input for said differentiated signal and another input for said reference signal and said means having an output which changes state when said differentiated signal becomes greater in magnitude than said reference signal, e. systolic peak signal detector means for receiving said waveform signal and for producing a signal having the magnitude of said systolic peak, and first and second means for storage of said systolic peak and first switch means operable to transfer said signal from said first to said second storage means, f. diastolic valley signal detector means for receiving said waveform signal and for producing a signal having the magnitude of said diastolic valley, and first and second means for storage of said valley signal and second switch means operable to transfer said valley signal from said first to said second storage means, g. time measuring means responsive to said comparator means changing state by measuring the time interval during which said differentiated signal has a greater magnitude than said reference signal, h. means for actuating said timing means to continue measuring time for a second interval in response to said measured interval exceeding a predetermined interval, which predetermined interval is indicative of a systolic upslope having occurred, and i. means for operating said first and second switching means to transfer said peak and valley signal to said first and second storage means, respectively, at the completion of said second interval, said transferred signal, respectively, corresponding with systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Claim 24

A device for determining in a blood pressure waveform signal the peak and valley representative of systolic and diastolic blood pressure by detecting the systolic upslope of the waveform signal, comprising: a. means for receiving and differentiating said waveform signal and producing a differentiated signal corresponding with said upslope, b. means for detecting the minimum magnitude of said differentiated signal and means for storing said minimum peak signal, c. means controlled by said stored signal to produce a reference signal proportional thereto, d. comparator means having an input for said differentiated signal and another input for said reference signal and said means having an output which changes state when said differentiated signal becomes greater in magnitude than said reference signal, e. systolic peak signal detector means for receiving said waveform signal and for producing a signal having the magnitude of said systolic peak, and first and second means for storage of said systolic peak and first switch means operable to transfer said signal from said first to said second storage means, f. diastolic valley signal detector means for receiving said waveform signal and for producing a signal having the magnitude of said diastolic valley, and first and second means for storage of said valley signal and second switch means operable to transfer said valley signal from said first to said second storage means, g. time measuring means responsive to said comparator means changing state by measuring the time interval during which said differentiated signal has a greater magnitude than said reference signal, h. means for actuating said timing means to continue measuring time for a second interval in response to said measured interval exceeding a predetermined interval, which predetermined interval is indicative of a systolic upslope having occurred, and i. means for operating said first and second switching means to transfer said peak and valley signal to said first and second storage means, respectively, at the completion of said second interval, said transferred signal, respectively, corresponding with systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Claim 25

A device for determining in a blood pressure waveform signal the peak and valley representative of systolic and diastolic blood pressure by detecting the systolic upslope of the waveform signal, comprising: a. means for receiving and differentiating said waveform signal and producing a differentiated signal corresponding with said upslope, b. means for detecting the minimum magnitude of said differentiated signal and means for storing said minimum peak signal, c. means controlled by said stored signal to produce a reference signal proportional thereto, d. comparator means having an input for said differentiated signal and another input for said reference signal and said means having an output which changes state when said differentiated signal becomes greater in magnitude than said reference signal, e. systolic peak signal detector means for receiving said waveform signal and for producing a signal having the magnitude of said systolic peak, and first and second means for storage of said systolic peak and first switch means operable to transfer said signal from said first to said second storage means, f. diastolic valley signal detector means for receiving said waveform signal and for producing a signal having the magnitude of said diastolic valley, and first and second means for storage of said valley signal and second switch means operable to transfer said valley signal from said first to said second storage means, g. time measuring means responsive to said comparator means changing state by measuring the time interval during which said differentiated signal has a greater magnitude than said reference signal, h. means for actuating said timing means to continue measuring time for a second interval in response to said measured interval exceeding a predetermined interval, which predetermined interval is indicative of a systolic upslope having occurred, and i. means for operating said first and second switching means to transfer said peak and valley signal to said first and second storage means, respectively, at the completion of said second interval, said transferred signal, respectively, corresponding with systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Claim 26

A device for determining in a blood pressure waveform signal the peak and valley representative of systolic and diastolic blood pressure by detecting the systolic upslope of the waveform signal, comprising: a. means for receiving and differentiating said waveform signal and producing a differentiated signal corresponding with said upslope, b. means for detecting the minimum magnitude of said differentiated signal and means for storing said minimum peak signal, c. means controlled by said stored signal to produce a reference signal proportional thereto, d. comparator means having an input for said differentiated signal and another input for said reference signal and said means having an output which changes state when said differentiated signal becomes greater in magnitude than said reference signal, e. systolic peak signal detector means for receiving said waveform signal and for producing a signal having the magnitude of said systolic peak, and first and second means for storage of said systolic peak and first switch means operable to transfer said signal from said first to said second storage means, f. diastolic valley signal detector means for receiving said waveform signal and for producing a signal having the magnitude of said diastolic valley, and first and second means for storage of said valley signal and second switch means operable to transfer said valley signal from said first to said second storage means, g. time measuring means responsive to said comparator means changing state by measuring the time interval during which said differentiated signal has a greater magnitude than said reference signal, h. means for actuating said timing means to continue measuring time for a second interval in response to said measured interval exceeding a predetermined interval, which predetermined interval is indicative of a systolic upslope having occurred, and i. means for operating said first and second switching means to transfer said peak and valley signal to said first and second storage means, respectively, at the completion of said second interval, said transferred signal, respectively, corresponding with systolic and diastolic blood pressure.