Pulse rate monitoring device

Claim 1

A cardiac monitor comprising: a hand-held case comprising two interlocking parts defining an enclosure for housing electronic pulse sensing circuitry, one of said parts defining a cover for said case having an exposed indentation in its surface for receiving along at least a part of its length a part of a finger of the hand of the user holding the case, electronic circuitry mounted within said case for receiving signals representative of successive pulses of a cardiac wave, counting means for recording said successive pulses sensed, and digital readout means for indicating periodic summations of said counting means, and dual purpose means mounted within said indentation and connected to said electronic circuitry for energization of said circuitry and sensing of said successive pulses upon positioning of the finger of the user in said indentation, said dual purpose means comprising a switch for electronically energizing said electronic circuitry upon positioning of the finger of a user in said indentation, an electric light bulb energized by said electronic circuitry and illuminating the finger in said indentation, and a sensor connected to said electronic circuitry for sensing the changing illuminated condition of the finger during successive pulses of the cardiac wave, said switch electric light bulb and sensor being spacedly arranged within and along the length of said indentation, and said indentation comprising an open trough form-fitting the thumb of a user.