Method and system for gathering electrocardiographic data

Claim 1

A method of generating electrocardiographic data from a patient, said method comprising: placing at least three electrodes at discrete locations on the surface of said patient's body; selecting a first pair of said electrodes and assigning one electrode of said first pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said first pair to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said first pair of electrodes for a first time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds; selecting a second pair of said electrodes different from said first pair of electrodes and assigning one electrode of said second pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said second pair to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said second pair of electrodes for a second time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds consecutive to said first period; selecting a third pair of said electrodes different from said first and second pairs of electrodes and assigning one electrode of said third pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said third pair to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said third pair of electrodes for a third time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds consecutive to said second period; and telemetrically transmitting or translating the chronological sequence of said measurements, such that said electrocardiographic data comprises the chronological sequence of said measurements of electrical potential difference.

Claim 2

A method of generating electrocardiographic data from a patient, said method comprising: placing at least three electrodes at discrete locations on the surface of said patient's body; selecting a first pair of said electrodes and assigning one electrode of said first pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said first pair to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said first pair of electrodes for a first time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds; selecting a second pair of said electrodes different from said first pair of electrodes and assigning one electrode of said second pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said second pair to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said second pair of electrodes for a second time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds consecutive to said first period; selecting a third pair of said electrodes different from said first and second pairs of electrodes and assigning one electrode of said third pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said third pair to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said third pair of electrodes for a third time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds consecutive to said second period; and telemetrically transmitting or translating the chronological sequence of said measurements, such that said electrocardiographic data comprises the chronological sequence of said measurements of electrical potential difference.

Claim 8

A method of generating electrocardiographic data from a patient, said method comprising: placing at least three electrodes at discrete locations on the surface of said patient's body; selecting a first pair of said electrodes and assigning one electrode of said first pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said first pair to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said first pair of electrodes for a first time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds; continuously collecting said measurements of difference in electrical potential during said first time period for telemetric transmission or translation; selecting a second pair of said electrodes different from said first pair of electrodes and assigning one electrode of said second pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said second pair to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said second pair of electrodes for a second time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds consecutive to said first period; continuously collecting said measurements of difference in electrical potential during said second time period for telemetric transmission or translation; selecting a third pair of said electrodes different from said first and second pairs of electrodes and assigning one electrode of said third pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said third pair to measure a negative polarity; and continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said third pair of electrodes for a third time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds consecutive to said second period; continuously collecting said measurements of difference in electrical potential during said third time period for telemetric transmission or translation; such that said electrocardiographic data comprises the chronological sequence of said measurements of electrical potential difference.

Claim 9

A method of generating electrocardiographic data from a patient, said method comprising: placing at least three electrodes at discrete locations on the surface of said patient's body; selecting a first pair of said electrodes and assigning one electrode of said first pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said first pair to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said first pair of electrodes for a first time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds; continuously collecting said measurements of difference in electrical potential during said first time period for telemetric transmission or translation; selecting a second pair of said electrodes different from said first pair of electrodes and assigning one electrode of said second pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said second pair to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said second pair of electrodes for a second time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds consecutive to said first period; continuously collecting said measurements of difference in electrical potential during said second time period for telemetric transmission or translation; selecting a third pair of said electrodes different from said first and second pairs of electrodes and assigning one electrode of said third pair to measure a positive polarity and the other electrode of said third pair to measure a negative polarity; and continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said third pair of electrodes for a third time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds consecutive to said second period; continuously collecting said measurements of difference in electrical potential during said third time period for telemetric transmission or translation; such that said electrocardiographic data comprises the chronological sequence of said measurements of electrical potential difference.

Claim 15

A method of generating electrocardiographic data from a patient, said method comprising: placing a first electrode on said patient's left arm; placing a second electrode on said patient's right arm; placing a third electrode on said patient's left leg; selecting said first electrode and said second electrode; assigning said first electrode to measure a positive polarity and said second electrode to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said first and second electrodes as an analog signal for about 20 seconds; continuously collecting digital samples of said analog signal from said first and second electrodes; continuously storing said digital samples for telemetric transmission; selecting said second electrode and said third electrode; assigning said third electrode to measure a positive polarity and said second electrode to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said second and third electrodes as an analog signal for about 20 seconds; continuously collecting digital samples of said analog signal from said second and third electrodes; continuously storing said digital samples for telemetric transmission; selecting said first electrode and said third electrode; assigning said third electrode to measure a positive polarity and said first electrode to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said first and third electrodes as an analog signal for about 20 seconds; continuously collecting digital samples of said analog signal from said first and third electrodes; continuously storing said digital samples for telemetric transmission; reconverting said stored digital samples into analog data and transmitting said analog data; such that said electrocardiographic data comprises said analog data.

Claim 16

A method of generating electrocardiographic data from a patient, said method comprising: placing a first electrode on said patient's left arm; placing a second electrode on said patient's right arm; placing a third electrode on said patient's left leg; selecting said first electrode and said second electrode; assigning said first electrode to measure a positive polarity and said second electrode to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said first and second electrodes as an analog signal for about 20 seconds; continuously collecting digital samples of said analog signal from said first and second electrodes; continuously storing said digital samples for telemetric transmission; selecting said second electrode and said third electrode; assigning said third electrode to measure a positive polarity and said second electrode to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said second and third electrodes as an analog signal for about 20 seconds; continuously collecting digital samples of said analog signal from said second and third electrodes; continuously storing said digital samples for telemetric transmission; selecting said first electrode and said third electrode; assigning said third electrode to measure a positive polarity and said first electrode to measure a negative polarity; continuously measuring the difference in electrical potential between said first and third electrodes as an analog signal for about 20 seconds; continuously collecting digital samples of said analog signal from said first and third electrodes; continuously storing said digital samples for telemetric transmission; reconverting said stored digital samples into analog data and transmitting said analog data; such that said electrocardiographic data comprises said analog data.

Claim 17

A system for collecting electrocardiographic data from a patient, said system comprising: at least three electrodes adapted for attachment to said patient from which said data is to be collected such that said electrodes form three different leads; means for monitoring connected to said electrodes for sequentially measuring the potential difference across a first of said leads for a first time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds, a second of said leads for a second time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds and a third of said leads for a third time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds; and means connected to said means for monitoring for storing said sequential measurements in converted digital or analog form for telemetric transmission or translation.

Claim 18

A system for collecting electrocardiographic data from a patient, said system comprising: at least three electrodes adapted for attachment to said patient from which said data is to be collected such that said electrodes form three different leads; means for monitoring connected to said electrodes for sequentially measuring the potential difference across a first of said leads for a first time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds, a second of said leads for a second time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds and a third of said leads for a third time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds; and means connected to said means for monitoring for storing said sequential measurements in converted digital or analog form for telemetric transmission or translation.

Claim 27

A system for collecting electrocardiographic data from a patient, said system comprising: at least three electrodes adapted for attachment to said patient from which said data is to be collected such that said electrodes form three different leads; means for monitoring connected to said electrodes for sequentially measuring the potential difference across a first of said leads for a first time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds, a second of said leads for a second time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds and a third of said leads for a third time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds; and means connected to said means for telemetrically transmitting signals corresponding to said potential difference in converted digital or analog form to an EKG receiver to produce a signal trace serial rhythm strip.

Claim 28

A system for collecting electrocardiographic data from a patient, said system comprising: at least three electrodes adapted for attachment to said patient from which said data is to be collected such that said electrodes form three different leads; means for monitoring connected to said electrodes for sequentially measuring the potential difference across a first of said leads for a first time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds, a second of said leads for a second time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds and a third of said leads for a third time period of at least about 10 seconds and less than about 60 seconds; and means connected to said means for telemetrically transmitting signals corresponding to said potential difference in converted digital or analog form to an EKG receiver to produce a signal trace serial rhythm strip.

Claim 29

A system for collecting electrocardiographic data from a patient, said system comprising: an electrode adapted to be attached to the left arm of said patient from which said data is to be collected, an electrode adapted to be attached to the right arm of said patient and an electrode adapted to be attached to the left leg of said patient, said electrodes forming Leads I, II and III; means connected to said electrodes for sequentially measuring analog signals representing the potential difference across Lead I, then Lead II, then Lead III for a period of 20 seconds each; means connected to said measuring means for converting said analog signals to digital form; and means connected to said converting means for storing said digital form of said signals for telemetric transmission or translation.

Claim 30

A system for collecting electrocardiographic data from a patient, said system comprising: an electrode adapted to be attached to the left arm of said patient from which said data is to be collected, an electrode adapted to be attached to the right arm of said patient and an electrode adapted to be attached to the left leg of said patient, said electrodes forming Leads I, II and III; means connected to said electrodes for sequentially measuring analog signals representing the potential difference across Lead I, then Lead II, then Lead III for a period of 20 seconds each; means connected to said measuring means for converting said analog signals to digital form; and means connected to said converting means for storing said digital form of said signals for telemetric transmission or translation.

Claim 31

A system for collecting electrocardiographic data from a patient, said system comprising: an electrode adapted to be attached to the left arm of said patient from which said data is to be collected, an electrode adapted to be attached to the right arm of said patient and an electrode adapted to be attached to the left leg of said patient, said electrodes forming Leads I, II and III; means connected to said electrodes for sequentially measuring analog signals representing the potential difference across Lead I, then Lead II, then Lead III for a period of 20 seconds each; means connected to said measuring means for converting said analog signals to digital form; and means connected to said converting means for transmitting said digital form of said signals to an EKG receiver to produce a single-trace serial rhythm strip.

Claim 32

A system for collecting electrocardiographic data from a patient, said system comprising: an electrode adapted to be attached to the left arm of said patient from which said data is to be collected, an electrode adapted to be attached to the right arm of said patient and an electrode adapted to be attached to the left leg of said patient, said electrodes forming Leads I, II and III; means connected to said electrodes for sequentially measuring analog signals representing the potential difference across Lead I, then Lead II, then Lead III for a period of 20 seconds each; means connected to said measuring means for converting said analog signals to digital form; and means connected to said converting means for transmitting said digital form of said signals to an EKG receiver to produce a single-trace serial rhythm strip.

Claim 33

A system for collecting electrocardiographic data from a patient, said system comprising: an electrode adapted to be attached to the left arm of said patient from which said data is to be collected, an electrode adapted to be attached to the right arm of said patient and an electrode adapted to be attached to the left leg of said patient, said electrodes forming Leads I, II and III; means connected to said electrodes for sequentially measuring analog signals representing the potential difference across Lead I, then Lead II, then Lead III for a period of 20 seconds each; means connected to said measuring means for converting said analog signals to digital form; means connected to said converting means for storing said digital form of said signals for telemetric transmission or translation; means connected to said storing means for reconverting said stored signals to analog form; and means connected to said reconverting means for transmitting said signal to an EKG receiver to produce a single-trace serial rhythm strip.

Claim 34

A system for collecting electrocardiographic data from a patient, said system comprising: an electrode adapted to be attached to the left arm of said patient from which said data is to be collected, an electrode adapted to be attached to the right arm of said patient and an electrode adapted to be attached to the left leg of said patient, said electrodes forming Leads I, II and III; means connected to said electrodes for sequentially measuring analog signals representing the potential difference across Lead I, then Lead II, then Lead III for a period of 20 seconds each; means connected to said measuring means for converting said analog signals to digital form; means connected to said converting means for storing said digital form of said signals for telemetric transmission or translation; means connected to said storing means for reconverting said stored signals to analog form; and means connected to said reconverting means for transmitting said signal to an EKG receiver to produce a single-trace serial rhythm strip.