Abstract:
There is disclosed an external pacer for operating together with an improperly functioning implantable pacer. The external pacer operates in the demand mode; as in the case of an implantable demand pacer, when a heartbeat is detected the generation of a stimulating pulse is inhibited. However, the external pacer also includes a mechanism for sensing a stimulating pulse generated by the implantable pacer. When such a pacer pulse is detected, the external pacer immediately generates a pulse which reinforces the pulse generated by the implantable pacer.
Abstract:
A liquid leak stop for an implantable heart pacer. There is disclosed an implantable heart pacer for providing stimulation to the heart of a patient. The pacer includes a heartbeat detector, a pulse generator, batteries for powering or energizing the electronics, and electrodes or terminals for connection to the heart. Human body fluids tend to leak into the electrode throat or connector receptacle of the implantable pacer. This leakage can cause pacer malfunction. There are disclosed means for halting this leakage along conductors connecting the pacerexternal electrodes and the pacer-internal electronics.
Abstract:
A vital sign trend intuitive display system. A trend recorder for graphically displaying trends of vital signs of a patient is disclosed. The recorder displays these vital sign trends in a manner which is intuitively representative of the measurement process for each vital sign. Vital sign trends are recorded on cross-hatched chart paper which is advanced by the recorder in a stepped manner that is synchronized with application of recorder pens to chart paper to achieve the desired display.
Abstract:
A blood pressure monitor system with pushbutton zero-offset compensation. There is disclosed a blood pressure monitor system for monitoring blood pressure of a patient. The system includes a manual control which when operated, automatically provides a feedback signal to compensate for zero-offset of the pressure transducer when zero pressure is applied to the transducer. Zerooffset compensation is thus rapidly and easily obtained, and the signal is maintained thereafter for a long period of time. The present invention thus greatly facilitates monitoring blood pressure of a patient.
Abstract:
A compressed data display system. There is disclosed a system for recording over extended periods of time EKG and other vital signs of a patient and for automatically displaying the waveforms in a compressed and readily interpretable manner. The EKG waveform is recorded on looped paper supported by and/or wrapped around rotatable drum or drums which may have cylindrical shape. The EKG is recorded in helical or spiral fashion by simultaneously rotating the drum and transversely moving a galvanometer pen in the direction of the axis of rotation of the drum or cylinder. After the paper is removed, if it is a continuous or closed loop, it can be slit and opened into a single sheet. The recorded EKG waveforms are thus displayed compressed in a line-over-line manner and provide the physician with a clear picture of the patient''s heart activity for extended periods of time.
Abstract:
There is disclosed an implantable pacer, the characteristics of whose output pulses change automatically after the pacer has generated a predetermined number of pulses. The pacer includes a charge-dependent resistor whose impedance increases in accordance with the total current flow through it. After a predetermined number of pulses have been generated, the impedance increases relatively abruptly. The increase in impedance controls a decrease in the amplitude and/or decrease in the width of subsequent pulses.