Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An electrocardiograph (ECG) monitor comprising: means for detecting an electrocardiogram signal of a patient; means for filtering and digitizing said electrocardiogram signal; and processing means for detecting a QRS complex in said filtered, digitized electrocardiogram signal by comparing said filtered, digitized electrocardiogram signal to an amplitude threshold, said amplitude threshold having a first level which is a fraction of an amplitude of said patient's QRS complexes and a second level, greater than said first level, immediately after detection of a pacemaker event, said amplitude threshold decaying from said second level to said first level over a predetermined amount of time after said pacemaker event so as to substantially prevent a false detection of signal artifacts caused by said pacemaker event as a QRS complex.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
An ECG monitor as in claim 1, wherein said second level and said predetermined amount of time are set in accordance with known artifact producing characteristics of a filter of said filtering and digitizing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electrocardiograph (ECG) monitor comprising: means for detecting an electrocardiogram signal of a patient; means for filtering and digitizing said electrocardiogram signal; and processing means for detecting a pacemaker event in said filtered, digitized electrocardiogram signal from characteristic artifacts introduced into said digitized electrocardiogram signal by a filter of said filtering and digitizing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ECG monitor as in claim 3, wherein said processing means further removes said pacemaker event and said characteristic artifacts from said filtered, digitized electrocardiogram signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of detecting a QRS complex in an electrocardiogram signal of a patient, comprising the steps of: detecting said electrocardiogram signal; filtering and digitizing said electrocardiogram signal; detecting a pacemaker event; and comparing said digitized electrocardiogram signal to an amplitude threshold, said amplitude threshold having a first level which is a fraction of an amplitude of said patient's QRS complexes and a second level, greater than said first level, immediately after detection of said pacemaker event, said amplitude threshold decaying from said second level to said first level over a predetermined amount of time after said pacemaker event so as to substantially prevent a false detection of signal artifacts caused by said pacemaker event as a QRS complex.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 5, comprising the further step of setting said second level and said predetermined amount of time in accordance with known artifact producing characteristics of a filter used in said filtering and digitizing step.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of detecting a pacemaker event in an electrocardiogram signal, comprising the steps of: detecting said electrocardiogram signal; filtering and digitizing said electrocardiogram signal; and detecting characteristic artifacts in said electrocardiogram signal introduced into said electrocardiogram signal by a filter used in said filtering and digitizing step as indicative of the occurrence of a pacemaker event immediately prior to said characteristic artifacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 7, comprising the further step of removing said pacemaker event and said characteristic artifacts from said digitized electrocardiogram signal.