US3581735A
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Heartbeat frequency determining apparatus and method
Assignee: Hewlett Packard GmbH Germany
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Filing: 1968-06-12
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1988-06-12
Abstract
Abstract Phonocardiographic apparatus particularly useful for measuring fetal heat frequency during prenatal examinations and during parturition monitors the rate at which the two heart sounds per heart cycle recur and includes error-detection and correction circuitry that compensates for undetectable rhythmic heart sounds which would otherwise produce erroneous indications of heart frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 Otto J Gentner
- 👤 Karl Grund
- 👤 Miroslav J Muzik
- 👤 Wolfgang E Ohme
- 👤 Karoly F Winkelbauer
- 👤 Konrad Hammacher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/43; A61B5/4306; A61B5/4343; A61B5/4362; A61B5/02; A61B5/024; A61B5/02411; A61B5/24; A61B5/316; A61B5/318; A61B5/344
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
Apparatus for determining heartbeat frequency comprising: sensor means for producing electrical signals representative of pulsating heart action of a patient; pulse means having two output channels and responsive to said electrical signals for producing pulses alternately and consecutively on one and the other of said two output channels in response to pulsating heart action of the patient; and means connected to the pulse means and responsive to pulses on the two output channels for producing an output representative of approximately twice the repetition rate of pulses appearing on one of the two output channels in response to the time interval between occurrence of pulses on the two output channels becoming approximately equal at a repetition rate of pulses on one of said channels which is below a predetermined value, and for producing said output representative of approximately the repetition rate of pulses appearing on one of the two channels in response to the time interval between occurrence of pulses on the two channels being unequal at a repetition rate of pulses on one of the channels which is below said predetermined value and in response to the time interval between occurrence of pulses on one of the two channels being approximately equal at a repetition rate of pulses on one of the channels which is above said predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
Apparatus for determining heartbeat frequency comprising: sensor means for producing electrical signals representative of pulsating heart action of a patient; pulse means having two output channels and responsive to said electrical signals for producing pulses alternately and consecutively on one and the other of said two output channels in response to pulsating heart action of the patient; and means connected to the pulse means and responsive to pulses on the two output channels for producing an output representative of approximately twice the repetition rate of pulses appearing on one of the two output channels in response to the time interval between occurrence of pulses on the two output channels becoming approximately equal at a repetition rate of pulses on one of said channels which is below a predetermined value, and for producing said output representative of approximately the repetition rate of pulses appearing on one of the two channels in response to the time interval between occurrence of pulses on the two channels being unequal at a repetition rate of pulses on one of the channels which is below said predetermined value and in response to the time interval between occurrence of pulses on one of the two channels being approximately equal at a repetition rate of pulses on one of the channels which is above said predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said last-named means produces said output in response to the time intervals between pulses on alternate ones of the two output channels being approximately equal at a repetition rate of pulses on one of the channels less than about 120 pulses per minute.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said last-named means includes first converter means responsive to pulses on at least one of the output channels for producing a signal related to the time interval between pulses on said one of the output channels; second converter means responsive to pulses on the output channels for producing a signal related to the time interval between a pair of pulses appearing consecutively on alternate ones of the output channels; and circuit means connected to the first and second converter means for selectively operating in a first condition to produce said output from the signal produced by said first converter means and also in a second condition to produce said output from the signal produced by said second converter means; and logic means connected to said circuit means for selectively operating the same in said first and second conditions in response to selected logical combinations of the signals from said first and second converter means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
131 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein: said last-named means also includes third converter means connected to respond to pulses on at least the other of said output channels for producing a signal related to the tIme interval between pulses appearing on said other of the output channels; and said logic means operates said circuit means in said second condition to produce said output proportional to the signal from the second converter means in response to the signals produced by the first and third converter means being approximately equal and the signal produced by the second converter means being approximately equal to twice the signal produced by one of the first and third converter means at a repetition rate of pulses on one of said output channels less than said predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
191 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said logic means operates said circuit means in the first condition to produce said output proportional to the signal from one of the first and third converter means in response to the combination: (a) of signals at the outputs of the first and third converter means being approximately equal for pulses appearing alternately and consecutively on the two output channels at time intervals which are approximately equal at a repetition rate of pulses on one of the output channels greater than said predetermined value, (b) of signals at the outputs of the first and third converter means being approximately equal for pulses appearing alternately and consecutively on the two output channels at time intervals which are unequal at a repetition rate of pulses on one of the output channels greater than said predetermined value, and (c) of signals at the outputs of the first and third converter means being approximately equal for pulses appearing alternately and consecutively on the two output channels at time intervals which are unequal at a repetition rate of pulses on one of the output channels less than said predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein: said logic means operates said circuit means in the second condition to produce said output proportional to the signal at the output of the second converter means in response to pulses appearing alternately and consecutively on the two output channels at time intervals which are approximately equal at a repetition rate of pulses on one of said output channels less than said predetermined value.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
163 words
The method of determining heartbeat frequency comprising the steps of: producing a pair of electrical signals representative of selected characteristics of each pulsating heart action of a patient; generating pulses in each of a pair of pulse trains in response to alternate and consecutive ones of said electrical signals produced in response to pulsating heart actions of a patient; producing an output representative of approximately twice the repetition rate of pulses in one pulse train in response to the time intervals between alternate and consecutive occurrences of pulses in the pulse trains becoming approximately equal at a repetition rate of pulses in one of the pulse trains below a predetermined value; and producing an output representative of approximately the repetition rate of pulses in one pulse train in response to the time intervals between alternate and consecutive occurrences of pulses in the pulse trains being approximately equal at a repetition rate of pulses in one of the pulse trains above the predetermined value.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
163 words
The method of determining heartbeat frequency comprising the steps of: producing a pair of electrical signals representative of selected characteristics of each pulsating heart action of a patient; generating pulses in each of a pair of pulse trains in response to alternate and consecutive ones of said electrical signals produced in response to pulsating heart actions of a patient; producing an output representative of approximately twice the repetition rate of pulses in one pulse train in response to the time intervals between alternate and consecutive occurrences of pulses in the pulse trains becoming approximately equal at a repetition rate of pulses in one of the pulse trains below a predetermined value; and producing an output representative of approximately the repetition rate of pulses in one pulse train in response to the time intervals between alternate and consecutive occurrences of pulses in the pulse trains being approximately equal at a repetition rate of pulses in one of the pulse trains above the predetermined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 in which said predetermined value of repetition rate of pulses in one of the pulse trains is about 120 pulses per minute.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 7 including the steps of: producing a first signal representative of the frequency of pulses in one of the pair of pulse trains; producing a second signal which is indicative of approximately twice the frequency of pulses represented by said first signal; and in the step of producing said output said output is produced from the second signal in response to the time intervals between pulses appearing alternately and consecutively in said pair of pulse trains attaining approximate equality at a repetition rate of pulses in one of the pulse trains less than said preDetermined value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |