Arrhythmia monitoring instrument and method using {37 normal{38 {0 and {37 total{38 {0 counting channels

Claim 2

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of: a. input means for supplying waves corresponding to the electrical phases of cardiac activity, including the P-wave, the QRS-complex and the T-wave of each cycle of normal cardiac activity; b. a first circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the R wave portion of a cycle is normal, and producing in the output of said first circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when the said R wave portion of that cycle is normal; c. a second circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the cardiac wave has an excessive negative component, and producing in the output of said second circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cycle contains an excessiVe negative component; d. a first counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and e. a third circuit means, connected to the output of the first circuit means, to the output of the second circuit means and to the input of the first counting means, effective to pass the pulses from the output of the first circuit means to the first counting means, and also effective, upon receipt of the pulse from the output of the second circuit means, arising from a determination for a given heart cycle that that heart cycle has an excessive negative component, to block the passage of the pulse from the output of the first circuit means, arising from a determination for the same given heart cycle, to the first counting means.

Claim 3

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of: a. input means for supplying waves corresponding to the electrical phases of cardiac activity, including the P-wave, the QRS-complex and the T-wave of each cycle of normal cardiac activity; b. a first circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the R-wave portion of a cycle is normal, and producing in the output of said first circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when the said R wave portion of that cycle is normal; c. a second circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the T-wave portion of a cycle has excessive amplitude, and producing in the output of said second circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cycle contains a T-wave portion having excessive amplitude; d. a first counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and e. a third circuit means, connected to the output of the first circuit means, to the output of the second circuit means, and to the input of the first counting means, effective to pass the pulses from the output of the first circuit means to the first counting means, and also effective, upon receipt of the pulse from the output of the second circuit means, arising from a determination for a given heart cycle that the T-wave portion of that heart cycle has excessive amplitude, to block the passage of the pulse from the output of the first circuit means, arising from a determination for the same given heart cycle, to the first counting means.

Claim 4

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of: a. input means for supplying waves corresponding to the electrical phases of cardiac activity, including the P-wave, the QRS-complex and the T-wave of each cycle of normal cardiac activity; b. a first circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the R-wave portion of a cycle is normal, and producing in the output of said first circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when the said R wave portion of that cycle is normal; c. a second circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the T-wave portion of a cycle has excessive amplitude, and producing in the output of said second circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cycle contains a T-wave portion having excessive amplitude; d. a first counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and e. a third circuit means, connected to the output of the first circuit means, to the output of the second circuit means, and to the input of the first counting means, effective to pass the pulses from the output of the first circuit means to the first counting means, and also effective, upon receipt of the pulse from the output of the second circuit means, arising from a determination for a given heart cycle that the T-wave portion of that heart cycle has excessive amplitude, to block the passage of the pulse from the output of the first circuit means, arising from a determination for the same given heart cycle, to the first counting means.

Claim 5

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of: a. input means for supplying waves corresponding to the electrical phases of cardiac activity, including the P-wave, the QRS-complex and the T-wave of each cycle of normal cardiac activity; b. a first circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the R-wave portion of a cycle is normal, and producing in the output of said first circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when the said R-wave portion of that cycle is normal; c. a second circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the cardiac wave has an excessive negative component, and producing in the output of said second circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cycle contains an excessive negative component; d. a third circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the T-wave portion of a cycle has excessive amplitude, and producing in the output of said third circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cycle contains a T-wave portion having excessive amplitude; e. a first counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and f. a fourth circuit means, connected to the output of the first circuit means, to the ouTput of the second circuit means, to the output of the third circuit means and to the input of the first counting means, effective to pass the pulses from the output of the first circuit means to the first counting means, and also effective, upon receipt of a pulse either (i) from the output of the second circuit means, arising from a determination for a given heart cycle, that that heart cycle has an excessive negative component, or (ii) from the output of the third circuit means, arising from a determination that the T-wave portion of that heart cycle has excessive amplitude, to block the passage of the pulse from the output of the first circuit means, arising from a determination for the same given heart cycle, to the first counting means.

Claim 6

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of: a. input means for supplying waves corresponding to the electrical phases of cardiac activity, including the P-wave, the QRS-complex and the T-wave of each cycle of normal cardiac activity; b. a first circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the R-wave portion of a cycle is normal, and producing in the output of said first circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when the said R-wave portion of that cycle is normal; c. a second circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the cardiac wave has an excessive negative component, and producing in the output of said second circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cycle contains an excessive negative component; d. a third circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the T-wave portion of a cycle has excessive amplitude, and producing in the output of said third circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cycle contains a T-wave portion having excessive amplitude; e. a first counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and f. a fourth circuit means, connected to the output of the first circuit means, to the ouTput of the second circuit means, to the output of the third circuit means and to the input of the first counting means, effective to pass the pulses from the output of the first circuit means to the first counting means, and also effective, upon receipt of a pulse either (i) from the output of the second circuit means, arising from a determination for a given heart cycle, that that heart cycle has an excessive negative component, or (ii) from the output of the third circuit means, arising from a determination that the T-wave portion of that heart cycle has excessive amplitude, to block the passage of the pulse from the output of the first circuit means, arising from a determination for the same given heart cycle, to the first counting means.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of: a. input means for supplying waves corresponding to the electrical phases of cardiac activity, including the P-wave, the QRS-complex and the T-wave of each cycle of normal cardiac activity; b. a first circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the R-wave portion of a cycle is normal, and producing in the output of said first circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when the said R-wave portion of that cycle is normal, said first circuit means including a time delay means delaying the appearance of such electrical pulse in the output of said first circuit means until a time in the cardiac cycle significantly after the completion of the R-wave; c. a second circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the cardiac wave has an excessive negative component, and producing in the output of said second circuit means a prolonged electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cycle contains an excessive negative component, with said prolonged electrical pulse terminating in the latter portion of the same cardiac cycle in which it was initiated; d. a first counting means effective to indicate the number of time it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and e. a third circuit means, connected to the output of the first circuit means, to the output of the second circuit means and to the input of the first counting means, effective to pass the pulses from the output of the first circuit means to the first counting means, and also effective, upon receipt of a pulse from the output of the second circuit means, arising from a determination for a given heart cycle that that heart cycle has an excessive negative component, with such receipt of the pulse from the output of the second circuit means being at any time when the output pulse from the first circuit means for that same heart cycle is received, to block the passage of such first circuit means output pulse to the first counting means.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of: a. input means for supplying waves corresponding to the electrical phases of cardiac activity, including the P-wave, the QRS-complex and the T-wave of each cycle of normal cardiac activity; b. a first circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the R-wave portion of a cycle is normal, and producing in the output of said first circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when the said R-wave portion of that cycle is normal, said first circuit means including a time delay means delaying the appearance of such electrical pulse in the output of said first circuit means until a time in the cardiac cycle significantly after the completion of the R-wave; c. a second circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the cardiac wave has an excessive negative component, and producing in the output of said second circuit means a prolonged electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cycle contains an excessive negative component, with said prolonged electrical pulse terminating in the latter portion of the same cardiac cycle in which it was initiated; d. a first counting means effective to indicate the number of time it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and e. a third circuit means, connected to the output of the first circuit means, to the output of the second circuit means and to the input of the first counting means, effective to pass the pulses from the output of the first circuit means to the first counting means, and also effective, upon receipt of a pulse from the output of the second circuit means, arising from a determination for a given heart cycle that that heart cycle has an excessive negative component, with such receipt of the pulse from the output of the second circuit means being at any time when the output pulse from the first circuit means for that same heart cycle is received, to block the passage of such first circuit means output pulse to the first counting means.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of: a. input means for supplying waves corresponding to the electrical phases of cardiac activity, including the P-wave, the QRS-complex and the T-wave of each cycle of normal cardiac activity; b. a first circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the R-wave portion of a cycle is normal, and producing in the output of said first circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when the said R-wave portion of that cycle is normal, said first circuit means including a time delay means delaying the appearance of such electrical pulse in the output of said first circuit means until a time in the cardiac cycle significantly after the completion of the R-wave; c. a second circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the T-wave portion of a cycle has excessive amplitude, and producing in the output of said second circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiaC cycle when that cycle contains a T-wave portion having excessive amplitude; d. a first counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and e. a third circuit means, connected to the output of the first circuit means, to the output of the second circuit means, and to the input of the first counting means, effective to pass the pulses from the output of the first circuit means to the first counting means, and also effective, upon receipt of the pulse from the output of the second circuit means, arising from a determination for a given heart cycle that the T-wave portion of that heart cycle has excessive amplitude, with such receipt of the pulse from the output of the second circuit means being at a time when the output pulse from the first circuit means for that same heart cycle is received, to block the passage of such first circuit means output pulse to the first counting means, whereby the output pulse of the second circuit means arising from the R-wave portion of the cycle is ineffective, as it occurs before the pulse produced by the first circuit means appears in the output thereof and is applied to the third circuit means.

Claim 10

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of: a. input means for supplying waves corresponding to the electrical phases of cardiac activity, including the P-wave, the QRS-complex and the T-wave of each cycle of normal cardiac activity; b. a first circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the R-wave portion of a cycle is normal, and producing in the output of said first circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when the said R-wave portion of that cycle is normal, said first circuit means including a time delay means delaying the appearance of such electrical pulse in the output of said first circuit means until a time in the cardiac cycle significantly after the completion of the R-wave; c. a second circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the T-wave portion of a cycle has excessive amplitude, and producing in the output of said second circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiaC cycle when that cycle contains a T-wave portion having excessive amplitude; d. a first counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and e. a third circuit means, connected to the output of the first circuit means, to the output of the second circuit means, and to the input of the first counting means, effective to pass the pulses from the output of the first circuit means to the first counting means, and also effective, upon receipt of the pulse from the output of the second circuit means, arising from a determination for a given heart cycle that the T-wave portion of that heart cycle has excessive amplitude, with such receipt of the pulse from the output of the second circuit means being at a time when the output pulse from the first circuit means for that same heart cycle is received, to block the passage of such first circuit means output pulse to the first counting means, whereby the output pulse of the second circuit means arising from the R-wave portion of the cycle is ineffective, as it occurs before the pulse produced by the first circuit means appears in the output thereof and is applied to the third circuit means.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of: a. input means for supplying waves corresponding to the electrical phases of cardiac activity, including the P-wave, the QRS-complex and the T-wave of each cycle of normal cardiac activity; b. a first circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the R-wave portion of a cycle is normal, and producing in the output of said first circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when the said R-wave portion of that cycle is normal, said first circuit means including a time delay means delaying the appearance of such electrical pulse in the output of said first circuit means until a time in the cardiac cycle significantly after the completion of the R-wave; c. a second circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the cardiac wave has an excessive negative component, and producing in the output of said second circuit means a prolonged electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cycle contains an excessive negative component, with said prolonged electrical pulse terminating in the latter portion of the same cardiac cycle in which it was initiated; d. a third circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the T-wave portion of a cycle has excessive amplitude, and producing in the output of said third circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cardiac cycle contains a T-wave portion having excessive amplitude; e. a first counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and f. a fourth circuit means, connected to the output of the first circuit means, to the output of the second circuit means, to the output of the third circuit means and to the input of the first counting means, (i) effective to pass the pulses from the output of the first means to the first counting means, and also (ii) effective, upon receipt of a pulse from the output of the second circuit means, arising from a determination for a given heart cycle that that heart cycle has an excessive negative component, with such receipt of the pulse from the output of the second circuit means being at any time when the output pulse from the first circuit means for that same heart cycle is received, to block the passage of said first circuit means output pulse to the first counting means, and also (iii) effective, upon receipt of a pulse from the output of the third circuit means, arising from a determination that the T-wave portion of that heart cycle has excessive amplitude, with such receipt of the pulse from the output of tHe third circuit means being at a time when the output pulse from the first circuit means is received, to block the passage of such first circuit means output pulse to the first counting means, whereby the output pulse of the third circuit means arising from the R-wave portion of the cycle is ineffective, as it occurs before the pulse produced by the first circuit means appears in the output thereof and is applied to the fourth circuit means.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of: a. input means for supplying waves corresponding to the electrical phases of cardiac activity, including the P-wave, the QRS-complex and the T-wave of each cycle of normal cardiac activity; b. a first circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the R-wave portion of a cycle is normal, and producing in the output of said first circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when the said R-wave portion of that cycle is normal, said first circuit means including a time delay means delaying the appearance of such electrical pulse in the output of said first circuit means until a time in the cardiac cycle significantly after the completion of the R-wave; c. a second circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the cardiac wave has an excessive negative component, and producing in the output of said second circuit means a prolonged electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cycle contains an excessive negative component, with said prolonged electrical pulse terminating in the latter portion of the same cardiac cycle in which it was initiated; d. a third circuit means, connected to said input means, effective to determine whether or not the T-wave portion of a cycle has excessive amplitude, and producing in the output of said third circuit means an electrical pulse for each cardiac cycle when that cardiac cycle contains a T-wave portion having excessive amplitude; e. a first counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and f. a fourth circuit means, connected to the output of the first circuit means, to the output of the second circuit means, to the output of the third circuit means and to the input of the first counting means, (i) effective to pass the pulses from the output of the first means to the first counting means, and also (ii) effective, upon receipt of a pulse from the output of the second circuit means, arising from a determination for a given heart cycle that that heart cycle has an excessive negative component, with such receipt of the pulse from the output of the second circuit means being at any time when the output pulse from the first circuit means for that same heart cycle is received, to block the passage of said first circuit means output pulse to the first counting means, and also (iii) effective, upon receipt of a pulse from the output of the third circuit means, arising from a determination that the T-wave portion of that heart cycle has excessive amplitude, with such receipt of the pulse from the output of tHe third circuit means being at a time when the output pulse from the first circuit means is received, to block the passage of such first circuit means output pulse to the first counting means, whereby the output pulse of the third circuit means arising from the R-wave portion of the cycle is ineffective, as it occurs before the pulse produced by the first circuit means appears in the output thereof and is applied to the fourth circuit means.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence and rate of occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of the elements (a) thru (e) as set forth in claim 1, together with f. a fourth circuit means, connected to said input means, for producing a single electrical pulse in the output thereof for each complete cardiac cycle, said fourth circuit means including: i. differentiating means for accenting the R-wave portion of each cycle relative to the other wave portions of the cycle; ii. rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in the output thereof an electrical pulse arising from the R-wave portion of each cycle; iii. monostable pulse generator means connected to the output of the rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in its output an single electrical pulse having a large pulse width that terminates near the end of the cardiac cycle in which it was initiated, so that any additional input trigger pulse that sometimes is produced by an ectopic cardiac complex in that cardiac cycle has no effect on the single output pulse of the monostable pulse generator means, once that single output pulse is initiated; iv. a second counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and v. means connecting the output of the monostable pulse generator means to said second counting means, so that the latter means indicates the number of complete cardiac cycles that have occurred, without duplication of count due to any ectopic cardiac complex that may exist in one or more cardiac cycles, whereby the number indicated by the first counting means is the number of normal cardiac cycles, as determined by the combination of elements set forth in claim 1, that have occurred during the period in which occurred the number of complete cardiac cycles indicated by the second counting means.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for use, in determining the presence and rate of occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of the elements (a) thru (e) as set forth in claim 2 together with f. a fourth circuit means, connected to said input means, for producing a single electrical pulse in the output thereof for each complete cardiac cycle, said fourth circuit means including: i. differentiating means for accenting the R wave portion of each cycle relative to the other wave portions of the cycle; ii. rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in the output thereof an electrical pulse arising from the R-wave portion of each cycle; iii. monostable pulse generator means connected to the output of the rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in its output a single electrical pulse having a large pulse width that terminates near the end of the cardiac cycle in which it was initiated, so that any additional input trigger pulse that sometimes is produced by an ectopic cardiac complex in that cardiac cycle has no effect on the single output pulse of the monostable pulse generator means, once that single output pulse is initiated; iv. a second counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and v. means connecting the output of the monostable pulse generator means to said second counting means, so that the latter means indicates the number of complete cardiac cycles that have occurred, without duplication of count due to any ectopIc cardiac complex that may exist in one or more cardiac cycles, whereby the number indicated by the first counting means is the number of normal cardiac cycles, as determined by the combination of elements set forth in claim 2, that have occurred during the period in which occurred the number of complete cardiac cycles indicated by the second counting means.

Claim 15

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence and rate of occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of the elements (a) thru (f) as set forth in claim 3, together with g. a fifth circuit means, connected to said input means, for producing a single electrical pulse in the output thereof for each complete cardiac cycle, said fifth circuit means including: i. differentiating means for accenting the R-wave portion of each cycle relative to the other wave portions of the cycle; ii. rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in the output thereof an electrical pulse arising from the R-wave portion of each cycle; iii. monostable pulse generator means connected to the output of the rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in its output a single electrical pulse having a large pulse width that terminates near the end of the cardiac cycle in which it was initiated, so that any additional input trigger pulse that sometimes is produced by an ectopic cardiac complex in that cardiac cycle has no effect on the single output pulse of the monostable pulse generator means, once that single output pulse is initiated; iv. a second counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and v. means connecting the output of the monostable pulse generator means to said second counting means, so that the latter means indicates the number of complete cardiac cycles that have occurred, without duplication of count due to any ectopic cardiac complex that may exist in one or more cardiac cycles, whereby the number indicated by the first counting means is the number of normal cardiac cycles, as determined by the combination of elements set forth in claim 3, that have occurred during the period in which occurred the number of complete cardiac cycles indicated by the second counting means.

Claim 16

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence and rate of occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of the elements (a) thru e. as set forth in claim 4, together with f. a fourth circuit means, connected to said input means, for producing a single electrical pulse in the output thereof for each complete cardiac cycle, said fourth circuit means including: i. differentiating means for accenting the R-wave portion of each cycle relative to the other wave portions of the cycle; ii. rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in the output thereof an electrical pulse arising from the R-wave portion of each cycle; iii. monostable pulse generator means connected to the output of the rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in its output a single electrical pulse having a large pulse width that terminates near the end of the cardiac cycle in which it was initiated, so that any additional input trigger pulse that sometimes is produced by an ectopic cardiac complex in that cardiac cycle has no effect on the single output pulse of the monostable pulse generator means, once that single output pulse is initiated; iv. a second counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and v. means connecting the output of the monostable pulse generator means to said second counting means, so that the latter means indicates the number of complete cardiac cycles that have occurred, without duplication of count due to any ectopic cardiac complex that may exist in one or more cardiac cycles, whereby thE number indicated by the first counting means is the number of normal cardiac cycles, as determined by the combination of elements set forth in claim 4, that have occurred during the period in which occurred the number of complete cardiac cycles indicated by the second counting means.

Claim 17

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence and rate of occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of the elements (a) thru (e) as set forth in claim 5, together with f. a fourth circuit means, connected to said input means, for producing a single electrical pulse in the output thereof for each complete cardiac cycle, said fourth circuit means including: i. differentiating means for accenting the R-wave portion of each cycle relative to the other wave portions of the cycle; ii. rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in the output thereof an electrical pulse arising from the R-wave portion of each cycle; iii. monostable pulse generator means connected to the output of the rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in its output a single electrical pulse having a large pulse width that terminates near the end of the cardiac cycle in which it was initiated, so that any additional input trigger pulse that sometimes is produced by an ectopic cardiac complex in that cardiac cycle has no effect on the single output pulse of the monostable pulse generator means, once that single output pulse is initiated; iv. a second counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and v. means connecting the output of the monostable pulse generator means to said second counting means, so that the latter means indicates the number of complete cardiac cycles that have occurred, without duplication of count due to any ectopic cardiac complex that may exist in one or more cardiac cycles, whereby the number indicated by the first counting means is the number of normal cardiac cycles, as determined by the combination of elements set forth in claim 5, that have occurred during the period in which occurred the number of complete cardiac cycles indicated by the second counting means.

Claim 18

In an apparatus for use in determining the presence and rate of occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias in higher forms of life, the combination of the elements (a) thru (f) as set forth in claim 6, together with g. a fifth circuit means, connected to said input means, for producing a single electrical pulse in the output thereof for each complete cardiac cycle, said fifth circuit means including: i. differentiating means for accenting the R-wave portion of each cycle relative to the other wave portions of the cycle; ii. rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in the output thereof an electrical pulse arising from the R-wave portion of each cycle; iii. monostable pulse generator means connected to the output of the rectifying, amplifying and trigger circuit means for producing in its output a single electrical pulse having a large pulse width that terminates near the end of the cardiac cycle in which it was initiated, so that any additional input trigger pulse that sometimes is produced by an ectopic cardiac complex in that cardiac cycle has no effect on the single output pulse of the monostable pulse generator means, once that single output pulse is initiated; iv. a second counting means effective to indicate the number of times it has had an actuating electrical pulse applied to its input; and v. means connecting the output of the monostable pulse generator means to said second counting means, so that the latter means indicates the number of complete cardiac cycles that have occurred, without duplication of count due to any ectopic cardiac complex that may exist in one or more cardiac cycles, whereby the number indicated by the first counting means is the number of normal cardiac cyclEs, as determined by the combination of elements set forth in claim 6, that have occurred during the period in which occurred the number of complete cardiac cycles indicated by the second counting means.

Claim 21

The method as set forth in claim 13 which includes also: j. extracting from said electrocardiogram waves a fifth single pulse representative of any excessive negative component in each cycle with such fifth pulse having a small pulse width; k. converting said fifth single pulse to a sixth single pulse having a prolonged duration that terminates in the latter portion of the same cardiac cycle in which it was initiated, with this sixth pulse having a polarity opposite to that of the third pulse; and l. applying the sixth pulse, when it occurs, to the third pulse to render the third pulse ineffective to register a count in the second counter.