Method and apparatus for monitoring electrocardiac signals

Claim 3

The method of monitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 1 including the further steps of comparing said signal proportional to said R-S interval with a standard reference voltage level and giving an indication if said signal proportional to said R-S interval exceeds a preset level.

Claim 4

The method of monitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 1 including the further steps of comparing said signal proportional to said R-S interval with a plurality of standard reference voltage leveLs and given an indication if said signal proportional to said R-S interval exceeds at least one of a number of preset levels.

Claim 5

The method of monitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 1 wherein said step of producing includes the further steps of triggering a voltage ramp generator to produce a ramp signal upon the detected R wave of each RS waveform and causing said generator to end the increase in said ramp signal upon the corresponding detected S wave so that the output of the generator is a voltage proportional to said R-S interval.

Claim 6

The method of monitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 1 wherein said step of producing includes the steps of setting to a first state a bistable multivibrator upon the detected R wave of each RS waveform and setting said multivibrator to a second state upon the corresponding detected S wave so that the width of the pulse produced in said bistable multivibrator is equal to said R-S interval.

Claim 7

The method of monitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 5 wherein said step of producing includes the step of integrating said pulse produced in said bistable multivibrator to produce a signal proportional to said R-S interval.

Claim 8

The method of monitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 6 including the steps of comparing said integrated signal with a standard reference voltage level and producing an indication if said integrated signal exceeds a present level.

Claim 9

The method of monitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 6 including the steps of comparing said integrated signal with a plurality of standard reference voltage levels and producing an indication if said integrated signal exceeds at least one of a number of preset levels.

Claim 10

Apparatus for monitoring electrocardiac signals comprising: means for producing standard voltage reference levels, detecting means for detecting electrocardiac signals comprising cycles of successive functional periods including an RS waveform, comparator means connected to said detecting means for comparing said waveform with a plurality of standard reference voltage levels to detect R waves by detecting positive peaks in said waveform above a preset level and to detect S waves by detecting negative peaks in said waveform below a preset level, means connected to said comparing means and responsive to said detected R waves and S waves for producing a signal proportional to said R-S interval, and means for providing an output indication of said R-S interval.

Claim 11

Apparatus for monitoring electrocardiac signals comprising: means for producing standard voltage reference levels, detecting means for detecting electrocardiac signals comprising cycles of successive functional periods including an RS waveform, comparator means connected to said detecting means for comparing said waveform with a plurality of standard reference voltage levels to detect R waves by detecting positive peaks in said waveform above a preset level and to detect S waves by detecting negative peaks in said waveform below a preset level, means connected to said comparing means and responsive to said detected R waves and S waves for producing a signal proportional to said R-S interval, and means for providing an output indication of said R-S interval.

Claim 12

Apparatus for monitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 9 wherein said means responsive to said detected R and S waves comprises voltage ramp generator means wherein the detected R wave of each RS waveform starts the generator and the corresponding detected S wave stops the generator whereby the output of said generator means is a voltage proportional to said R-S interval.

Claim 13

Apparatus for monitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 9 wherein said means responsive to said detected R and S waves comprises bistable multivibrator means wherein the detected R wave of each RS waveform sets the multivibrator to one state and the corresponding detected S wave sets the multivibrator to its other state whereby the width of the pulse produced in said bistable multivibrator means is equal to said R-S interval.

Claim 14

Apparatus for monitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 11 including integrator means connected to said bistable multivibrator for integrating the pulse produced in said bistable multivibrator means to produce a signal proportional to said R-S interval.

Claim 15

Apparatus for monitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 12 including comparator means wherein said integrated signal is compared with a standard reference voltage level together with indicator means for giving an indication if said integrated signal exceeds a preset level.

Claim 16

Apparatus for mOnitoring electrocardiac signals according to claim 12 including comparator means wherein said integrated signal is compared with a plurality of standard reference voltage levels together with indicator means for giving an indication if said integrated signal exceeds at least one of a number of preset levels.