Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A device for monitoring the electrical activity of a patient's heart, comprising: sensor means including a pair of electrodes attachable to a patient, ECG detection means connectable to the electrodes for producing an electrocardiogram signal, and motion detection means connectable to the electrodes, the motion detection means comprising means for sensing the impedance between the electrodes and for producing a motion signal indicative of the degree of variation of said impedance over time, including variation not synchronized with the electrocardiogram signal; and processing means including means for analyzing the electrocardiogram signal to detect an abnormal heart rhythm, and means for producing an indication that the electrocardiogram signal may be invalid if the motion signal indicates excessive motion on the part of the patient.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A device for monitoring the electrical activity of a patient's heart, comprising: sensor means including a pair of electrodes attachable to a patient, ECG detection means connectable to the electrodes for producing an electrocardiogram signal, and motion detection means connectable to the electrodes, the motion detection means comprising means for sensing the impedance between the electrodes and for producing a motion signal indicative of the degree of variation of said impedance over time, including variation not synchronized with the electrocardiogram signal; and processing means including means for analyzing the electrocardiogram signal to detect an abnormal heart rhythm, and means for producing an indication that the electrocardiogram signal may be invalid if the motion signal indicates excessive motion on the part of the patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor means comprises means for providing an analog electrocardiogram signal and means for providing an analog motion signal, and wherein the processing means comprises: (a) means for alternately sampling the analog electrocardiogram and motion signals to provide corresponding digital electrocardiogram and motion samples respectively; and (b) processor means (i) for storing the electrocardiogram samples obtained during a time interval; (ii) for examining the motion samples provided during said time interval; and (iii) for restarting the time interval if the motion samples indicate excessive motion on the part of the patient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 2, wherein the processor means is operative to restart the time interval if two successive motion samples exceed a predetermined threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
A defibrillator comprising: sensor means including electrodes attachable to a patient, ECG detection means connectable to the electrodes for producing an electrocardiogram signal, and motion detection means connectable to the electrodes, the motion detection means comprising means for sensing the impedance between the electrodes and for producing a motion signal indicative of the degree of variation of said impedance over time, including variation not synchronized with the electrocardiogram signal; control means for producing a control signal, the control means comprising means for analyzing the motion signal to detect excessive patient motion, and means for preventing the production of the control signal when excessive patient motion is detected; and, output means responsive to the presence of the control signal for applying a defibrillation pulse to a patient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
A defibrillator comprising: sensor means including electrodes attachable to a patient, ECG detection means connectable to the electrodes for producing an electrocardiogram signal, and motion detection means connectable to the electrodes, the motion detection means comprising means for sensing the impedance between the electrodes and for producing a motion signal indicative of the degree of variation of said impedance over time, including variation not synchronized with the electrocardiogram signal; control means for producing a control signal, the control means comprising means for analyzing the motion signal to detect excessive patient motion, and means for preventing the production of the control signal when excessive patient motion is detected; and, output means responsive to the presence of the control signal for applying a defibrillation pulse to a patient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The defibrillator of claim 4 wherein the control means comprises means for analyzing the electrocardiogram signal to detect a shockable heart rhythm and means for producing the control signal only if said shockable heart rhythm is detected and if excessive patient motion is not detected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
The defibrillator of claim 5 wherein the means for analyzing the electrocardiogram signal includes means for storing data representing the electrocardiogram signal over a predetermined length of time and means for analyzing said data to detect the said shockable heart rhythm, and wherein the control means includes means for terminating the storing of said data when excessive patient motion is detected, whereby the control signal is not produced if excessive patient motion is detected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The defibrillator of claim 6 wherein the control means includes means for alternately providing digital samples of the electrocardiogram signal and the motion signal during said predetermined length of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The defibrillator of claim 7 wherein the means for analyzing the motion signal comprises means for determining whether or not a predetermined number of successive digital samples of the motion signal exceed a preselected threshold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The defibrillator of claim 4 wherein the motion detection means comprises means for providing an impedance signal corresponding to the impedance between the electrodes, and filter means for producing the motion signal by removing the DC component from the impedance signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The defibrillator of claim 9 wherein the filter means is operative to reject frequency components up to about 1 Hz.