Patent US4449302A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5370116A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5370116A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for measuring electrical activity of heart
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1993-02-12
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Granted: 1994-12-06
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Expires: 2013-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A smooth surfaced, inelastic, flexible, belt-like strip for recording electrocardiograms having a series of six separate precordial electrodes, three fixed and three being independently movable leads with electrodes and movable within a fixed range insuring proper placement on the patient's chest or precordium during usage, the S-shape of the belt-like strip enables it to cover the proper recording areas. The fixed, electrodes, which are raised and compressible, maintain contact with patients' chests despite variations in chest size among patients. The apparatus is attached around the chest with an adjustable elastic strap providing a constant and evenly distributed downward force holding it and the precordial contacts, which are between the strip and patient's chest, in place. Internal lead wires attach at the sides of the precordial belt-like strip with electrodes placed on each arm via external lead wires. The internal lead wires from the precordial electrodes and from the left and right arm electrodes are inside or on the outside surface of the belt-like strip and emerge therefrom at one place to form a main cable which connects to an electrocardiograph machine. Two additional wire leads from electrodes on each leg enter the main cable to transmit signals from each lower limb electrode to the electrocardiograph machine. This device is reusable for many patients, easily cleaned and designed for use with a variety of body habitus.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce L. Rollman
- 👤 Alan E. Sherman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/683; A61B5/6831; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/282
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
362 words
An electrocardiogram recording apparatus having fixed and movable precordial electrodes attached to lead wires, left and right arm and leg lead wires and an adapter or plug for connecting all the lead wires to an electrocardiograph machine, comprising a smooth surfaced, inelastic, flexible, belt-like strip having two ends, said strip adapted to follow the contours of the chest of a patient in a pattern which covers the right breast and just below the left breast, wherein, raised, fixed electrodes on said belt-like strip are attached to lead wires in or on said belt-like strip wherein said raised fixed electrodes are adapted to cover precordial locations V1, V2 and V3 on the patient's chest; movable precordial electrodes attached to said belt-like strip by flexible lead wires emerging from said belt-like strip and laterally spaced from said fixed electrodes enabling the movable electrodes to be placed on precordial locations V4, V5 and V6 on the patient's chest; flexible left and right arm lead wires emerging from said belt-like strip with each having a connector plug for suitable attachment and electrical contact to conventionally used limb electrodes on each arm of the patient; a cable formed from all the lead wires emerging from the belt-like strip, said cable having two ends, the first end of which is at the emergence of the cable from the belt-like strip and the second of which is where an adapter or plug is attached to the cable, wherein each of the lead wires has two ends, one end of which forms the cable and the second of which is attached to one of said electrodes, said cable having attached thereto intermediate its first end and said belt-like strip, leg lead wires with connector plugs on an end of each adapted for suitable attachment and electrical contact to conventionally used limb electrodes on each leg; an adapter or plug on the second end of said cable for connection to an electrocardiograph machine; and an elastic fastener on one of the two ends of said belt-like strip for attachment to the other of the two ends of said belt-like strip for holding said belt-like strip in place around a patient's chest.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
362 words
An electrocardiogram recording apparatus having fixed and movable precordial electrodes attached to lead wires, left and right arm and leg lead wires and an adapter or plug for connecting all the lead wires to an electrocardiograph machine, comprising a smooth surfaced, inelastic, flexible, belt-like strip having two ends, said strip adapted to follow the contours of the chest of a patient in a pattern which covers the right breast and just below the left breast, wherein, raised, fixed electrodes on said belt-like strip are attached to lead wires in or on said belt-like strip wherein said raised fixed electrodes are adapted to cover precordial locations V1, V2 and V3 on the patient's chest; movable precordial electrodes attached to said belt-like strip by flexible lead wires emerging from said belt-like strip and laterally spaced from said fixed electrodes enabling the movable electrodes to be placed on precordial locations V4, V5 and V6 on the patient's chest; flexible left and right arm lead wires emerging from said belt-like strip with each having a connector plug for suitable attachment and electrical contact to conventionally used limb electrodes on each arm of the patient; a cable formed from all the lead wires emerging from the belt-like strip, said cable having two ends, the first end of which is at the emergence of the cable from the belt-like strip and the second of which is where an adapter or plug is attached to the cable, wherein each of the lead wires has two ends, one end of which forms the cable and the second of which is attached to one of said electrodes, said cable having attached thereto intermediate its first end and said belt-like strip, leg lead wires with connector plugs on an end of each adapted for suitable attachment and electrical contact to conventionally used limb electrodes on each leg; an adapter or plug on the second end of said cable for connection to an electrocardiograph machine; and an elastic fastener on one of the two ends of said belt-like strip for attachment to the other of the two ends of said belt-like strip for holding said belt-like strip in place around a patient's chest.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said cable is detachably attached to the lead wires emerging from said belt-like strip to allow for easier cleaning and storage of the apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the total of fixed and movable precordial electrodes is six.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible belt-like strip is of an S-like shape around its perimeter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said raised, fixed electrodes additionally are compressible.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said leg and arm lead wire connector plugs are circular male plugs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible belt-like strip additionally contains indicia on its surface to locate precordial location V1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
A method of conducting an electrocardiogram comprising attaching the apparatus of claim 1 to the chest of a patient with the raised, fixed, precordial electrodes over recognized central precordial recording zones, placing movable precordial electrodes of the apparatus of claim 1 on recognized central and lateral precordial recording zones on said patient between the smooth surfaced, inelastic, flexible, belt-like strip and the patient's chest, attaching said arm and leg limb lead wires of the apparatus to the conventional electrodes on the arms and legs of the patient, respectively, placing an electrolyte conducting paste between and in contact with each electrode and the patient's chest, then, with the cable and any necessary adapter or plug plugged into an electrocardiograph machine, performing the electrocardiogram.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8 comprising placing at least one movable electrode on the patient's chest outside the belt-like strip.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-05 | 1998-06-06 | 1998-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-05 | 2002-06-06 | 2002-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-05 | 2006-06-06 | 2006-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |