Electronic synchronizer-monitor system for controlling the timing of mechanical assistance and pacing of the heart

Abstract

A system which is capable of simultaneously displaying a plurality of waveforms on the face of a CRT which are representative of ECG, arterial pressures and operating states of the mechanical heart assistance devices, as well as a "timing bar" which sweeps across the CRT face in synchronism with the ECG grace, for example. Optical pickups are slidably mounted adjacent the CRT face across the path of the "timing bar" sweep for activating photodetectors which in turn initiate inflation and deflation of mechanical assistive devices at any desired point along the ECG or pressure trace. Any one of the pressure or ECG traces may be "frozen" on the display face to facilitate comparison between a trace of the condition of the heart prior to the use of heart assistance and a trace of the augmented condition. All traces may be freely moved to any location upon the display face so as to permit close positioning and even superimposition of two or more traces to still further facilitate visual comparisons. The timing bar may also be utilized to provide an electrical pacing assist for controlling patient heart rate as well as for extending the heart refractory period enabling the assistance devices to operate at reduced rates.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.