US 4,422,081 A · Validator for electrocardial data processing system

Abstract

Apparatus for printing alpha-numeric characters for plotting an incoming signal at rates on the order of one page every seven seconds for rapidly verifying that the system producing the incoming signal is operating properly. Both printing and plotting are done by styli mounted on a moving carriage and individually electrified to produce marks on a specially prepared paper. The stylii are moved back and forth across the paper, marking in both directions. The carriage is not stepped across the page, but instead is moved smoothly from one side to the other side under control of a velocity servo. A controller generates and applies velocity command inputs to the servo, based on the position of the carriage as sensed by an optical encoder, and based on certain characteristics of the incoming signal. A first buffer memory accumulates the incoming signal until a line has been stored for plotting, while a second buffer memory is applying its accumulated contents to the printhead. Thereafter, the first memory supplies the printhead while the second memory accumulates. The apparatus includes a versatile formatting system which determines the amount of data to be plotted in each line in accordance with the incoming timing signals associated with the data. If the timing signals are not present, the apparatus makes the determination autonomously.

Claims23

Dependent claims

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a printer-plotter to produce marks at a high speed on a medium that are representative of electrocardiographic signals generated at a slower real time speed by a patient, then stored in a storage device and later retrieved from the storage device, said apparatus comprising:

formatting means receiving the retrieved electrocardiographic signals and connected to the printer-plotter for controlling it to plot at the high speed successive segments of the retrieved electrocardiographic signals in successive rows juxtaposed along the medium to facilitate visual analysis of the retrieved electrocardiographic signals, said formatting means responsive to applied timing signals to control the printer-plotter to print alpha-numeric symbols adjacent predetermined rows of the plotted electrocardiographic signals to indicate the time of day corresponding to the respective said predetermined rows.

A method for facilitating the visual analysis of ECG signals generated at a real time rate in a patient, recorded and subsequently plotted as lines of graphic data on a medium, said method comprising the steps of:

storing said ECG signals in a first memory until sufficient has been stored therein corresponding to a full line of graphic data on said medium;
next storing subsequent ECG signals in a second memory corresponding to a second adjacent line of graphic data on said medium;
reading and printing said ECG signals stored in said first memory as said graphic data on said medium as said ECG signals are being stored in said second memory;
where in said step of storing said ECG signals in said second memory, said signals are stored therein until a time-of-day signal is detected, provided that said time-of-day signal is detected prior to a predetermined fraction of the capacity of said second memory having been utilized;
and
then simultaneously storing said ECG signals in said first and second memories, if said predetermined fraction of said capacity of said second memory has been utilized without detection of said time-of-day signal.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Validator for electrocardial data processing system

Life of this patent

Validator for electrocardial data processing system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23