US 5,694,940 A · Apparatus and method for providing dual output signals in a telemetry transmitter

Abstract

Telemetry transmitting apparatus and a method are provided for reception and transmission of heart related electrical signals, such as electrocardiogram (EKG) and/or cardiac pacemaker signals, from a plurality of electrodes coupled to the body of a medical patient. A receiving facility of the apparatus receives a plurality of analog signals representing at least the EKG signals. An output signal representing the EKG signals is formed and transmitted, via a wireless coupling, to a telemetry receiver. An analog output port is provided on the telemetry transmitting apparatus. The analog output port is also coupled to the receiving facility. A plurality of output signals representing the EKG signals is provided to the analog output port of the telemetry transmitting apparatus. The analog output port may be coupled to buffers at the input terminals of the apparatus. Alternatively, the output port may receive processed signals from the amplifier in the telemetry transmitter that are gain adjusted to emulate the unprocessed voltage signals of the EKG electrodes and then combined with a digital pace pulse signal so that the output signals include pacemaker pulse information.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A portable patient monitoring apparatus adapted for being carried by a medical patient and having as its primary function the reception and then wireless transmission to a remote monitoring device of medical data acquired from the patient, and having a secondary function of also providing the medical data to an output port of the telemetry transmitter for facilitating local monitoring of the medical data, comprising:

receiving circuitry adapted for being coupled to said patient for receiving a plurality of analog signals representing a sensed condition of the patient;
wireless transmitting circuitry, including a signal processor and a wireless signal transmitter coupled to the receiving circuitry for forming an output signal representing the patient's condition and transmitting said output signal via a wireless transmission to a remote monitoring device;
an analog output port included as part of the wireless transmitting circuitry;
and
output means coupled to the receiving circuitry for providing a plurality of analog output signals representing the patient's condition to the analog output port of the wireless transmitting circuitry simultaneously with the transmission of said output signal to the remote monitoring device.

2 more elements

A patient monitoring system, comprising:

telemetry transmitting apparatus, located in a first housing, adapted for being carried by a medical patient and having as a primary function the reception and then wireless transmission to a remote monitor of electrocardiogram (EKG) data acquired from the patient and having a secondary function of also providing the EKG data to an output port of the telemetry transmitting apparatus for facilitating transfer of the EKG data to an input port of a local monitor;
a remote monitor, located in a second housing, having an input port at which the wireless transmission of the EKG data from the medical patient are received for display;
wherein said telemetry transmitting apparatus comprises:
receiving circuitry adapted for being coupled to said patient for receiving a plurality of analog signals representing the EKG data;
transmitting circuitry, including a signal processor and a wireless signal transmitter coupled to the receiving circuitry for forming an output signal representing EKG data of the patient and transmitting said output signal via a wireless transmission to said remote monitor;
an analog output port included as part of the transmitting circuitry;
and
output means coupled to the receiving circuitry for providing a plurality of analog output signals representing the patient's EKG data to the analog output port of the transmitting circuitry simultaneously with the wireless transmission of said output signal to the remote monitor;
and further including an electrical cable connecting the analog output port of the transmitting circuit to the input port of the local monitor.

6 more elements

A method for operating a telemetry transmitter adapted for being carried by a medical patient and having as a primary function the reception of medical data acquired from a plurality of sensor devices coupled to a medical patient, and for providing via wireless transmission multiple signals to a remotely located display device for displaying the medical data, and having a secondary function of also providing the medical data to an output port of the telemetry transmitter for facilitating transfer of the medical data to a local display device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving from the sensor devices a plurality of analog signals representing a condition of the patient, the receiving being performed by the telemetry transmitter;
(b) forming an output signal representing the medical data and transmitting said output signal to said remotely located display device via a wireless transmission;
and
(c) forming and transmitting a plurality of analog output signals representative of the analog signals recited in step (a) to the output port of the telemetry transmitter for use by the local display device located proximate to the telemetry transmitter simultaneously with the transmission of said output signal to the remotely located display device.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for providing dual output signals in a telemetry transmitter

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for providing dual output signals in a telemetry transmitter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20