Apparatus for, and method of, determining the condition of a patient's heart

Abstract

Electrodes disposed in rows and columns in a vest provide signals indicating the patient's heart characteristics. Each electrode is in a column different from the column locating the other electrodes. V1 and V2 electrodes are in the same row symmetrically relative to the patient's sternum on opposite sides of the sternum. V4-V6 electrodes are in different columns in the same row on the right side of the sternum. V3 electrode is between the V2 and V4 electrodes. The V1V6 electrodes are disposed differently for patients of small, medium and large sizes. The electrodes are attached to the patient with at least a particular pressure. Amplifiers attached to the vest and connected to individual ones of the electrodes amplify heart signals, without any noise production while the patient is ambulatory, thereby providing stable heart signals.

Description

technical field [0001] [0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for indicating the condition of a patient's heart. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for measuring the condition of a patient's heart on a more sensitive and reliable basis than the prior art. Background technique [0002] [0002] Heart disease is the most serious health problem of mankind today. More people die each year from heart disease than from any other disease or defect. And every year millions of people get heart disease, more than any other disease or defect. It is in part for this reason that the heart will receive more attention in health care than any other organ of the body. [0003] [0003] Measurements of cardiac condition should be performed. These measurements are called an electrocardiogram (abbreviated "ecg" or "ekg"). A patient's ECG is obtained by attaching electrodes to the patient at key anatomical locations on the patient's body...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This affects electrode placement on the patient and affects the sensitivity and reliability of measurements made on patients of different sizes

[0009] 4. Although there are often many electrodes in the device for measurement, the number of electrodes is still very limited

This often affects the sensitivity and reliability of the measurements made

Also, if the number of electrodes is increased, the process of attaching the electrodes in place on the patient's skin becomes a tedious and tedious process

This often leads to confusion between electrode placement on the patient's body

When the number of electrodes in an ECG unit or device is thus limited, so is the ability of the device to detect defects in a patient's cardiac function and to detect a wide variety of deficiencies

[0010] 5. ECG equipment is bulky

[0011] 6. The pressure and attachment method of different electrodes on the patient's skin are different, which is usually not accurate and reliable

But advances in equipment to determine the condition of a patient's heart have not progressed as rapidly as implantable devices and drugs to treat a patient's heart when it comes to detecting heart problems

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