Electrocardiography and respiratory monitor
A monitor recorder optimized for electrocardiography and respiratory data acquisition and processing is provided. The recorder includes a sealed housing and an electronic circuitry comprised within the sealed housing, which includes an electrocardiographic front end circuit electrically interfaced to an externally-powered micro-controller and operable to sense electrocardiographic signals through electrodes provided on the patch; the micro-controller interfaced to one or more respiratory sensors, the micro-controller operable to sample the electrocardiographic signals, to sample respiratory events detected by the one or more respiratory sensors upon receiving one or more signals from the one or more respiratory sensors, to buffer each of the respiratory event samples, to compress each of the buffered respiratory event samples, to buffer each of the compressed respiratory event samples, and to write the buffered compressed respiratory event samples and the samples of the electrocardiography signals into an externally-powered flash memory; and the memory interfaced with the micro-controller.
1. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitoring patch, comprising:
a flexible backing;
a pair of electrocardiographic electrodes respectively affixed to and conductively exposed on a contact surface of each end of the flexible backing to sense electrocardiographic data;
a circuit comprising a pair of circuit traces, each circuit trace originating within one of the ends of the flexible backing and coupled to one of the electrocardiographic electrodes;
a non-conductive receptacle adhered on one end of the flexible backing opposite the contact surface and comprising a battery and a plurality of electrical pads, wherein a pair of the electrical pads is coupled with the pair of circuit traces; and
at least one respiratory sensor comprising a strain gauge and positioned on a surface of the non-conductive receptacle facing the flexible backing, wherein the respiratory sensor is electrically connected to the battery and senses respiratory data and at least a part of the strain gauge extends beyond the non-conductive receptacle and the flexible backing to contact a patient's skin.
2. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitoring patch according to claim 1 , wherein the strain gauge that extends beyond the non-conductive receptacle and the flexible backing comprises arms that contact skin of a patient on which the flexible backing is adhered.
3. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitoring patch according to claim 1 , wherein the strain gauge detects expansion and contraction of a patient's chest on which the flexible backing is adhered.
4. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitoring patch according to claim 1 , wherein the respiratory sensor comprises a transthoracic impedance sensor.
5. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitoring patch according to claim 1 , wherein the respiratory sensor transmits the respiratory data over a wireless transceiver or via wires.
6. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitoring patch according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a further respiratory sensor positioned on the surface of the non-conductive receptacle facing the flexible backing adjacent to the respiratory sensor.
7. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitoring patch according to claim 1 , wherein at least one respiratory event is identified from the respiratory data.
8. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitoring patch according to claim 7 , wherein the electrocardiographic data occurring concurrent to the respiratory event is utilized to identify a type of the respiratory event.
9. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitoring patch according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a microphone positioned on the flexible backing to detect sounds of breathing.
10. An electrocardiography and respiration monitor, comprising:
a flexible backing;
a pair of electrocardiographic electrodes respectively affixed to and conductively exposed on a contact surface of each end of the flexible backing to sense electrocardiographic data;
a circuit comprising a pair of circuit traces, each circuit trace originating within one of the ends of the flexible backing and coupled to one of the electrocardiographic electrodes;
a non-conductive receptacle adhered on one end of the flexible backing opposite the contact surface and comprising a battery and a plurality of electrical pads, wherein a pair of the electrical pads is coupled with the pair of circuit traces; and
at least one respiratory sensor comprising a strain gauge and positioned on a surface of the non-conductive receptacle facing the flexible backing, wherein the respiratory sensor is electrically connected to the battery and senses respiratory data and at least a part of the strain gauge extends beyond the non-conductive receptacle and the flexible backing to contact a patient's skin; and
an electrocardiography monitor recorder, comprising:
a sealed housing shaped to be removably attached to the electrocardiography patch;
an externally-powered micro-controller; and
an electrocardiographic front end circuit interfaced to the micro-controller and operable to sense the electrocardiographic data.
11. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitor according to claim 10 , wherein the strain gauge that extends beyond the non-conductive receptacle and the flexible backing comprises arms that contact skin of a patient on which the flexible backing is adhered.
12. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitor according to claim 10 , wherein the strain gauge detects expansion and contraction of a patient's chest on which the flexible backing is adhered.
13. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitor according to claim 10 , wherein the respiratory sensor comprises a transthoracic impedance sensor.
14. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitor according to claim 10 , wherein the respiratory sensor transmits the respiratory data over a wireless transceiver or via wires.
15. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitor according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a further respiratory sensor positioned on the surface of the non-conductive receptacle facing the flexible backing adjacent to the respiratory sensor.
16. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitor according to claim 10 , wherein at least one respiratory event is identified from the respiratory data.
17. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitor according to claim 16 , wherein the electrocardiographic data occurring concurrent to the respiratory event is utilized to identify a type of the respiratory event.
18. An electrocardiography and respiratory monitor according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a microphone positioned on the flexible backing to detect sounds of breathing.