Robert M Armington

Title: Robert M. Armington: Inventor of Electrocardiographic Monitoring Technologies.

Introduction

Robert M. Armington was an inventor associated with Boston, Massachusetts, and the American Optical Corporation. His work focused on methods and devices for detecting and analyzing electrocardiographic waveforms, including techniques for identifying R-waves and ventricular premature beats. He is credited with 2 patents.

Latest Patents

Armington’s listed patents address the detection and interpretation of electrical heart signals.

- **Variable threshold R-wave detector.** This invention uses an automatically adjustable threshold to identify R-waves in an electrocardiogram. After detecting an R-wave, the system raises the threshold to reduce the chance that a large T-wave will be mistaken for another R-wave. It then lowers the threshold after the expected T-wave interval, helping it detect a premature R-wave even when that signal has a reduced amplitude.

- **Method and apparatus for monitoring electrocardiographic waveforms.** This invention describes techniques for recognizing ventricular premature beats. One method estimates the width of a QRS complex by dividing its area by its height, then compares that width with the average width of several preceding complexes. Another approach identifies an early, wider-than-average complex and checks whether it is followed by a compensatory pause, using measurements of the intervals between beats.

Career Highlights

Armington’s patent work reflects an emphasis on making electrocardiographic monitoring more reliable. His inventions use waveform measurements, adaptive thresholds, and timing comparisons to distinguish cardiac events that may otherwise be difficult to identify.

Collaborations

Armington’s listed coworkers include Richard Paul Andresen and Andrew J. Griffin. His work was associated with the American Optical Corporation.

Conclusion

Robert M. Armington’s two patents describe practical approaches to detecting R-waves and recognizing ventricular premature beats, contributing to the development of electrocardiographic monitoring technology.