The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 1976
Filed:
Dec. 31, 1975
Scott F Voelker, Lafayette, CA (US);
Systron Donner Corporation, Concord, CA (US);
Abstract
A computer adjunct is described which is used in combination with an impedance plethysmograph. The impedance plethysmograph provides signals related to conductance in a biological segment and related to deviation from a quiescent resistance level in the biological segment as body fluids are pumped therethrough in a pulsatile manner by the pumping action of the heart. The deviation of the segment resistance contains artifact signals such as those imposed by movement or breathing. The computer adjunct contains means for providing a signal indicative of heart pumping rate and circuit means for measuring the level of the artifact signals once each heart pumping cycle and generating a correction signal related thereto. The correction signal is thereafter applied to the deviation signal for reducing error induced by the artifact signals. The heart rate signal is conditioned to obtain a signal related thereto which is averaged. The corrected deviation signal is also averaged. The averaging is performed by circuitry which integrates the corrected deviation signal, thereby reducing residual cyclic noise due to the artifact signal while still affording relatively short output stabilization time. The two averaged signals are multiplied together and then combined with the segment conductance signal for providing an output signal indicating blood flow rate through the biological segment. The combination is capable of blood flow rate measurements for calf segments or thoracic segments.