What is claimed
1. A device for acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient’s heart, the device comprising:
a plurality of less than ten electrodes each for attachment to the patient in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram electrode positions; and
a signal processor connected to the plurality of less than ten electrodes for acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes and for generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes a one of (a) an electrode for attachment to the patient in approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient’s sternum and (b) an electrode for attachment to the patient in approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient’s sternum.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient’s anterior axillary line.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable to the patient’s left arm.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable to the patient’s right arm.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable to the patient’s left leg.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable to a grounding point on the patient’s body.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the generated twelve-lead electrocardiogram includes leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram.
10. The device of claim 8 wherein the signal processor includes a software module for mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein the software module generates the leads mathematically from the electrical signals by the signal processor using multiplelinear regression.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein the software module uses expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression to generate the leads.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.
14. The device of claim 12 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.
15. The device of claim 12 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.
16. The device of claim 1 and further comprising a telemetry monitor coupled to the electrodes and to the signal processor.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein the device acquires electrical signals from more than one patient.
18. A method of acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient’s heart, the method comprising the acts of:
attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including attaching each of the electrodes in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions;
acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes; and
generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the acquired electrical signals.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient’s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient’s sternum.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient’s anterior axillary line.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient’s left arm.
22. The method of claim 18 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient’s right arm.
23. The method of claim 18 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient’s left leg.
24. The method of claim 18 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to a grounding point on the patient’s body.
25. The method of claim 18 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of generating leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram.
27. The method of claim 25 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of generating the leads using multiple-linear regression.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of using expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.
31. The method of claim 29 wherein the act of generating the leads futrther comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.
32. The method of claim 29 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.
33. The method of claim 18 wherein the act of acquiring the electrical signals further comprises the act of acquiring the electrical signals with a signal processor coupled to a telemetry monitor.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein the act of acquiring the electrical signals from the electrodes further comprises the act of acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes of more than one patient.
35. A device for acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient’s heart, the device comprising:
a plurality of less than ten electrodes for attachment to the patient, at least two of the electrodes attachable to the patient’s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions and at least three of the electrodes attachable to the patient’s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions; and
a signal processor connected to the electrodes for acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes and for generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals.
36. The device of claim 35 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient’s chest include an electrode attachable in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient’s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient’s sternum.
37. The device of claim 35 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient’s chest include an electrode attachable in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient’s anterior axillary line.
38. The device of claim 35 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient’s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient’s left arm.
39. The device of claim 35 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient’s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient’s right arm.
40. The device of claim 35 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient’s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient’s left leg.
41. The device of claim 35 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable to a grounding point on the patient’s body.
42. The device of claim 35 wherein the generated twelve-lead electrocardiogram includes leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.
43. The device of claim 42 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram.
44. The device of claim 42 wherein the signal processor includes a software module for mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.
45. The device of claim 44 wherein the software module generates the leads mathematically from the electrical signals by the signal processor using multiplelinear regression.
46. The device of claim 45 wherein the software module uses expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression to generate the leads.
47. The device of claim 46 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.
48. The device of claim 46 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.
49. The device of claim 46 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.
50. The device of claim 35 and further comprising a telemetry monitor coupled to the electrodes and to the signal processor.
51. The device of claim 50 wherein the device acquires electrical signals from the electrodes of more than one patient.
52. A method of acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient’s heart, the method comprising the acts of:
attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including attaching at least two of the electrodes to the patient’s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions and attaching at least three of the electrodes to the patient’s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions;
acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes; and
generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the acquired electrical signals.
53. The method of claim 52 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient’s chest includes the act of attaching an electrode in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient’s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient’s sternum.
54. The method of claim 52 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient’s chest includes the act of attaching an electrode in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient’s anterior axillary line.
55. The method of claim 52 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient’s limbs includes the act of attaching an electrode to the patient’s left arm.
56. The method of claim 52 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient’s limbs includes the act of attaching an electrode to the patient’s right arm.
57. The method of claim 52 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient’s limbs includes the act of attaching an electrode to the patient’s left leg.
58. The method of claim 52 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes to the patient includes the act of attaching an electrode to a grounding point on the patient’s body.
59. The method of claim 52 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of generating leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.
60. The method of claim 59 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph.
61. The method of claim 60 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.
62. The method of claim 61 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of using expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression.
63. The method of claim 62 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.
64. The method of claim 62 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.
65. The method of claim 62 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.
66. The method of claim 52 wherein the act of acquiring the electrical signals further comprises the act of acquiring the electrical signals with a signal processor coupled to a telemetry monitor.
67. The method of claim 66 wherein the act of acquiring the electrical signals from the electrodes further comprises the act of acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes of more than one patient.
68. A method of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from electrical data acquired from a patient’s heart, the method comprising the acts of:
attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including attaching at least two of the electrodes to the patient’s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions and attaching at least three of the electrodes to the patient’s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions;
acquiring a first and second channel of data from the electrodes attached to the patient’s chest;
acquiring a third and fourth channel of data from the electrodes attached to the patient’s limbs;
generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the acquired channels of data.
69. The method of claim 68 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient’s chest further comprises the act of attaching an electrode in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient’s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient’s sternum.
70. The method of claim 68 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient’s chest further comprises the act of attaching an electrode in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient’s anterior axillary line.
71. The method of claim 68 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient’s limbs further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient’s left arm.
72. The method of claim 68 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient’s limbs further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient’s right arm.
73. The method of claim 68 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient’s limbs further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient’s left leg.
74. The method of claim 68 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to a grounding point on the patient’s body.
75. The method of claim 68 and further comprising the act of coupling four amplifiers to the electrodes.
76. The method of claim 75 and further comprising the act of coupling a signal processor to the amplifiers.
77. The method of claim 76 and further comprising the act of coupling the signal processor to a telemetry monitor.
78. The method of claim 77 wherein the act of acquiring the channels of data further comprises the act of acquiring channels of data from more than one patient.
79. The method of claim 68 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of generating leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.
80. The method of claim 79 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram.
81. The method of claim 80 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.
82. The method of claim 81 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of generating the leads using multiple-linear regression.
83. The method of claim 82 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of using expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression.
84. The method of claim 83 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.
85. The method of claim 83 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.
86. The method of claim 83 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.
87. An electrocardiograph device for acquiring and processing electrical data from a patient’s heart, the device comprising:
a plurality of less than ten electrodes attachable to the patient,
at least two of the plurality of electrodes attachable to the patient’s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions, the output of the electrodes attachable to the patient’s chest being a first and second channel of data, and
at least three of the plurality of electrodes attachable to the patient’s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions, the output of the electrodes attachable to the patient’s limbs being a third and fourth channel of data; and
a signal processor for acquiring the channels of data and for generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the acquired channels of data.
88. The device of claim 87 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient’s chest include an electrode attachable in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient’s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient’s sternum.
89. The device of claim 87 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient’s chest include an electrode attachable in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient’s anterior axillary line.
90. The device of claim 87 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient’s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient’s left arm.
91. The device of claim 87 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient’s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient’s right arm.
92. The device of claim 87 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient’s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient’s left leg.
93. The device of claim 87 wherein the plurality of electrodes include an electrode attachable to a grounding point on the patient’s body.
94. The device of claim 87 and further comprising four amplifiers coupled to the electrodes.
95. The device of claim 87 and further comprising a telemetry monitor coupled to the electrodes and to the signal processor.
96. The device of claim 95 wherein the device acquires channels of data from more than one patient.
97. The device of claim 87 wherein the generated twelve-lead electrocardiogram includes leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.
98. The device of claim 97 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram.
99. The device of claim 97 wherein the signal processor includes a software module for mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.
100. The device of claim 99 wherein the software module generates the leads mathematically from the electrical signals by the signal processor using multiplelinear regression.
101. The device of claim 100 wherein the software module expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression to generate the leads.
102. The device of claim 101 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.
103. The device of claim 101 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.
104. The device of claim 101 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An animal collar, comprising:
an elongated strap member; and
a photoluminescent element formed from thin flexible material, which is stitchably secured to a surface of the elongated strap member using a stitching pattern that comprises perimeter stitching lines that extend along a perimeter region of the photoluminescent element and a plurality of inner stitching lines that extend in an inner region of the photoluminescent element surrounded by the perimeter stitching lines.
2. The animal collar of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent element is an elongated rectangular strip that extends over at least one half of a length of the elongated strap member.
3. The animal collar of claim 1, wherein the inner stitching lines include a plurality of straight stitching lines that extend in parallel and equidistant to each other over the inner surface region of the photoluminescent element between perimeter stitching lines.
4. The animal collar of claim 1, wherein the inner stitching lines include a plurality of parallel stitching lines that longitudinally extend between perimeter stitching lines of the photoluminescent element in a length direction of the elongated strap member.
5. The animal collar of claim 4, wherein the parallel stitching lines are spaced apart in a range of about 316\u2033 to about 116\u2033.
6. The animal collar of claim 1, wherein the inner stitching lines include a plurality of parallel stitching lines that longitudinally extend between perimeter stitching lines of the photoluminescent element at an angle relative to a length direction of the elongated strap member.
7. The animal collar of claim 1, wherein the inner stitching lines include a plurality of parallel stitching lines that extend between perimeter stitching lines of the photoluminescent element in a direction transverse to the longitudinal length direction of the elongated strap member.
8. The animal collar of claim 1, wherein the elongated strap member is made of leather.
9. The animal collar of claim 1, wherein the elongated strap member is made of nylon.
10. The animal collar of claim 1, wherein the elongated strap is made of plastic.
11. The animal collar of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent element is formed from photoluminescent vinyl.
12. The animal collar of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent element is formed from photoluminescent material that can glow for at least 18 hours.