US 4,686,998 AGrant
Patient Temperature and Heartbeat Rate Monitoring System
Issue Date:1987-08-18
•12 Claims
•4 Drawing Sheets
Abstract
Hospital patient temperatures and heartbeat rates are monitored by providing each patient with a battery powered transmitter containing a reference resistance and to which two sensor electrodes are connected. The first electrode includes a thermistor and is positioned in thermal contact with the patient's skin over the axillary artery. The second electrode is positioned in contact with the patient's skin proximate to the fourth intercostal left parasternal area of the patient's chest. A receiver, carried by a nurse, includes a magnetic actuator for closing a reed switch in a transmitter unit to activate the generation of data signals from that transmitter. The transmitter, when actuated provides an output of modulated, sequential data signals. The data signals are of a duration corresponding to a reference temperature, actual patient temperature, transmitter battery level, and patient heartbeat rate. The receiver includes demodulator circuitry and a microprocessor to provide numerical indicia quantitatively indicative of actual patient temperature and heartbeat rate. The microprocessor compares the demodulated data signals to allowable limits associated with each signal.
Metadata
Assignee
- Mediscan Research Limited
Inventor
- Adam Robbins
Application Information
Application Number:US 7971648
Filing Date:1985-11-12
Priority Date:1985-11-12
Art Unit:335
Classifications
IPC:
A61B 502
Field of Search:
128307322639;670;903;736;702;70665;689 R;21;22;68
Patent Drawings (4 sheets)
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to systems for concurrently monitoring patient temperature and heartbeat rate.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Various devices have been provided for monitoring temperatures of patients in a hospital using telemetry systems. Prior systems of this type are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,621, U.S. Pat. No. 3,321,933 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,862. While prior devices of the type described in the foregoing patents are quite adequate for providing the temperatures of patients in a hospital, it is frequently desireable for the heartbeat rate as well as the temperature of a patient to be monitored. Heretofore, the conventional practice has been for a nurse making rounds to check the pulse rates of patients in a hospital. This is typically performed manually by a registered nurse who stops at the bedside of each patient and holds the patient's wrist to measure the patient's heartbeat rate by taking the patient's pulse rate with a watch. Frequently it is necessary to disturb the patient for this purpose. Also, the task cannot be delegated to less qualified personnel, since the process of manually taking a pulse rate is somewhat subjective and requires accurate judgment. Moreover, since there is a subjective aspect to timing of a pulse rate, nurses must measure the patient's pulse rates for a statistically significant perod of time. Typically, a nurse will manually monitor a patient's pulse rate for sixty seconds. The time required for monitoring is therefore a very significant factor in limiting the number of patients whose pulses can be taken by one nurse making rounds.
Devices do exist for electronically monitoring the heartbeat rates of patients. However, conventional devices for performing this function have been quite complex and normally involve a visual display on the screen of a CRT. Because of the high equipment cost, the use of conventional patient heartbeat rate monitoring devices is normally limited to those patients who are under intensive care. The high cost of purchasing and operating such sophisticated devices is reflected in the high daily charges incurred by a patient in intensive care.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a patient temperature and heartrate monitoring system comprising a plurality of transmitters, one for each patient to be monitored, and a single receiver for monitoring each of the transmitters separately. Each transmitter is comprised of a sensor system for sensing patient temperature and heartbeat rate. Each transmitter also includes a transducer for generating data signals corresponding to patient temperature and heartbeat rate, and a modulator for transforming the data signals to radio frequency signals. The receiver is comprised of a demodulator for sensing the radio frequency signals from a transmitter and for reproducing the data signals therefrom. The receiver also includes a signal processor for producing a visual display from the reproduced data signals.
One object of the present invention is to provide a system for concurrently monitoring patient temperature and heartbeat rate electronically.
Another object of the invention is to provide a patient temperature and heartbeat rate system which employs a number of relatively low cost transmitter units, one for each patient to be monitored, which can be selectively monitored with a single receiver.
A further object of the invention is to provide a means for electronically monitoring patient temperature and heartbeat rate which does not involve disturbing the patient in order to take temperature and heartbeat rate readings. The system employs sensing electrodes which are secured by adhesive to the skin of the patient and which can remain on the body of the patient for up to seven days. The electrodes are connected to the transmitter unit by means of a cable. The transmitter unit is located externally of the patient so that it is accessible for interrogation without disturbing the patient. It is therefore unnecessary to wake a patient who is resting in order to ascertain the temperature and heartbeat rate of the patient.
A further object of the invention is to provide a system for monitoring patient temperature and heartbeat rate which can be automatically interrogated in an instant with a receiver unit without the necessity for a nurse or other hospital attendant to wait while sensors develop electric signals over a sufficient interval to accurately indicate patient temperature and heartbeat rate. To the contrary, the sensors remain present on the skin of the patient and continuously provide passive signals indicative of patient temperature and heartbeat rate. These signals are provided by the sensor elements to the transmitter, but are not transmitted until the transmitter is interrogated by the receiver. Thus, the transmitter does not consume an inordinate amount of power. Nevertheless, the raw signals are developed over a period of time, and are readily available to instantly produce data signals when the transmitter is activated.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a patient temperature and heartbeat rate monitoring system which employs sensors of the type familiar to hospital personnel. Moreover, these sensors are positioned on the skin of the patient at positions with which hospital attendants are also quite familiar. One of the sensors is positioned on the skin of the patient over the axillary artery in what is commonly called the apex of the armpit. The other sensor is positioned on the skin of the patient on the patient's chest at an indentifiable point proximate to the fourth intercostal space in the left parasternal area. The sensors are attached to pads containing electrodes of the type commonly employed in electrocardiographic monitoring. The locations at which the electrodes are applied are two of the same locations at which electrodes are applied in electrocardiographic monitoring. Thus, no significant additional training is necessary in order for hospital personnel to properly use the system of the invention.
The invention may be described with greater clarity and particularity by reference to the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one transmitter and the receiver of the invention and the placement of the sensors on the skin of a patient.
FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational detail of a first sensor element employed in the system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic diagram of a transmitter, including sensors, of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a functional diagram useful in explaining the operation of certain of the components of the transmitter of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a pulse diagram useful in explaining the generation of data pulses in the transmitter of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a pulse diagram depicting the modulated radio signal output of the transmitter of FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is a detailed schematic diagram of the receiver of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 illustrates a patient temperature and heartbeat rate monitoring system according to the invention. This system is comprised of a plurality of transmitters, one of which is indicated at 10. According to the system, a plurality of transmitters 10 are provided, one for each patient to be monitored. Each transmitter 10 includes first and second sensor elements 12 and 14, respectively. The sensor elements 12 and 14 sense patient temperature and heartbeat rate. The transmitter 10 also includes transducer means, indicated generally at 16 in FIG. 3, for generating data signals corresponding to patient temperature and heartbeat rate. The transmitter 10 also includes modulating means, indicated at 18 in FIG. 3, for transforming the data signals to radio frequency signals. The patient temperature and heartbeat rate monitoring system also includes a receiver 20. The circuit components of the receiver 20 are illustrated in FIG. 7. The receiver 20 includes demodulating mean indicated generally at 22 in FIG. 7, for sensing the radio signals from the transmitter 10 and for reproducing data signals therefrom. The receiver 20 also includes signal processing means, indicated at 24, for producing a visual display from the reproduced data signals on an LCD display 26.
The Sensor Elements
The electrical interconnection of the sensor elements 2 and 14 is depicted in FIG. 3 and the structure of the sensor element 12 is depicted in detail in FIG. 2. Both sensor elements 12 and 14 are similar in construction, although certain differences do exist, as will hereinafter be described.
The sensor elements 12 and 14 both employ plastic, cup-mounted electrodes of the type commonly used for detecting electrocardiographic signals at the surface of the skin of a patient. Both sensor elements 12 and 14 employ a plastic cup housing 30 having a generally raised, disc-shaped center 32 with an axially offset, annular radially extending flange 34. The first sensor element 12 and the second sensor element 14 employ identical first and second disc-shaped electrodes 36 and 37, respectively, each arranged in coplanar fashion with the associated flange 34 so that an adhesive pad 38 extending radially beyond the flange 34 keeps the electrode discs in close contact with the surface of the skin of the patient 15 to which the sensor is affixed. Both of the electrodes 36 and 37 are preferably silver or silver plated and are each initially provided with a gel pad protector 46 which covers a gel pad 40. The gel pad 40 is impregnated with a chemical substance commonly referred to as an electrode gel. The gel pad 40 covers the patient contact surface of each of the electrodes 36 and 37. The gel pad 40 is of the type normally employed with electrodes on electrocardiogram units, and other systems for deriving small electrical signals from the surface of the skin of a patient. The gel pad 40 enhances electrical contact between the surface of the skin of a patient and the electrode discs 36 and 37.
Both of the sensor elements 12 and 14 are initially provided with an annular gel pad protector retainer 42. When the electrode is to be applied to the skin of a patient, the gel pad protector retainer 42 is first removed, and the gel pad protector 46 is then removed. The gel pad 40 is then placed in full contact with the surface of the skin of the patient, and is held in position by the ring of adhesive 44 on the underside of an adhesive pad 38 that overlies the flange 34 of the cup housing 30. An epoxy sealant 48 covers the upper surface of the electrode discs 36 and 37 in both the first sensor element 12 and the second sensor element 14.
In the first sensor element 12 a thermistor 50 in the form of a thermistor die is conductively bonded by means of silver solder to the electrode 36. The sensor elements 12 and 14 are coupled to a sensor interface 52 by a length of cable 54. Within the cable 54 there is a twisted pair of wire conductors 56 and 58. Each of the conductors 56 and 58 is separately sheathed in polyvinylchloride insulation for mutual insulation from the other wire. The conductors 56 and 58 are surrounded by a braided shield 60, indicated in FIG. 3 which is itself insulated by a polyvinylchloride outer cable jacket 61, illustrated in FIG. 2. The conductor 56 is connected to one side of the thermistor 50 by solder. The opposite end of the conductor 56 is connected to a means within the transmitter 16 for applying voltage to it. A separate conductor 62 is connected to one side of a reference temperature resistor pair 63 and 64, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The conductor 58 serves as a ground conductor and is connected to the opposite sides of the reference temperature resistor pair 63 and 64 and the thermistor 50 in an electrical ground through the sensor interface 52.
The braided shield 60 is located within the outer polyvinylchloride cable jacket 61 of the cable 54 and terminates short of the electrode 36, no less than 0.025 inches from the end of the outer jacket 61. The braided shield 60 is thereby electrically isolated from the first electrode 36, but is electrically connected to the second electrode 37 and serves as a heartbeat signal conductor. Together the heartbeat signal conductor 60 and the ground conductor 58 serves as a means for monitoring voltage differential between the first and second electrodes 36 and 37, respectively.
The sensor interface 52 is a combination electronic printed circuit board and edge-type electrical connector or plug. The coupling of the interface 52 has six electrical contacts. Contact 1 is routed to a reference temperature resistor element formed by the pair of reference resistors 63 and 64. Contact 3 of the sensor interface 52 is connected by the wire conductor 56 to one side of the thermistor 50, as previously described, while the ground conductor 58 is soldered directly to the inside surface of electrode 36 adjacent to and in electrical contact with the bonded thermistor die. The ground conductor wire 58 is connected at the sensor interface 52 at contact 2. Contact 4 in the sensor interface 52 is connected to the braided shield 60 of the cable 54. As previously noted, the braided shield 60 is also electrically bonded to the second electrode 37 at a point on the cable 54 between the sensor interface 52 at one end and the first sensor element 12 at the other end. The last two contacts 5 and 6 are connected together by a jumper trace on the circuit board.
The sensor elements 12 and 14 function to sense patient temperature and heartbeat rate. Patient temperature is sensed by the thermistor 50 which is mounted on the first electrode 36 for thermal contact with the skin of the patient 15. The first electrode 36 is secured to the skin of the patient 15 to be monitored in electrical contact therewith. The first electrode 36 and the thermistor 50, together with the reference temperature resisters 63 and 64, form the operative elements of the first sensor element 12. The first electrode 36 in the sensor element 12 is adhesively secured, in the manner previously described, to the skin of the patient 15 in the vicinity of the axillary artery in the apex of the armpit, as depicted in FIG. 1. This location is the clinically specified site for obtaining axillary temperature determinations in humans in conventional hospital practice. The first electrode 36 and the thermistor 50 are affixed so as to obtain and maintain optimum thermal and electrical contact between the first electrode 36 and the skin surface. With the electrode 36 in place, the patient's arterial blood temperature, and hence the skin temperature of the patient in the near vicinity of the axillary artery, are thermally conducted to the thermistor 50.
The thermistor die element forming the thermistor 50 varies in internal resistance to electrical current flow as a linear function of temperature. The variable resistor 64 of the pair of reference resistors 63 and 64 will have been adjusted during manufacture to match the thermistor resistance at a precise, calibrated temperature. Therefore, the exact temperature to which the first electrode 36 and thermistor 50 are exposed can be determined by measuring the difference in resistance between the temperature sensitive thermistor 50 and the fixed series resistance of the resistors 63 and 64.
The patient's heartbeat rate is sensed by affixing the second sensor element 14, including the second electrode 37, to the chest at a point proximate to the fourth intercostal space in the left parasternal area, as depicted in FIG. 1. The pad of the second sensor element 14 is attached to the skin of the patient 15 in the same manner as the pad of the first sensor element 12. As with the sensor element 12, electrode gel is interposed between the surface of the skin of the patient 15 and the contact surface of the second electrode 37 to enhance electrical conduction. With both electrodes 36 and 37 attached to the skin of the patient 15, a voltage will develop across the electrodes 36 and 37. This voltage is proportional to the rate and nature of contraction-relaxation of the heart muscle. The signal provided is commonly known as the electrocardiographic potential and can be detected across numerous sets of points on the body of the patient 15.
The two preferred locations for attachment of the electrodes of the sensor elements 12 and 14 are illustrated in FIG. 1. These locations correspond to the clinically designated unipolar precordial electrocardiographic V2 and 3V6 leads. The sensor elements 12 and 14 are attached to the patient 15 with the sensor element 12 being affixed in the axilla. The sensor element 14 is at approximately the mid-point of the cable 54 and is adhesively attached to the subject's chest. The sensor interface 52 is draped near the top of the patient's garment for convenient attachment to the case of the transmitter 10.
The Transmitter Components
The electrical components of the transmitter 10 are housed in a plastic case 68, depicted in FIG. 1. The electrical components of the transmitter 10 are embodied in two electronic printed circuit boards. The transmitter 10 includes a rechargeable nickel-cadmium 6 volt battery 70 and a socket 72 with contacts aligned for connection to the contacts 1 through 6 of the sensor interface 52. The transmitter case 68 also includes an alligator clip assembly for the purpose of releaseably fastening the transmitter 10 to the garment of the patient 15. The transmitter 10 functions to accept, encode and then telemeter electronic signals which represent the body temperature and heartbeat rate of the patient 15 to which the transmitter 10 and sensor elements 12 and 14 are attached.
The battery 70 provides power through the separate conductors 62 and 56, respectively, to the reference temperature resistors 63 and 64 and to the thermistor 50 for generating a reference temperature signal and an actual temperature signal. The sensor element 12 provides voltage level inputs to contacts 3 and 1 in the sensor interface 52. The voltage level input on contact 1 is proportional to a reference temperature established by the resistors 63 and 64, while the voltage level input on contact 3 is proportional to actual patient temperature as measured by thermistor 50. The sensor elements 12 and 14, respectively, provide inputs to contacts 2 and 4 of the sensor interface 52 at a frequency corresponding to heartbeat rate. Contact 2 is used for a signal ground reference. The transducer 16 is electrically conected to the thermistor 50, the reference resistors 63 and 64 and both of the electrodes 36 and 37.
The transducer 16 generates electrical data signals that include data signals of durations proportional to patient temperature and patient heartbeat rate. These data signals appear on line 78. The signals on line 78 are sequential data signals and are, in sequence: (1) reference temperature data signals of duration proportional to a reference temperature, (2) actual temperature data signals of duration proportional to actual patient temperature, (3) transmitter battery level data signals of duration proportional to transmitter battery level, and (4) heartbeat data signals of a duration proportional to actual patient heartbeat rate. The modulator 18 modulates the electrical data signals on line 78 to provide radio frequency temperature signals and radio frequency patient heartbeat rate signals.
The transducer 16 includes a multiplexer switch 80 coupled to the sensor elements 12 and 14. The transducer 16 also includes a voltage controlled oscillator 82 which is coupled to provide an input to and receive an output from the multiplexer switch 80. The transducer 16 also includes a frequency divider 84 which is connected to receive an input from the voltage controlled oscillator 82 through the multiplexer switch 80 and to provide an output to the multiplexer switch 80. The multiplexer switch 80 receives the voltage level inputs from the sensor elements 12 and 14 and sequentially generates the data signals on line 78.
The transducer circuit 16 also includes a low pass filter circuit 86 coupled to the sensor element 14 for isolating an electrical heartbeat signal having a frequency equal to heartbeat rate. This signal is passed on line 88 to a preamplification circuit 90. The preamplification circuit 90 is coupled between the low pass filter circuit 86 and a phase lock loop circuit 92 and produces an output on line 94 to the phase lock loop circuit 92. The phase lock loop circuit 92 receives the amplified heartbeat signals on line 94 and provides a harmonic heart rate signal to the multiplexer switch 80 on line 96. The harmonic heartbeat signal on line 96 is at a phase controlled frequency which is an upper harmonic of the heartbeat signal on line 94.
The generation of the data signals on line 78 is best illustrated with reference to FIG. 4, which is a functional block diagram of the voltage controlled oscillator 82, the phase lock loop circuit 92, the multiplexer switch 80 and the dividing circuit 84. The multiplexer switch 80 receives inputs from both the phase lock loop circuit 92 and the voltage controlled oscillator 82. The voltage controlled oscillator 82 produces a voltage controlled square wave output signal on line 98 of frequency proportional to input voltage level. Two of the voltage level inputs are provided by the sensor element 12 through pins 1 through 3 of the sensor interface 52. Another voltage level input, proportional to the voltage level of the transmitter battery 70, is provided through pin 15 of the multiplexer switch 80. The voltage controlled square wave output signal on line 98 is provided from the voltage controlled oscillator 82 as an input to the multiplexer switch 80, which in turn provides that signal to the frequency divider 84 on line 102. The frequency divider 84 produces a clock output on line 100 to the multiplexer switch 80. This clock output is proportional to and stepped down from the signal then being supplied as an input to the frequency device 84 on line 102. The clock output on line 100 sequentially gates each of the voltage level inputs through the multiplexer switch 80 to the voltage controlled oscillator 82 on line 104. The clock output from the frequency divider 84 is also connected to the modulating circuit 18 by line 78.
The clock output pulses from the frequency divider 84 serve as the data signals which the modulator 18 modulates with a carrier signal. The phase lock loop circuit 92 is also coupled to the multiplexer switch 80. The low pass filter circuit 86 and the preamplifier circuit 90 are connected to the first and second electrodes 36 and 37, respectively, and monitor the voltage differential between those electrodes to produce heartbeat signals on line 94 responsive to heartbeats of the patient 15. The phase lock loop circuit 92 converts these heartbeat signals to heartrate signals on line 96. The multiplexer switch 80 gates the harmonic heart rate signal on line 96 to the frequency divider 84 in sequence with the voltage controlled square wave output signal from the voltage controlled oscillator 82. Control of the sequencing is functionally equivalent to operation of a wiper switch 97 internally within the multiplexing switch 80. The wipe of the switch is connected to line 102 leading to the frequency divider 84. During the time that the multiplexer switch 80 gates the harmonic heartrate signal from line 96 to the frequency divider 84, the frequency of the clock output from the frequency divider 84 on line 100 is proportional to and stepped down from the harmonic heartrate signal on line 96. These heartrate signals are thereby divided down and form one of the data signals to the modulator 18.
The wave forms of the data signals on line 78 are illustrated in FIG. 5. The first component data signal is a square wave pulse of duration proportional to the reference resistance. This pulse is indicated at 108. The second data signal is of opposite polarity, and is also a square wave signal. This signal is indicated at 110 and is of a duration proportional to the temperature of the patient 15 as measured by the thermistor 50. The third component data signal is a square wave signal 112, which is of a duration proportional to the voltage level of the transmitter battery 70. The fourth and final signal is a square wave pulse 114 which is of a duration proportional to the heartbeat rate of the patient 15. This same sequence of data signal generation is repeated continuously during the time that the transmitter 10 is interrogated by the receiver 20.
The interconnection of the circuit elements and the operation of the circuitry of the transmitter 10 may be described more explicitly with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. 3. The values of all the resistors and capacitors in both the transmitter 10 and receiver 20 are set forth in Table I at the conclusion of the embodiment description. The transmitter 10 has two modes of operation; quiescent and full power. In the quiescent mode power is supplied to the low pass filter 86, the preamplifier 90, and the phase lock loop circuit 92. In the full power mode the power is applied to all of the circuit elements of the transmitter 10 in FIG. 3 and actual generation of data signals, modulation of data signals, and data transmission occurs.
The voltage level signals from the sensor elements 12 and 14 are received by the transmitter through contacts 1 through 4 of the sensor interface 52. Contacts 4 and 5 of the sensor interface 52 function as a quiescent power mode switch by virtue of the jumper present on the interface 52 between contacts 5 and 6. Thus, connection of the sensor interface 52 to the socket 72 in the transmitter 10 turns on the quiescent power circuit through contacts 4 and 5.
Transition between the quiescent mode and the full power mode is controlled by the operation of a normally open, magnetically operable reed switch S1 in the transmitter. The case 68 of the transmitter 10 is preferably of a dark color with a white target dot at its center, indicated at 116 in FIG. 1. The switch S1 is physically located directly behind the target dot 116 in the case 68. The receiver 20 is equipped with a magnet at the apex 118 of the triangular-shaped end of the receiver case 119. The receiver magnet is a small Cermet disc magnet that is incorporated into one end of the receiving antenna inductor subassembly. The magnet in the receiver 20 serves to close the magnetically operable switch S1 of a transmitter 10 when brought into close proximity thereto. That is, the magnet in the receiver 20 closes the switch S1 when the apex 118 of the receiver case 119 is brought to within one-half inch of the transmitter case target dot 116. Withdrawal of the apex 118 of the receiver 20 to beyond one-half inch of the target dot 116 causes the switch S1 to return to its normally open condition, thereby returning the transmitter 20 to the quiescent mode.
The signals from the sensor elements 12 and 14 are initially processed by the voltage controlled oscillator 82, the multiplexer switch 80 and the frequency divider 84. A low power consumption integrated circuit device commonly designated by the identification number 4046 has a suitable precision voltage controlled oscillator which may serve as the voltage controlled oscillator 82. The voltage controlled oscillator 82 is operated by varying an input voltage in order to obtain an exactly proportional square wave frequency output. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, this output is provided on line 98. An ancilliary controlling parameter is used to select the decade range over which the voltage controlled oscillator 82 is to be operated. This is accomplished by connecting a fixed computed value of resistance between the input pin for this controlling parameter and ground. In the transmitter 10 the voltage divider formed by the resistors R30 and R31 provides a fixed input level to the voltage controlled oscillator 82. The frequency domain adjustment input is then connected to the multiplexer switch 80.
The multiplexer switch 80 is an integrated circuit device commonly identified as a type 4052. Pins 14 and 12 of the multiplexer switch 80 are connected through the sensor interface 52 to the thermistor 50 and the reference resistors 63 and 64, respectively. Pin 15 is an input from a transmitter voltage divider junction formed by resistor R33 on one side and resistors R34 and R32 on the other. As these three connections are sequentially applied to pin 11 of the voltage controlled oscillator 82 the square wave output frequency appearing on pin 4 of the voltage controlled oscillator 82 will change as a direct function of the resistance, or more accurately the current sinking capacity, at each of these three pins. The rate at which the multiplexer switch 80 switches between the inputs on pins 12, 14 and 15 is determined by the voltage controlled oscillator frequency at any given time.
The input to the multiplexer switch 80 from the voltage controlled oscillator 82 is on line 98 to pins 1, 5 and 2 of the multiplexer switch 80. Pin 3 of multiplexe switch 80 is equivalent to a wiper contact of a four pole switch indicated at 97 in FIG. 4. The multiplexer switch 80 sequences from one pole to the next on every transition of the clock input square wave for the frequency multiplexer 80. The clock input to the freqency multiplexer 80 is the output of the voltage controlled oscillator 82 after it has been divided by a factor of 2048 by the frequency divider 84. The frequency divider 84 is commonly identified as a type 4020.
As the multiplexer switch 80 sequences, the dwell time at each position is one-half of the clock square wave cycle. This dwell time is an exact function of the resistance to which the voltage controlled oscillator 82 is then connected. At the fourth switch pole within the multiplexer switch 80 the voltage controlled oscillator 82 is disconnected and replaced by the square wave signal present on line 96 from pin 4 of integrated circuit chip 131 of the phase lock loop circuit 92. The integrated circuit chip 131 may be of a type commonly identified as a type 4046. The output on line 96 represents the ultimate output derived from the low pass filter 86, the preamplifier circuit 90 and the phase lock loop circuit 92, which are the heartrate signal conditioning circuit elements.
The complete output of the multiplexer switch 80 is a composite of the four half square wave cycles or intervals 108-114, depicted in FIG. 5. These intervals comprise a quadrature which contains four separate data values, each encoded as the time duration of the respective interval.
The first interval in the quadrature is the data signal 108, indicated in FIG. 5. The signal 108 represents the reference temperature data from the resistors 63 and 64. The voltage controlled oscillator 82, when connected to these resistances, will oscillate at a fixed reference frequency as determined by the original manufacturing calibration of the reference resistors 63 and 64. This oscillation will be within the range of 9300 to 12,800 hertz. During manufacturing calibration, the sensor 12 thermistor subassembly is immersed in a precision thermal bath which equilabrates the thermistor temperature to 98.6 degrees F. The performance requirement for the thermistor element is that it must exhibit a resistance of 60,700 ohms, +/-5% at this temperature. The reference resistance from the resistors 63 and 64 is then adjusted to match the exact resistance value of the thermistor 50 within its tolerance band. This calibration creates a relation between the thermistor 50 and the reference resistors 63 and 64 that establishes their equality at one precise temperature. Since the thermistor 50 exhibits a known, essentially linear curve in resistance as a function of temperature, application of a fixed algorithm allows computation of the temperature of the thermistor 50 using the measured resistance differential that occurs at temperatures above or below the calibration point.
The second interval in the quadrature of data signals depicted in FIG. 5, is the temperature data signal 110. The voltage controlled oscillator 82, when connected to the sensor thermistor 50, will oscillate in the range of 6,500 to 18,000 hertz which corresponds to a temperature range of from 80.6 degrees F to 120.2 degrees F.
The third data signal in the quadrature is the transmitter battery reference. When pin 15 of the multiplexer switch 80 is internally coupled to the multiplexer switch output line 104, the voltage controlled oscillator input is provided by the voltage divider composed of R33, R34 and R32. The voltage at pin 15 should be between 5.6 and 9.0 volts. The voltage level will determine the amount of current sinking by the voltage controlled oscillator 84 input line, and therefore its frequency. Over the specified range, the voltage controlled oscillator will oscillate at between 3,413 and 20,400 hertz.
The fourth data signal 114 contains the heartrate data and this signal is routed to the multiplexer switch 80 using the heartrate phase lock loop circuit 92 in place of the voltage controlled oscillator 82. The switchover of oscillator sources at this pole of the multiplexer switch 80 is achieved by use of the external pin pole configuration which is possible with the type 4052 IC unit.
The electrocardiographic signal detected by the sensors 12 and 14 through the sensor electrodes 36 and 37 is initially applied to the low pass filter circuit 86. The low pass filter circuit 86 is comprised of resistors R1, R2, R3, R4 and capacitors C1 and C2. The low pass filter 86 attenuates that portion of the heartrate signal above 10 hertz and performs the function of eliminating 60 hertz alternating current power line interferences, as well as other higher frequency potential sources of interference.
The filtered heartbeat signal on line 88 is then routed through the high impedance differential preamplifier circuit 90. The heartrate signal amplification is achieved through four different operational amplifiers 122 through 128, which are each part of a low power consumption integrated circuit, commonly identified as type 4573. The amplified heartbeat signal at the output of amplifier 124 is a negative going pulse with a shape analogous to the electrocardiogram QRS wave. If a pulse of sufficient negative magnitude is applied to the junction of capacitor C10, diode D1 and resistor R15, then enough current will flow through diode D1 to pull non-inverting input on pin 12 of operational amplifier 126 negative. Operational amplifier 126 functions as a comparator and will trigger or produce a square output pulse each time the non-inverting pin 12 thereof goes negative. This results in a relatively uniform heartbeat signal at the output thereof on line 94. Any residual noise or distortion present in the signal at this point is eliminated by passing the signal through operational amplifier 128. Operational amplifier 128 is a clamped comparator stage. The heartbeat signal at the output of operational amplifier 128 should be a uniform, noise-free, fast rise and fall time pulse of approximately four volts amplitude. This pulse appears at a frequency equal to the heartbeat rate.
The phase lock loop circuit 92 includes a 4046 type integrated circuit 130 and a frequency multiplier 4541 type circuit 131. The integrated circuits 130 and 131 operate together to form a phase lock loop circuit. This circuit accepts a repetitive pulse input and produces, by constantly sensing the phase of the input pulse and comparing it to the output, a precisely formed square wave output, the frequency of which is an exact upper harmonic of the input pulse repetition rate. This harmonic heartrate signal is directed to the multiplexer switch 80 on line 96, as previously described.
There are three primary variables which must be adjusted for the proper function of the phase lock loop circuit 92. First, the decade frequency band over which the phase lock loop 92 is to operate must be selected. Selection of the band is achieved by proper selection of resistors R23 and R21, capacitor C13, and selection of the frequency harmonic, or multiple, of the input frequency at which the phase lock loop circuit 92 will operate. Selection of the harmonic frequency is established by setting pins 5 and 10 of integrated circuit 131 at a high level. The settling characteristic of the phase lock loop must also be selected. This characteristic determines the rate at which the phase lock loop output frequency signal on line 96 accomodates any changes in the input frequency. This characteristic is controlled by the filter combination of resistors R35 and R36 and capacitors C6 and C12. The latter characteristic is highly critical, as it effectivly determines the observation time of the heartrate measurement. The particular values of this circuit are set to produce a useable operating frequency band of up to 50 kilohertz. The phase lock loop circuit 92 of the embodiment described provides a frequency multiplication factor of 8192, and a damping factor which provides the equivalent of the heartrate averaged over the preceding 60 seconds. The range of heartrates to be measured is from 20 to 260 beats per minute. Accordingly, the output frequency of the phase lock loop circuit 92 on line 96 will therefore lie within the range from 2,731 hertz to 35,499 hertz.
The output of the phase lock loop circuit 92 from pin 4 of the IC chip 130 is applied to the multiplexer switch 80 on the forth and final pole of the multiplexer switch cycle. As the multiplexer switch 80 cycles from one pole to the next, the frequency of the output of the voltage controlled oscillator 82 or the phase lock loop circuit 92 that is produced by a particular pole position in the multiplexer switch 80 is transmitted as an output to the frequency divider 84 on line 102. The frequency divider 84 divides this signal frequency by 2048 and then returns the signal to the multiplexer switch 80 as a clock signal on line 100. The clock signal steps the multiplexer switch 80 through its pole positions. In this manner, the different frequencies at each pole determine the length of time, divided by 2048 that the switch will dwell at the same pole. The duration of the clock signal from the frequency divider 84 is directly proportional to the voltage levels of the reference resistors 63 and 64, the thermistor 50 and the battery 70, and also to the heartbeat rate derived from the electrodes 36 and 37. The clock signals are also taken from the frequency divider 84 as data signals on line 78 to the modulating circuit 18.
The modulating circuit 18 is an IC chip of quad dual input NAND-gates This chip is commonly sold under the trade designation 4011. The combination of these NAND-gates, the resistors R26 and R27 and the capacitor C7 form a square wave oscillator which is set to operate at approximately 50 kilohertz. The four NAND-gates are depicted at 132, 134, 136 and 138 in FIG. 3. NAND-gate 136 serves as a buffer for the carrier frequency signal which is applied to the pin 12 input of the NAND-gate 138. The data signals of FIG. 5 are applied to the other input pin 13 of NAND-gate 138. The data input signals of FIG. 5 modulate the 50 kilohertz carrier output on pin 11 of NAND-gate 138.
The modulated carrier signal is comprised of signal bursts separated by time intervals. The signal bursts 140 and 144 of the radio frequency output of the modulating circuit 18 are depicted in FIG. 6. The signal bursts 140 and 144 correspond, respectively to the data signals 108 and 112 of FIG. 5. The intervals between signal bursts, indicated at 142 and 146, correspond respectively to the data signals 110 and 114 of FIG. 5. The modulated carrier signal of FIG. 6 is applied to the antenna inductor 148 and the current limiting resistor R28 in the transmitter 10.
The transmitter 10 also employs a special voltage regulator integrated circuit indicated at 150 in FIG. 3 and commonly identified in the trade as type 7663. The voltage regulator chip 150 is employed to precisely control the power supply voltage provided to the voltage controlled oscillator on line 152. The unique manner in which the voltage controlled oscillator 82 is configured as a resistance sensing voltage controlled oscillator requires that the supply voltage thereto must be regulated at a fixed level and isolated from the other circuit elements.
The Receiver
The receiver unit 20 is depicted schematically in FIG. 7. The receiver unit 20 consists of four printed circuit boards, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 26, a rubber key pad employing conductive rubber contacts, and a battery 156 all housed within an impact resistant plastic case 119, depicted in FIG. 1. The battery 156 is accessible through a removeable battery compartment door on the underside of the housing 119. The four printed circuit boards include one switch pad trace board for use with the conductive rubber key pad, one connector trace board for connection of signals to the LCD unit, and two electronic printed circuit boards which contain the receiver circuitry.
The receiver 20 functions to first activate transmission of signals from the transmitter unit 10, receive and condition those signals, then reproduce and pass the data signals to the receiver microprocessor 24. The microprocessor 24 performs data validity checks and data reduction, including scaling, compensation, and final computation. The microprocessor 24 then presents numeric data signals to the LCD display 26. The receiver 20 also monitors the level of its own battery 156 and detects transmitter low battery warnings.
Receiver power is turned on by momentarily depressing the "ON" touch pad 170 illustrated in FIG. 1. The touch pad 170 operates the switch S11. The switch S11 activates a large time constant RC oscillator, which is comprised of capacitor C111, resistor R123 and a dual monostable multivibrator 174. The monostable multivibrator is an integrated circuit commonly identified in the trade as a type 4538. The monostable multivibrator 174 is triggered into the "on" state as a one shot multivibrator by the "ON" touch pad contact 170. In the "on" state, the multivibrator 174 provides battery power to voltage regulator 176. The voltage regulator 176 is an integrated circuit commonly identified in the trade as a type 7663 IC. The voltage regulator 76 is controlled by the values of resistors R122, R121 and capacitor C110 to provide regulated +5 volt direct current power to the other receiver circuit elements for as long as the multivibrator 174 remains in the "on" state. If the "ON" contact 170 is made and released, the multivibrator 174 will return to the "off" state after the elapse of 30 seconds. If pressure is maintained on the "ON" contact pad 170, the switch S11 is held closed and the multivibrator 174 will remain in the "on" state indefinitely.
An inverter element 178 is used to monitor the regulated +5 volt direct current power level. The inverter 178 is one of six inverter elements on an integrated circuit commonly identified in the trade as a type 4069 hex inverter IC. Pin 13 input of the inverter 178 receives an input from a voltage dividing circuit formed by resistors R119 and R120. When the voltage level at pin 13 falls below 1 volt, the output of the inverter at pin 12 switces from a low to a high logic level. This changes the input state of pin 13 of an exclusive OR-gate 180. The OR-gate 180 may be one of four exclusive OR-gates in a chip commonly identified in the trade as a quad, dual input exclusive OR-gate IC type 4070.
Normally, the output of exclusive OR-gate 180 suppresses display of the LCD "Lo Bat" signal by shorting that display element to the baseplate of the LCD 26. A high logic level on pin 13 of exclusive OR-gate 180, however, will turn off the gate and allow the "Lo Bat" element to be strobed by the 60 hertz LCD display signal provided by the microprocessor 24.
The demodulation circuitry 22 of the receiver 11 demodulates the patient temperature signals and the patient pulse rate signals, indicated at 140-146 in FIG. 6 from the transmitter 10. The demodulating circuitry 22 provides envelope signals of duration proportional to the electrical data signals 108-114, depicted in FIG. 5.
As previously indicated, positioning of the apex 118 of the case 119 of the transmitter 20 proximate to the target disc 116 of the transmitter 10 closes the switch S1 in the transmitter 10. This activates the transmitter 10 to produce a radiated transmission of a 50 kilohertz data modulated carrier signal, as depicted in FIG. 6. This signal is sensed by the inductor antenna 182 in the receiver 20. The detected radio signal is applied across resistor R117 and to pin 5 of preamplifier stage 184 on one side of the resistor R117. The signal is also applied to pin 2 of amplifier 186 on the other side of the resistor R117. Amplifiers 184, 186, 188 and 190 are amplifier stages of a quad operational amplifier commonly identified in the trade as a type 4573 IC.
A voltage dividing network is provided and is composed of resistors R103, R104 and capacitor C105. A tap from this voltage dividing network is coupled to the second input, pin 3 of amplifier stage 186. The output of amplifier stage 186 provides a voltage reference to amplifier stages 184 and 188.
The modulated high frequency signal detected by inductor antenna 182 is amplified by the network made up of amplifier stages 184 and 188, resistors R107, R108, R109 and R110, and capacitor C107. The gain of this network is approximately 300. Resistors R106 and R105 make up a voltage divider which delivers a voltage 0.03 volts DC below the reference output of amplifier stage 186. The voltage tap between resistors R105 and R106 and the output of amplifier stage 188 are applied, respectively, to the two inputs of amplifier stage 190, thus causing the amplifier stage 190 to function as a level detector. When the output of amplifier stage 188 exceeds the voltage level between resistors R105 and R106, the output of amplifier stage 190 changes state. This produces a clean replication or reproduction of the modulated 50 kilohertz data signal depicted in FIG. 6.
The output of amplifier stage 190 is coupled to a demodulating element 192. The demodulating element 192 is one-half of a chip commonly identified as a dual monostable multivibrator IC, type 4538. The demodulating element 192 demodulates the transmitted data signal. When the multivibrator 192 receives an input trigger signal from amplifier stage 190, the network of resistor 112 and capacitor 106 acts to control the duration of the output of the multivibrator 192. Resistor 112 and capacitor 106 establish the duration of the output pulses of the multivibrator 192 at 50 microseconds. If multivibrator 192 is retriggered within this 50 microsecond interval by another input pulse, the output of multivibrator 192 will be extended in duration accordingly. Since the carrier frequency of the transmitter 10 is set at approximatly 50 kilohertz, the single pulse duration for carrier pulses will be 10 microseconds. Therefore, as long as carrier pulses are present at the input of multivibrator 192, this multivibrator will remain turned "on". Multivibrator 192 thereby produces a demodulated pulse train output which is a reproduction of the data signals on line 78 before they are modulated by the modulating circuit 18 in the transmitter 10.
The output of the demodulator 192 is provided to the T1 input of microprocessor 24. The microprocessor 24 may be one of several microprocessors, among which are the types 8049, 80C49, 80H49. Other equivalent models may be employed as the microprocessor 24. The output of the demodulator 192 is transmitted to the T1 input of the microprocessor 24 through pin 2 of the exclusive OR-gate 196. Piezoelectric speaker SP1 and its exclusive OR-gate driver 206 are used by the microprocessor 24 as an enunciater to signal the user that valid data has been received.
As long as the second input on pin 1 to the exclusive OR-gate 196 remains high, the output of the exclusive OR-gate 196 will pass to the microprocessor 24. The input to pin 1 of exclusive OR-gate 196 remains high unless the test button 198 in FIG. 1 is depressed. Test button 198 operates switch S15 in FIG. 7. When switch S15 is closed, a 14 stage ripple carry binary counter 199 is activated. One suitable ripple counter 199 is available as a type 4060 IC. The network of resistor R102, crystal X102 and capacitors C112 and C113 combine with input elements within the ripple counter 199 to form a 1.0 MHz square wave oscillator. This signal is counted down in the binary counter chain by a factor of 16384 to provide an output signal on line 200 of 61.035 hertz. This signal is formed of square wave pulses of 8.192 miliseconds duration, +/-0.5%. This precision test signal appears on pin 1 of exclusive OR-gate 196. The exclusive OR-gate 196 thereupon applies the signal from line 200 to the T1 input of the microprocessor 24.
The microprocessor 24 directly utilizes several networks and associated components in normal operation. One network is composed of a crystal X101 and capacitors C101 and C102 to provide the microprocessor 24 with a 6 MHz square wave clock signal. Another network is formed of switch S13, resistor R128 and capacitors C103 and C121 to provide the proper "Clear" or reset ground signal to the microprocessor 24 when switch S13 is activated. Switch S13 is activated by depression of the button 202 on the receiver case 168. The "clear" signal stops any current microprocessor program function and returns the microprocessor 24 to an initial readiness state.
The combination of switch S12 and resistor R116 provide the microprocessor 24 with a mode switching ground signal when the switch S12 is depressed. Switch S12 is operated manually by depression of the button 204 on the receiver case 168. Operation of the switch S12 commands the microprocessor program to toggle between the two functional display modes of which the microprocessor 24 is capable. That is, switch S12 toggles a display as between patient temperature and patient heartrate in the LCD display 26.
Resistor R129 is a resistor network device which provides a +5 volt DC pull-up level to the BU buss lines on microprocessor 24. The resistor network R129 maintains the LCD display 26 in an "off" state when the display elements are not in use.
The liquid crystal display LCD 26 is the final adjunct to the microprocessor 24. The display 26 is a 0.3 inch high, 3 and 1/2 digit LCD display with one decimal point and a "Lo Bat" unitary message. The display 26 is driven by a 60 hertz baseplate signal provided by microprocessor 24. The elements in the LCD display 26 to be displayed are toggled by the same baseplate signal in phase. Those elements which are to remain blank are toggled by the signal 180 degrees out of phase.
The centigrade/fahrenheit display mode is determined by the setting of switch S14, operated by button 202 on the receiver case 168. The switch S14 controls the state of the inverter element 208 and the T0 input to microprocessor 24. The action on inverter 208 determines whether elements of the right-most digit/letter will display as an "F" or a "C". The T0 state determines which temperature convention algerithm will be applied by the microprocessor 24 during numerical computations.
The performance of the receiver 20 is controlled by a unique computer program which resides in the memory of the microprocessor 24. The listing of such a program is attached hereto as Appendix A, as implemented in an 8049 type microprocessor with 128 bytes of RAM and 2 kilobytes of program memory. Data signals applied to the microprocessor 24 consist of two complete variable pulse width square wave cycles. One of these positive/negative cycles represents the temperature data while the other positive/negative cycle represents transmitter battery reference and heart rate data. These cycles are reproductions of the data signals 108-114 depicted in FIG. 5.
In the first cycle, the duration of the initial positive going interval or pulse corresponds to the temperature reference controlled frequency. The duration of the negative going half of the cycle represents the thermistor controlled frequency. In the second cycle, the duration of the first positive going pulse is a function of transmitter battery level. The duration of the negative going half of the second cycle corresponds to the frequency of the transmitter heart rate monitor.
In the ready state, the microprocessor program monitors the input line T1 for a positive going pulse in the 80 to 110 milisecond duration range. This is the acceptable range for the temperature reference data signal 108, depicted in FIG. 5. If such a signal is detected, the processor proceeds to read the next sequential two complete cycles. When this quadrature of data has been received and stored, it is checked for valid intervals and characteristics. Any errors are flagged and the display for either of the two categories of data (temperature and heart rate) which contain the errors will signal the deficiency with an "Err" message display in the LCD display 26. If the data stream is interrupted in the midst of reception, the microprocessor 24 will wait one second for renewed reception. After one second has elapsed, an "Err" message will be displayed indicating a transmission fault. If acceptable data is received intact, the microprocessor 24 will sound a one second audible tone via the enunciater SP1 indicating to the operator that transmission is complete.
The actual data received and stored by the processor is in the form of clock unit counts. These represent numerical values of microprocessor clock frequency pulses that equal the duration of the input data pulses. All data computations and manipulations are done with the data in this numerical form. Conversion to discrete standard units, such as degrees, is performed just prior to display of the data.
The first step in processing temperature data is to apply correction factors based on known thermistor response deviation. After this compensation, the generalized equation for final temperture (FTEMP) calculation using Reference Count (CR) and Temperature Count (CT) data is:
Since integer arithmetic is employed, the above equation is transformed to:
After FTEMP is calculated a value, TFLAG, is checked. If TFLAG is within a set range an additional compensation is computed. Then, the Compensated Final Temperature (CFTEMP) is calculated by:
The actual algorithm used by the microprocessor 24 is:
This experimentally derived correction accounts for non-linearity which occurs in certain ranges of transmitter voltage controlled oscillator operation. Accuracy is preserved in these computations by utilizing a four decimal place fixed point format and dividing by 10,000 [decimal] at the end of a calculation. All calculations are performed in binary and converted to binary coded decimal after computation and division of the result by 2 to give FTEMP in tenths of a degree.
The first positive pulse of the second cycle is read into memory and then compared against program values. A pulse width equalling 199 milliseconds or less creates a low transmitter battery error flag. This results in a "rb-" warning display and invalid data state.
The negative pulse of the second cycle is read into memory as Heart rate count (CHR). The final heart rate data is expressed in beats per minute (BHR). Heart rate is calculated as follows:
Since the heart rate data frequency is effectively multiplied by 4 in the transmitter 10, the time interval corresponding to the half cycle which is actually transmitted and counted is decreased by the factor 4*2=8. The value of 15.1 microseconds represents the normalized count time while the initial decimal correction number is a experimentally derived compensation factor.
If the microprocessor 24 detects an input signal between 8.147 and 8.238 milliseconds it is accepted and identified as a test signal. If all functions are operating correctly, the microprocessor 24 will display the normal numerical displays of 98.6 degrees F. on 37.0 degrees C. or 60 H (for 60 beats per minute heart rate). Any other response to a test signal indicates a failure mode within the receiver.
Undoubtedly, numerous variations and modifications of the invention will become readily familiar to those with patient temperature and heartbeat rate monitoring devices. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be construed as limited to the specific embodiment of the invention depicted and described, but rather is defined in the claims appended hereto.
Claims
I claim:
1. A patient temperature and heartbeat rate monitoring system comprising a plurality of transmitters one for each patient to be monitored, and a receiver, wherein each transmitter is comprised of sensor means for sensing patient temperature and heartbeat rate and for providing an actual temperature input which has a voltage level proportional to actual patient temperature, a reference temperature input which has a voltage level proportional to a predetermined reference temperatre, and a heartbeat rate input which has a frequency corresponding to heartbeat rate, low pass filter means coupled to said sensor means and receiving said heartbeat rate input for isolating an electrical heartbeat signal having a frequency equal to heartbeat rate, phase lock loop means for receiving said heartbeat signal and for providing a harmonic heartrate signal at a phase controlled frequency which is an upper harmonic of said heartbeat signal, multiplexing means coupled to receive said actual temperature input and said reference temperature input from said sensor means and coupled to receive said heartrate signal from said phase lock loop means, voltage controlled oscillator means coupled to provide an input and receive an output from said multiplexing means, frequency dividing means connecting to receive an input from said voltage controlled oscillator means through said multiplexing means and to provide an output to said multiplexing means, whereby said actual temperature input and said reference temperature input are provided by said sensor means to said voltage controlled oscillator means through said multiplexing means to produce a voltage controlled output signal of frequency proportional to voltage level, and said voltage controlled output signal is provided as an input to said frequency dividing means in sequence with said heartrate signal through said multiplexing means, and said frequency dividing means produces clock and data signals to said multiplexing means of frequency proportional to and stepped down from that of the existing input to said frequency dividing means to sequentially gate each of said voltage level inputs through said multiplexing means to said voltage controlled oscillator means, and said clock and data signals are sequentially at a frequency proportional to voltage level of said reference temperature input, voltage level of said actual temperature input and frequency of said heartbeat rate input, and modulating means for transforming said clock and data signals of said dividing means into radio frequency signals, and wherein said receiver is comprised of demodulating means for sensing said radio frequency signals and for reproducing said clock and data signals, and signal processing means for producing a visual display from said reproduced clock and data signals.
2. A patient temperture and heartbeat rate monitoring system comprising a plurality of transmitters, one associated with each patient to be monitored, and a receiver, each transmitter comprising: reference temperature resistor means, a first electrode for securement to the skin of a patient to be monitored in electrical contact therewith, a thermistor mounted on said first electrode adapted to be in thermal contact with the skin of said patient, a second electrode for securement to the skin of said patient, means for applying voltage to said reference temperature resistor means to produce a reference temperature input which is at a voltage level proportional to the value of said reference temperature resistor means and for applying voltage and to said thermistor to produce an actual temperature input which is at a voltage level proportional to the temperature of said patient, means connected to said first and second electrodes for monitoring voltage differential therebetween and for producing heartbeat signals at a frequency proportional to the heartbeat rate of said patient as a heartbeat rate input, transducer means comprised of low pass filter means coupled to said means for monitoring voltage differential between said first and second electrodes for isolating an electrical heartbeat signal having a frequency equal to heartbeat rate, phase lock loop means for receiving said heartbeat signal and for providing a harmonic heartrate signal at a phase controlled frequency which is an upper harmonic of said heatbeat signal, multiplexing means, voltage controlled oscillator means coupled to provide an input to and receive an output from said multiplexing means, and frequencey dividing means connected to receive an input from said voltage controlled oscillator means through said multiplexing means and to provide an output to said multiplexing means, whereby said voltage levels of said reference temperature input and said actual temperature input are provided by said reference temperature resistor means and said thermistor to said voltage controlled oscillator means through said multiplexing means to produce a voltage controlled output signal of frequency proportional to voltage level, and said voltage controlled output signal is provided as an input to said frequency dividing means through said multiplexing means, and said heartrate signal is also provided as an input to said frequency dividing means through said multiplexing means, and said frequency dividing means produces a clock output to said multiplexing means for frequency proportional to and stepped down from that of the existing input to said frequency dividing means to sequentially gate said reference temperature input and said actual temperature input through said multiplexing means to said voltage controlled oscillator means, and said clock output is also connected to said multiplexing means to sequentially gate said output signal and said heartrate signal through said multiplexing means to said frequency dividing means, and modulating means for receiving said clock output from said frequency dividing means to modulate a carrier signal to generate radio signals corresponding to said reference temperature, actual temperature and patient heartbeat rate, said receiver comprising: demodulating means for demodulating said radio signals to produce data signals corresponding to said reference temperature, actual temperature and heartbeat rate, and signal processing means for converting said data signals to indicia indicative of patient temperature and heartbeat rate.
3. A patient temperature and heartbeat rate monitoring system comprising a plurality of transmitters, one associated with each patient to be monitored, and a receiver, each transmitter comprising: reference temperature resistor means, a first electrode for securement to the skin of a patient to be monitored in electrical contact therewith, a thermistor mounted on said first electrode in thermal contact with the skin of said patient, a second electrode for securement to the skin of said patient, means for applying voltage to said reference temperature resistor means to produce a reference temperature input which is at a voltage level proportional to the value of said reference temperature resistor means and for applying voltage to said thermistor to produce an actual temperature input which is at a voltage level proportional to the temperature of said patient, means connected to said first and second electrodes for monitoring voltage differential therebetween and for producing heartbeat signals at a frequency proportional to the heartbeat rate of said patient as a heartbeat rate input, transducer means comprising low pass filter means coupled to said means for monitoring voltage differential between said first and second electrodes for isolating an electrical heartbeat signal having a frequency equal to heartbeat rate, phase lock loop means for receiving said heartbeat signal and for providing a harmonic heartrate signal at a phase controlled frequency which is an upper harmonic of said heartbeat signal, multiplexing means, voltage controlled oscillator means coupled to provide an input to and receive an output from said multiplexing means, and frequency dividing means connected to receive an input from said voltage controlled oscillator means through said multiplexing means and to provide an output to said multiplexing means, whereby said voltage levels of said reference temperature input and said actual temperature input are provided by said reference temperature resistor means and said thermistor to said voltage controlled oscillator means through said multiplexing means to produce a voltage controlled output signal of frequency proportional to voltage level, and said voltage controlled output signal is provided as an input to said frequency dividing means through said multiplexing means, and said heartrate signal is also provided as an input to said frequency dividing means through said multiplexing means, and said frequency dividing means produces a clock output to said multiplexing means of frequency proportional to and stepped down from that of the existing input to said frequency dividing means to sequentially gate said reference temperature input and said actual temperature input through said multiplexing means to said voltage controlled oscillator means, and said clock output is also connected to said multiplexing means to sequentially gate said voltage controlled output signal and said heartrate signal through said multiplexing means to said frequency dividing means and, modulating means for receiving said clock output from said frequency dividing means to modulate a carrier signal to generate radio signals corresponding to said reference temperature actual temperature and patient heartbeat rate, said receiver comprising: demodulating means for demodulating said radio signals to produce envelope signals corresponding to said reference temperature, actual temperature and patient heartbeat rate, and microprocessor means coupled to receive inputs from said demodulating means to convert said envelope signals to numeric data signals indicative of patient temperature and heartbeat rate.
4. A patient temperature and heartbeat rate monitoring system according to claim 3 wherein each of said transmitters is powered by a self contained battery, and said means for producing said actual temperature input and said reference temperature input includes means for generating an electrical transmitter battery level signal proportional to the voltage level of said battery, and said modulating means provides a radio frequency transmitter battery level signal, and said demodulating means provides a transmitter battery envelope signal of duration proportional to said transmitter battery level signal, and said microprocessor means includes means for suppressing said numeric data signals when the duration of said transmitter battery envelope signal is less than a predetermined minimum value.
5. A patient temperature and heartbeat monitoring system according to claim 4 wherein said transmitter includes a normally open magnetically operable switch for activating said means for producing said actual temperature input and said reference temperature input, and said receiver includes a magnet for closing the magnetically operable switch of a transmitter when brought into close proximity thereto.
6. A patient temperature and heartbeat rate monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein each transmitter includes a transmitter battery and a means for generating a data signal input of a voltage proportional to said transmitter battery voltage as an input to said multiplexing means and to said voltage controlled oscillator means in sequence with said reference temperature input and said actual temperature input.
7. A patient temperature and heartrate monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein said receiver includes display means coupled to said signal processing means for producing a visible numeric display, said signal processing means in said receiver includes means for separately converting the duration of said clock and data signals to numerical values of patient temperature and patient heartrate and for providing said numerical values to said display means, and said receiver includes manually actuable mode selection means for controlling said display means to selectively and alternatively display numerical values of patient temperature and patient heartrate.
8. A patient temperature and heartrate monitoring system according to claim 7 wherein said receiver also includes means for generating test signals of predetermined duration coupled to said signal processing means, and manually actuable test selection means for directing said test signals to said signal processing means and for concurrently suppressing said reproduced clock and data signals.
9. A patient temperature and pulse rate monitoring system according to claim 2 wherein said means for applying voltage includes separate conductors each connected to one side of each of said reference temperature resistor means and said thermistor, and a ground conductor connected to the opposite sides of said reference temperature resistor means and said thermistor and to an electrical ground.
10. A patient temperature and heartrate monitoring system according to claim 9 wherein said ground conductor is electrically connected to said first electrode and said means for monitoring voltage differential between said first and second electrodes includes said ground conductor and a heartbeat signal conductor electrically isolated from said first electrode and electrically connected to said second electrode.
11. A patient temperature and heartrate monitoring system according to claim 10 wherein said conductor connected to said one side of said thermistor and said ground conductor are comprised of a twisted pair of insulated wires and said heartbeat signal conductor is comprised of an insulated, braided shield surrounding said twisted pair of wires.
12. A patient temperature and heartrate monitoring system according to claim 10 wherein said first and second electrodes both include patient contact surfaces covered with electrode gel.
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