Bioelectric Patient Monitor

The present invention relates to a bioelectric patient monitor, comprising an EKG-amplifier and an EEG-amplifier as well as a patient connecting cable, having at least wires with their electrodes. An object of the invention is to provide a combined EKG- and EEG-monitor for combining, in an easy-to-operate manner, the possibilities of monitoring with a single patient connecting cable either a 5-wire EKG (electrocardiogram) or both a more usual 3-wire EKG and EEG (electroencephalogram).

The most usual way of monitoring EKG is a so-called 3-wire connection. In some cases, however, e.g. when cardiac ischemia is suspected, it is desireable to use a 5-wire measuring connection. On the other hand, the EEG-monitoring especially during a surgical operation has been found a good measuring variable, which correlates with the depth of anaesthesia and warns the brain of a threatening lack of oxygen. However, the EEG-monitoring has been generally considered troublesome; partly due to difficulties encountered in the interpretation of EEG but partly also due to the complexity, high price and bulkiness of an EEG-apparatus and the extra trouble caused by electrode connections.

In order to achieve the above object of the invention, a patient monitor of the invention is characterized in that EKG- and EEG-aplifiers are connected to a distributor switch, by way of which a patient connecting cable can be connected to amplifiers in a manner that, by selecting with the distributor switch, it is possible to monitor either a 5-wire electrocardiogram or optionally a 3-wire electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram. Thus, the invention offers a possibility of utilizing the two often unused electrode lines of a 5-wire EKG-cable for simple EEG monitoring.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to the accompanying drawing, which shows a general block diagram for a monitor of the invention as well as optional (A and B) applications of a patient connecting cable.

The figure illustrates preamplifiers 1 (EKG) AND 2 (EEG) of a combined EKG-EEG-amplifier. Thus, the amplifier always includes both EKG- and EEG-components. Preamplifiers 1 and 2 are connected by way of protection circuits 3 to a distributor switch 4, which may be mechanical or electrical.

A 5-wire patient connecting cable 6 can be connected by way of an apparatus adapter 5 to distributor switch 4. Cable 6 is provided with five electrodes 7 which in option A are connected to a patient for monitoring a 5-wire EKG and in option B the function of this monitor is the simultaneous monitoring of a 3-wire EKG and a 2-wire EEG. The shift from one function to the other between options A and B is effected not only by setting electrodes 7 at the spots required by the measuring operation but also by selecting the corresponding mode of operation or function with distributor switch 4 in order to connect proper electrode wires to appropriate amplifiers 1 and 2. It should be noted that the EEG-channel uses a so-called reference electrode of the EKG-channel for saving one wire of the normal minimum configuration (3 wires) of an EEG-monitor. In addition to or instead of an electroencephalogram, one of the amplifiers of a monitor along with its associated electrodes can be adapted to monitor the electric muscular activity or electromyogram of the head area.