Abstract: A portable thoracic impedance monitor for monitoring thoracic fluid levels, an electrode array assembly having a single linear electrode array lead with first, second, third, and fourth electrodes arranged sequentially and axially along the linear electrode array lead, and a method of use of the thoracic impedance monitor. A measurement of the user's thoracic impedance is obtained by connecting the second electrode to the user's body at the junction of the clavicles, superior to the sternum, the third electrode to the user's body at the xiphoid-sternal junction, and the first and fourth electrodes to the user's body substantially along a centerline of the user's sternum respectively at a first pre-determined distance above the second electrode and a second predetermined distance below the third electrode, followed by initiating operation of the monitor.

Abstract: A health outcomes and disease management network and related method is provided for efficiently and effectively monitoring patient status as well as providing recommendations for improved patient healthcare. The system and method employs, among other things, a plurality of remote monitoring stations and a computer network. Each of the remote monitoring stations includes at least one measuring device, adapted to measure a physiological condition of a respective patient, and to provide data representative of the physiological condition for inclusion among patient health-related data pertaining to a respective patient. The health-related data can include, for example, data relating to a patient's heart. The computer network comprises a database containing accumulated health-related data pertaining to health-related conditions and treatment. The computer network is adapted to receive the patient health-related data from the remote monitoring stations via, for example, the Internet.