Abstract: Heart monitor signals indicating a patient's heart characteristics are amplified without affecting the signal characteristics. The amplified heart monitor signals with atypical characteristics are transmitted to a pattern recognition platform which stores the patient's previously provided signals with atypical characteristics. The patient's present and the previously provided signals with atypical characteristics are compared to select the previously provided signals with characteristics closest to those of the presently provided signals. Database signals identifying different types of heart problems in third parties and having characteristics closest to the patient's selected atypical signals are chosen. Dependent upon the severity of the patient's heart problems identified by the chosen database signals, the monitor transmits the chosen database signals to an individual one of the patient's doctor, the patient's hospital and an emergency facility.

Abstract: Heart monitor signals indicating a patient's heart characteristics are amplified without affecting the signal characteristics. The amplified heart monitor signals with atypical characteristics are transmitted to a pattern recognition platform which stores the patient's previously provided signals with atypical characteristics. The patient's present and previously provided signals with atypical characteristics are compared to select the previously provided signals with characteristics closest to those of the presently provided signals. Database signals identifying different types of heart problems in third parties and having characteristics closest to the patient's selected atypical signals are chosen. Dependent upon the severity of the patient's heart problems identified by the chosen database signals, the monitor transmits the chosen database signals to an individual one of the patient's doctor, the patient's hospital and an emergency care facility.

Abstract: A chadd disposed on a patient's skin generates heat at a substantially constant temperature for an extended period of time (e.g., hours and days) when exposed to air. The chadd becomes porous when heated and produces a porosity in the patient's skin as a result of the heat generation to pass ions through the pores in patient's skin to a layer disposed on the chadd. The layer (e.g., silver or silver chloride) has properties of converting the ions to electrons. The electrons pass to an electrical lead disposed on the layer. The electrical lead passes an electrical signal (produced from the electrons) to a terminal. An amplifier connected to the terminal amplifies the signal without changing the characteristics of the signal and without producing noise.

Abstract: A heart monitor acquires signals representing a patient's heart characteristics. The signals are amplified without affecting the original signal characteristics. The heartbeat signals with unusual characteristics are then transmitted to a processing station. The station also contains, in a pattern recognition platform, the patient's previously generated heartbeat signals. The station compares the signals with unusual characteristics and the patient's previously generated signals and selects the previously generated signals closest in characteristics to the signals with the unusual characteristics. A comparator then compares the selected signals and database signals indicating different types of heart problems in third parties and selects the database signals closest in characteristics to the selected signals previously generated by the patient.

Abstract: A chadd disposed on a patient's skin generates heat at a substantially constant temperature for an extended period of time (e.g., hours and days) when exposed to air. The chadd becomes porous when heated and produces a porosity in the patient's skin as a result of the heat generation to pass ions through the pores in patient's skin to a layer disposed on the chadd. The layer (e.g., silver or silver chloride) has properties of converting the ions to electrons. The electrons pass to an electrical lead disposed on the layer. The electrical lead passes an electrical signal (produced from the electrons) to a terminal. An amplifier connected to the terminal amplifies the signal without changing the characteristics of the signal and without producing noise.

Abstract: Electrodes disposed in rows and columns in a vest provide signals indicating the patient's heart characteristics. Each electrode is in a column different from the column locating the other electrodes. V1 and V2 electrodes are in the same row symmetrically relative to the patient's sternum on opposite sides of the sternum. V4-V6 electrodes are in different columns in the same row on the right side of the sternum. V3 electrode is between the V2 and V4 electrodes. The V1-V6 electrodes are disposed differently for patients of small, medium and large sizes. The electrodes are attached to the patient with at least a particular pressure. Amplifiers attached to the vest and connected to individual ones of the electrodes amplify heart signals, without any noise production while the patient is ambulatory, thereby providing stable heart signals.

Abstract: An electrode is attached at a selective position to a patient's body to provide signals representative of the patient's parameters (e.g., electrocardiogram) at that position. The electrode signal may be in microvolts or millivolts. Depending upon the characteristics of the patient's skin, the electrode impedance may vary to approximately 200 kilohms. The electrode signals pass to an amplifier having an input impedance (e.g., 1015 ohms) approaching infinity and a low output impedance The amplifier impedances insure that the electrode signal will pass through the amplifier without loss in signal strength and without change in signal characteristics. A low pass filter connected to the amplifier output eliminates noise and passes signals at low frequencies (e.g., 1 kilohertz). The filter and the amplifier are disposed on a printed circuit board with the amplifier physically and electrically isolated from the filter. Another low pass filter may be connected to the input of the amplifier.

Abstract: A host directs a microprocessor to command each of a plurality of amplifiers to process signals relative to individual ones of a plurality of physiological signals in a patient. The signals are provided to the amplifiers by terminals which are connected to different parts of the patient's body. The terminals provide signals to the amplifiers simultaneously but the microcompressor processes the signals sequentially. The microprocessor tests and calibrates the amplifiers before processing the signals from the terminals. The amplifiers have substantially the same construction regardless of where the associated terminals are disposed on the patient's body. The amplifiers may be provided with characteristics to eliminate noise and to provide output signals in a limited frequency range in which the relative phases of the signals in the limited frequency range are preserved.