Abstract: A device, system and method for monitoring continuously and simultaneously multiple physiological parameters from a patient, comprising a precordial strip-patch having first and second surfaces and multi-layer flexible structure permitting telemetering data by radio frequency or single wire or fiberoptic to hardware recording and display monitor. A plurality of conductive contact elements (CCEs) and microsensors are mounted in spaced apart positions on said strip-patch device-system permitting simultaneously and continuously detection, microprocessing and transmission of microsensored and detected physiological data for monitoring standard 12-lead ECG, cardiac output, respiration rate, peripheral blood oximetry, temperature of a patient, and electrocardiographic fetal heart monitoring, via a single wavelength of radio frequency transmission or single-wire or single fiberoptic connection to recording hardware or display monitor.

Abstract: A precordial strip assembly for use on a patient having skin, right and left arms and legs and a heart with a precordium lying thereover comprising an elongate strip having first and second surfaces. Six conductive contact elements identified as V.sub.1 through V.sub.6 are mounted in spaced apart positions along the length of the strip. In other embodiments, conductive contact elements identified as LA, LL and RA can be mounted on the strip. A reference contact element can be carried by the strip for serving as a common reference for each of the conductive contact elements. The contact elements are exposed on the first surface of the strip and are adapted to contact the patient's skin for detecting heart signals from the patient when the precordial strip assembly is placed on the precordium of the patient. Junction means is carried in a single region by the strip and is electrically connected to the contact elements.

Abstract: A catheter-cutter for aorto-coronary bypass graft cutting of vein valves within a vein graft and for the in-situ bypass vein graft cutting of the valves within a vein includes at-least-one arcuate, razor-sharp, angled-tip cutting blade extending from the open distal end of the catheter, such at-least-one cutting blade being fixed or selectively extendable from the distal end of the catheter by optional control means carried at the proximal port of the catheter, the at-least-one cutting blade being effective to cleanly excise and clearly cut a valve, not merely rendering it relatively incompetent as present valvulotomes do. The catheter according to this invention may carry a fiberoptic viewer for observing the cutting process.

Abstract: A heart-assist device which includes a flexible catheter carrying at least a ventricular balloon, such balloon corresponding in size and shape to the size and shape of the left ventricle in the heart being assisted, the ventricular balloon being progressively inflated creating a wave-like pushing effect and deflated synchronously and automatically by means of a control console which responds to heart signals from the catheter or elsewhere, the catheter optionally also carrying an aortic inflated and deflated automatically and synchronously (but in opposite phase) with the ventricular balloon by means of the control console to ensure high speed inflation-deflation.

Abstract: Electrode structure for use in a wireless patient monitoring system having an electrically non-conductive patch electrode having first and second sides. First and second conductive elements are carried by the patch electrode in spaced relationship to each other and are disposed on the first side of the patch electrode. A battery is provided which has at least one voltage terminal and a ground terminal carried on the second side of the patch electrode. A micro-chip amplifier is carried on the second side of the patch electrode and has a signal input terminal coupled to the first conductive element for receiving heart signals therefrom and having an output terminal. A micro-chip encoder-modulator is carried on the second side of said patch electrode and has an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of said amplifier and an output terminal. A micro-chip transmitter is carried by the patch electrode on the second side of the patch electrode and has an input terminal and an output terminal.

Abstract: A catheter-cutter for aorto-coronary bypass graft cutting of vein valves within a vein graft and for the insitu bypass vein graft cutting of the valves within a vein includes at-least-one arcuate, razor-sharp, angled-tip cutting blade extending from the open distal end of the catheter, such at-least-one cutting blade being fixed or selectively extendable from the distal end of the catheter by optional control means carried at the proximal port of the catheter, the at-least-one cutting blade being effective to cleanly excise and clearly cut a valve, not merely rendering it relatively incompetent as present valvulotomes do. the catheter according to this invention may carry a fiberoptic viewer for observing the cutting process.

Abstract: An electrocardiographic monitoring system in which the heart-signal sensing electrodes are each coupled to the heart-signal monitor/recorder by respective wireless transmitters and corresponding respective receiving wireless receivers in a base unit, each transmitter-receiver combination operating (in the absence of an encoding system) at a separate radio frequency, a zero or reference signal being developed at the base unit and being used to modulate a signal transmitter at the base unit, such modulated signal being received and demodulated by a receiver carried by a right-leg electrode carried by the right leg of the patient.