Abstract: Apparatus for discriminating between heartbeat and artifact information contained in an ECG signal includes a pair of difference amplifiers, level-detecting circuitry and a coincidence detector. ECG waveforms are obtained from a number of heartbeat-sensing transducers attached to a person. The waveforms are individually applied to a pair of difference amplifiers to produce difference signals containing heartbeat information. The difference signals are applied to level-detecting circuits and compared to predetermined voltage levels to identify particular peaks indicative of a heartbeat. The result of the level-detecting circuits are compared for time coincidence to produce an output pulse indicative of a heartbeat.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the heartbeat of a person by screening the occurrence of a heartbeat from artifact to produce a signal indicative of the heartbeat occurrence. Screening circuitry detects the R-wave and S-wave peaks of an ECG signal, delays the R-wave peak detection and compares the delayed R-wave peak detection to the S-wave peak detection for coincidence to determine a heartbeat occurrence. Binary counting circuits compare the elapsed time between any two immediately successive heartbeat occurrence indications to determine heartbeat rate. Display apparatus, operably coupled to the counting circuits, provides indicia of the relative heartbeat rate.