System for, and method of, monitoring heartbeats of a patient

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.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . In combination for determining characteristics of a patient's heart,
 a monitor constructed to be applied to the patient's heart to produce signals representing characteristics of the patient's heart,   an amplifier operatively coupled to the monitor to amplify the signals from the monitor without introducing noise to the signals and without changing the characteristics of the signals,   a transmitter for transmitting the amplified signals to the comparator,   a database for holding a plurality of signals provided by third parties, each of the signals being operative to indicate an individual one of a plurality of different heart problems, and   a comparator responsive to the amplified signals and the signals from the database for selecting an individual one of the signals from the database closest in characteristics to the amplified signals.   
   
   
       31 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 30 ,
 a processing station for providing signals previously provided by the patient to represent characteristics of the patient's heart, and   a pattern recognition platform responsive to the amplified signals and the signals from the processing station to select the signals from the processing station closest in characteristics to the characteristics of the amplified signals,   the comparator being responsive to the selected signals from the pattern recognition platform and the signals from the database for selecting an individual one of the signals from the database closest in characteristics to the selected signals from the pattern recognition platform.   
   
   
       32 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 30 ,
 depending upon the characteristics of the signals selected from the database, the transmitter being operative to transmit the signals to (a) the patient's doctor, (b) the patient's hospital and (c) an emergency location to obtain a determination of the problems, if any, with the patient's heart.   
   
   
       33 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 30 ,
 providing successive signals with similar characteristics from the patient's heart and providing atypical signals among the successive signals with similar characteristics and selecting the atypical signals from the successive signals of similar characteristics to provide for the introduction of the atypical signals to the amplifier.   
   
   
       34 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 30 ,
 depending upon the characteristics of the signals selected from the database, the transmitter being operative to transmit the selected signals to (a) the patient's doctor, (b) the patient's hospital and (c) an emergency location to obtain a determination of the problems, if any, with the patient's heart, and   the monitor providing successive signals with similar characteristics from the patient's heart and providing atypical signals from the successive signals of similar characteristics to provide for the introduction of the atypical signals to the amplifier.   
   
   
       35 - 46 . (canceled)