ECG Adapter System and Method

Abstract

An electrocardiograph (ECG) adapter including an adapter body having a first end and a second end is presented. A monitor connector is positioned at the first end of the adapter body, the monitor connector adapted for coupling to an input of an ECG monitor. A first lead receptacle is positioned at the second end of the adapter body, the first lead receptacle configured to receive a first connector having a first pin configuration. A second lead receptacle is positioned at the second end of the adapter body, the second lead receptacle located adjacent the first lead receptacle and configured to receive a second connector having a second pin configuration different from the first pin configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrocardiograph (ECG) adapter comprising:
 an adapter body having a first end and a second end;   a monitor connector positioned at the first end of the adapter body, the monitor connector adapted for coupling to an input of an ECG monitor;   a first lead receptacle positioned at the second end of the adapter body, the first lead receptacle configured to receive a first connector having a first pin configuration; and   a second lead receptacle positioned at the second end of the adapter body, the second lead receptacle located adjacent the first lead receptacle and configured to receive a second connector having a second pin configuration different from the first pin configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lead receptacle includes a 2-pin configuration for receiving the first connector. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lead receptacle includes a single pin configuration for receiving the first connector. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the second lead receptacle includes a 6-pin configuration for receiving the second connector. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the second lead receptacle is constructed and arranged to connect to a second connector having a plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . The adapter according to  claim 5 , wherein the second lead receptacle is adapted to couple with a second connector having 5 electrodes. 
     
     
         7 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein a single electrode is disposed at the proximal end of the second connector. 
     
     
         8 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle is constructed and arranged to function simultaneously with the second receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The adapter according to  claim 8 , wherein the first connector is constructed and arranged to function when the second connector is disconnected from the adapter. 
     
     
         10 . The adapter according to  claim 8 , wherein the second connector is constructed and arranged to function when the first connector is disconnected from the adapter. 
     
     
         11 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the functionality of the first connector is independent of the functionality of the second connector. 
     
     
         12 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connectors are disposable connectors. 
     
     
         13 . A method of coupling an electrocardiograph (ECG) monitor to one or more lead sets via an adapter, the method comprising:
 positioning a monitor connector at a first end of the adapter, the monitor connector adapted for coupling to an input of the ECG monitor;   positioning a first lead receptacle at a second end of the adapter, the first lead receptacle configured to receive a first connector having a first pin configuration; and   positioning a second lead receptacle at the second end of the adapter, the second lead receptacle located adjacent the first lead receptacle and configured to receive a second connector having a second pin configuration different from the first pin configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first lead receptacle includes a 2-pin configuration for receiving the first connector. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second lead receptacle includes a 6-pin configuration for receiving the second connector. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising connecting the second lead receptacle to a second connector having a plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising coupling the second lead receptacle to a second connector having 5 electrodes. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising disposing a single electrode at the proximal end of the second connector. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first connector is adapted to function when the second connector is disconnected from the adapter. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second connector is adapted to function when the first connector is disconnected from the adapter. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the functionality of the first connector is independent of the functionality of the second connector. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second connectors are disposable connectors. 
     
     
         23 . An electrocardiograph (ECG) lead set system comprising:
 a first ECG lead set including a single wire for coupling to a first electrode;   a second ECG lead set including a plurality of lead wires for coupling to a plurality of second electrodes;   a first plug connector coupled to one end of the first ECG lead set;   a second plug connector coupled to one end of the second ECG lead set; and   an adapter adapted for coupling the first and second plug connectors to an input of an ECG monitor, the adapter including:   an adapter body having a first end and a second end;   a monitor connector positioned at the first end of the adapter body, the monitor connector adapted for coupling to an input of the ECG monitor;   a first lead receptacle positioned at the second end of the adapter body, the first lead receptacle configured to receive the first plug connector having a first pin configuration; and   a second lead receptacle positioned at the second end of the adapter body, the second lead receptacle located adjacent the first lead receptacle and configured to receive the second plug connector having a second pin configuration different from the first pin configuration.   
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the first lead receptacle includes a 2-pin configuration for receiving the first plug connector. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the second lead receptacle includes a 6-pin configuration for receiving the second plug connector. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the second lead receptacle is adapted to connect to a second connector having a plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein the second connector is adapted to couple with a second connector having 5 electrodes. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the single electrode is disposed at the proximal end of the first plug connector. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the first connector is adapted to function when the second connector is disconnected from the adapter. 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the second connector is adapted to function when the first connector is disconnected from the adapter. 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are adapted to function when the first connector and the second connector are connected to the adapter. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the functionality of the first plug connector is independent of the functionality of the second plug connector. 
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the first and second plug connectors are disposable connectors. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 23 , further comprising a plug protector connected to the adapter.