The Cardiac Bedside Monitors were designed for use in coronary intensive care units, emergency rooms post-operative care units etc. They are designed for continuous non-invasive monitoring of the cardiac function. All monitors are microcomputer-based, and have a flat CRT display for signals and alphanumeric information like heart rate, alarm treshold settings, etc. Each QRS complex is indicated visually by means of a flashing heart-shaped symbol, and acoustically too. An alarm situation is indicated by an alarming sound, and all the traces are frozen. Pacemaker pulses, where present, are automatically recognized and signaled, but are ignored upon measurement of the actual heart rate and if desired - upon signal display. All monitors make use of a linear-phase digital notch filter for rejection of power-line interference. IEC 601/1 patient safety standard (Class I or II, CF type). No ground connection is needed. The ECG inputs are protected against defibrillator shocks. The heart rate is memorized thus facilitating the display of trend curves. Operator commands and settings are entered by means of a flat-membrane keypad.
The following monitors have been developed so far:
Bedside ECG Monitor M101A: This is a single channel unit with a 7" CRT screen. Safety IEC 601/1 standard: Class I/, type CF. Pacemaker pulses are automatically identified and marked. One or twelve hour trends. Serial interface is provided for connection to a central monitoring station, recorders etc. Sensitivity: 0.5, 1 or 2 cm/mV. Display format: 1 or 2 traces. Time resolution: 5/10/20 s/trace.
Bedside ECG Monitor M201A is an improved version of M101A.
ECG/IEG Monitor M301: This monitor has two basic modes of operation: a) ECG mode for monitoring the electrocardiogram (ECG), and b) ECG/ICG mode for monitoring the ECG along with the impedance-cardiogram (ICG). The latter mode allows computing of the heart stroke volume (SV) and the cardiac output (CO) according to Kubicek's algorithm, as well as monitoring the basic thoracic impedance Z0, which is also included in the alarm function. Wave recognition in the ECG and ICG is done automatically, and marked on the signal traces. Upon correct recognition, the operator can initiate the computation of a set of hemodynamic parameters in an artifact-free ICG, after entering numerically through the keypad patient specific parameters such as height, weight, distance between the inner ICG electrodes, the specific resistivity of blood (may have to be corrected according to hematocrit value) etc. In addition to SV and CO, other parameters are obtained too: systolic time interval, pre-ejection period, heart index, systolic time ratio, peak flow, (dZ/dt)max, (dZ/dt)/Z0, etc. Trend curves of the heart rate, Z0 and CO are memorized and can be recalled on the screen for either one- or twelve-hour periods. Serial interface is provided for connection to a central monitoring station, recorders etc. CRT display size" 7". Thoracic impedance range: 0-50 Ohm. Sensitivity of the ICG channel: 2 cm = 2 Ohm/s. Sensitivity of the ECG channel: 0.5, 1 or 2 cm/mV. Display format: 1 or 2 traces. Time resolution: 5/10/20 s/trace. Safety IEC 601/1 standard: Class I/, type CF.
ECG/IEG Monitor MR-302: This is an improved version of M301. It has a built-in recorder, and an option with rechargeable NiCd battery. The recorder can automatically document on paper any alarm-triggering event. A serial interface enables connection to a central monitoring station.
