Patent ID: 8150502
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: A61B,G16H

Abstract:
1. A method of obtaining continuous cardiac rhythm information from a mammal, the method comprising: providing a self-contained, wearable, portable cardiac monitor enclosed in a watertight housing configured for continuous attachment to the mammal for at least 7 days, wherein the cardiac monitor includes at least two electrodes used to detect the continuous cardiac rhythm information from the mammal and an adhesive configured for continuous attachment to the mammal for the at least 7 days, wherein a distance between a center of one of the electrodes and a center of another of the electrodes is at least about 5 cm; detecting, using the at least two electrodes, the continuous cardiac rhythm information from the mammal continuously for the at least 7 days, including both normal cardiac rhythm information and abnormal cardiac rhythm information, and operating an action sequencer having no central processing unit for rhythm analysis to store, for the at least 7 days, all of the continuous cardiac rhythm information detected during the at least 7 days, including the normal cardiac rhythm information and the abnormal cardiac rhythm information, without performing a rhythm analysis of the continuous cardiac rhythm information, wherein the watertight housing of the cardiac monitor allows the mammal to bathe and otherwise expose the cardiac monitor to water without requiring removal of the monitor during the at least 7 days and thus provides for the detecting and storing of continuous cardiac rhythm information by the monitor throughout the at least 7 days, thereby allowing for a more complete assessment of all normal and abnormal cardiac rhythms and their total durations during the at least 7 days, based on continuous, uninterrupted cardiac rhythm information stored by the monitor.