GB2368124A - Heart rate monitor incorporating an analogue display - Google Patents

Heart rate monitor incorporating an analogue display Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2368124A
GB2368124A GB0016518A GB0016518A GB2368124A GB 2368124 A GB2368124 A GB 2368124A GB 0016518 A GB0016518 A GB 0016518A GB 0016518 A GB0016518 A GB 0016518A GB 2368124 A GB2368124 A GB 2368124A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
heart rate
rate monitor
monitor
display means
user
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Application number
GB0016518A
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GB0016518D0 (en
Inventor
Callum Macgregor
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Healthcare Technology Ltd
Original Assignee
Healthcare Technology Ltd
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Publication date
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Priority to GB0016518A priority Critical patent/GB2368124A/en
Publication of GB0016518D0 publication Critical patent/GB0016518D0/en
Publication of GB2368124A publication Critical patent/GB2368124A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
    • A61B5/024—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate
    • A61B5/0245—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Cardiology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Physiology (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Measurement And Recording Of Electrical Phenomena And Electrical Characteristics Of The Living Body (AREA)
  • Measuring Pulse, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure Or Blood Flow (AREA)

Abstract

A heart rate monitor includes a display incorporating an analogue display 8 for indicating magnitude of heart rate of a user. The analogue display may be for a linear or non-linear (circular, part circular or arcuate) form. The heart rate monitor may also indicate the numeric value of the current magnitude of heart rate 9, in terms of percentage of maximum heart rate. The heart rate monitor may also have a section 10 which shows the current heart rate in beats per minute, or a heart shape 11 which blinks or flashes whenever a heart beat is detected by the heart rate monitor.

Description

HEART RATE MONITOR
The present invention relates to apparatus for use in monitoring the heart rate of a living human body.
Such apparatus commonly takes the form of a chest belt containing an electrocardiograph (ecg) signal amplifier and a transmitter. A monitor unit, typically worn on the user's wrist, contains a receiver and a microprocessor which times beat-to-beat intervals and calculates and displays a heart rate in beats per minute. There are other embodiments, such as a single unit which contains two hand contacts and an ecg amplifier and a microprocessor which once again times beat-to-beat intervals and calculates and displays a heart rate.
The purpose of using a heart rate monitor is to allow the user to control the stress level of exercise, by moderating the effort expended in such a way that the heart rate is held constant at a predetermined value, or held within a small range of heart rates (a so-called "target zone") around this level. The monitor commonly alerts the user to a divergence from the target zone by visible indicators (such as a flashing arrow) on the monitor's display and/or an audible warning (such as a bleep on every heart beat). The target zone is established by setting an upper heart rate limit and a lower limit. Typically these limits are about 10 to 15
beats per minute apart. The actual values of the upper and lower limits depend on the age of the user, the purpose of the exercise (for example: fat burning, endurance, or speed training), the user's state of fitness, and the present state of well-being of the user.
It is typical of heart rate monitors that there is no indication given to the user of where within the target zone his or her heart rate is. The target zone is a dead zone as far as indications to the user are concerned.
The user can, of course, observe the digital value of heart rate, and calculate where the current heart rate lies with respect to the limits of the target zone, but this requires memorising the upper and lower limit values and performing some mental arithmetic. This is often not easy to do during exercise.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the difficulty of grasping quickly the magnitude of a user's heart rate with respect to the limits of the active target zone, and therefore to inform the user if the exercise stress level has to be increased or decreased, and at what rate adjustment, if any, needs to be made.
According to the present invention there is provided a heart rate monitor having a display means incorporating an analogue display means for indicating magnitude of heart rate of a user.
The display means may comprise a display screen or panel. The analogue display means may be provided with a section for indicating the magnitude of heart rate of the user and a reference section providing a target zone scale of heart rate. Such reference section may be located adjacent to the section for indicating the magnitude of heart rate of the user.
The analogue display means may be of substantially linear form, or of non-linear form. Such non-linear form may be a circular, part circular, or arcuate, form.
The analogue display means of substantially linear form may comprise a first strip having a visible length which represents current magnitude of heart rate of the user.
The target zone scale of the reference section, where provided in the analogue display means of substantially linear form, may comprise a second strip which may be located alongside the first strip and which is arranged to provide a visible length, forming a target zone and corresponding to a selected target value, or range of target values, of heart rate.
The first and/or the second strip may comprise a plurality of closely juxtaposed small segments, display driving means being provided to switch on or off one or
more appropriate segments, or groups of segments, to provide the visible length representing the current magnitude of heart rate of the user and/or the visible length forming the target zone. The number of segments may be selected to provide a desired resolution of heart rate.
Alternatively, the analogue display means when of circular, part-circular, or arcuate form, may have a visible radial pointer indicating current magnitude of heart rate of the user according to its position. In this case, the target zone scale of the reference section, where provided, may comprise a circumferential, or part-circumferential, scale arranged to provide a visible length forming a target zone and corresponding to a selected target value, or range of target values, of heart rate.
A plurality of narrow radial strips may be provided, covering a range of magnitudes of heart rate to be monitored, display driving means being provided to switch on or off appropriate strips selectively where a selected strip when switched on provides the visible radial pointer indicating the current magnitude of heart rate of the user.
The circumferential, or part-circumferential, scale may comprise a plurality of segments display driving means
being provided to switch on or off one or more appropriate segments, or groups of segments, to provide the visible length forming the target zone.
The number of segments and/or radial strips may be selected to provide a desired resolution of heart rate.
The analogue display means may comprise liquid crystal display means or gas discharge display means.
The analogue display means may be arranged to cover a range of heart rates of between about 50 and about 100 percent of a user's maximum heart rate.
The analogue display means may be provided with added data, information, or patterning, such as by printing. A coloured background may be provided and which may show a change in colour, such as from blue to red, according to position of indication of current magnitude of heart rate.
The display means of the heart rate monitor may be arranged to incorporate other functions and/or features.
A digital display of current heart may be provided and/or a digital display indicating current magnitude of heart rate, such as in terms of percentage of maximum heart rate.
A symbol, such as of a heart, may be provided, which blinks or flashes whenever a heart beat is detected by the heart monitor.
One or more clock features may be provided, such as for indicating time of day and/or an alarm therefor and/or for serving as a stopwatch and/or a count-down timer and/or as a heart rate sample recorder.
In summary, the invention provides an addition to the display screen or panel in a heart monitor of an analogue section where heart rate is depicted graphically in the form of a linear, circular, or part-circular or arcuate, scale. In the linear case, the magnitude of heart rate is represented by the length of the scale which is visible. In the circular, or part circular or arcuate, case, the magnitude of heart rate is represented by the position of a radial pointer, similar in appearance to a speedometer in an automobile. In addition, in order to indicate the target zone, a second scale, of linear or arcuate form, is placed alongside the heart rate scale.
On the target zone scale, a section corresponding to the active heart rate is visible and acts as an aiming point for the user, who tries to adjust heart rate so that the scale indicating current heart rate magnitude becomes aligned with the visible target zone section.
The primary object of the analogue representation of heart rate is to enable the user to see at a glance where his or her heart rate lies relative to the target zone.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a display in a heart rate monitor, showing complete side-by-side horizontal linear scales of heart rate and target zone; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the display of Figure 1 in use, and showing a typical display of a user's heart rate and target zone; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a display in a heart rate monitor provided with vertical linear scales of heart rate and target zone and showing a typical display of a user's heart rate and target zone; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a display in a heart rate monitor, showing complete side-by-side scales of heart rate and target zone disposed around one quadrant of a circle;
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the display of Figure 4 in use, and showing a typical display of a user's heart rate and target zone; and Figure 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a complete display of a simple heart rate monitor incorporating the display of Figures 4 and 5.
In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, heart rate magnitude is represented by a linear scale 1, such as of liquid crystal or gas discharge form, on a display means of a heart rate monitor. This scale is made up of a plurality of closely juxtaposed small segments which are switched on or off individually by a display driving means. In use, in general, not all of these segments will be visible. The current heart rate is represented by an appropriate number of visible segments which form a line emanating from the low end (here the left-hand end) of the scale. Exercise is effective only if the heart rate is between 50 and 100 percent of the user's maximum heart rate. Therefore, in order to give better heart rate resolution on the display, the scale preferably spans only this range. The lower and upper end points 3 and 4 of 50 percent and 100 percent are preferably shown in numerals on the display to provide the user with a heart rate scale reference.
A user's maximum heart rate depends upon many factors, including age, state of fitness and well-being. To set up a scale calibrated in percentage of maximum heart rate, the user must enter either maximum heart rate in beats per minute, if known, or else his or her age, which enables a reasonably accurate calculation of maximum heart rate to be made. For example, a commonly used equation for this purpose is: maximum heart rate in beats per minute = 220-age in years.
Therefore a user of age 40 would have a maximum heart rate of 180 beats per minute.
Parallel to the heart rate scale is a target zone scale 2, shown complete in Figure 1. This scale, like the heart rate scale, is made up of a plurality of closely juxtaposed small segments which are switched on or off individually by the display driving means. In use, in general, only a small number of these segments will be visible, typically four. The visible segments represent the target zone, spanning from a lower heart rate limit to an upper heart rate limit, expressed in identical terms to those of heart rate, preferably percentage of maximum heart rate.
Figure 2 depicts a typical display of heart rate 1 and target zone 2 as presented to an exercising user, who, in
order to maximise the effectiveness of the exercise, should moderate the exercise intensity level to try to make the active end of the heart rate line 1 align with the target zone 2.
Instead of a horizontal display as shown in Figure 2, a similar but vertical display can be provided as shown in Figure 3. This version may suit the layout of the display in a particular heart rate monitor better than a horizontal arrangement.
Another embodiment of the present invention, which might be more suitable for incorporation in a particular display layout, is shown in Figure 4. Here the small segments of the heart rate scale take the form of radial pointing lines 5, and the target zone scale 6 is provided circumferentially, being curved into an arc of a circle.
Overlaid permanently on the display, such as by printing onto a front surface, is the outline of a quadrant 7, which helps to highlight the display when in use. As with Figures 1 to 3, the display is suitably formed by liquid crystal or gas discharge techniques, with associated display driving means.
In use, as shown in Figure 5, the radial pointing lines are selectively switched on or off by display driving means so that at any one time only one radial line 5 is visible. This radial line represents the current heart
rate, preferably, as shown here, in terms of percentage maximum heart rate. The target zone is represented, as for the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3, by a few visible segments 6 on the target zone scale.
Figure 6 shows the arrangement of Figure 5, as denoted by reference numeral 8, incorporated into the display of a typical simple heart rate monitor. Also on the display is a section 9 which gives the digital or numeric value of the current heart rate in terms of percentage maximum heart rate, a section 10 which shows the current heart rate in beats per minute, and a heart symbol 11 which blinks or flashes whenever a heart beat is detected by the monitor.
Other embodiments of the present invention can be considered. For example, the number of segments or radial lines which depict the current heart rate can be chosen to give the desired resolution of heart rate. The span of heart rate and target zone can encompass the complete range of heart rates from 30 to 240 beats per minute if desired, rather than from only 50 to 100 percent of maximum heart rate. Another addition would be to highlight subdivisions of the displayed range of heart rate in colour superimposed, perhaps by printing, on the heart rate and target zone scales. For example, the background to the quadrant in Figure 5 could be coloured
to change from blue to red as the heart rate pointers sweep from 50 to 100 percent. A heart rate monitor incorporating the present invention can have many more functions than depicted in Figure 6.
For example time of day, time of day alarm, stopwatch, countdown timer and heart rate sample recording are features which can be provided.

Claims (33)

1. A heart rate monitor having a display means incorporating an analogue display means for indicating magnitude of heart rate of a user.
2. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display means comprises a display screen or panel.
3. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the analogue display means is of substantially linear form.
4. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the analogue display means of substantially linear form comprises a first strip having a visible length which represents current magnitude of heart rate of the user.
5. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the analogue display means is provided with a section for indicating the magnitude of heart rate of the user and a reference section providing a target zone scale of heart rate.
6. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the reference section is located adjacent to the section for indicating the magnitude of heart rate of the user.
7. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the analogue display means of substantially linear form comprises a second strip having a visible length which represents the target zone scale of the reference section.
8. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second strip corresponds to a selected target value, or range of target values, of heart rate.
9. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the second strip is located alongside the first strip.
10. A heart rate monitor as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein a strip comprises a plurality of closely juxtaposed small segments.
11. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 10, wherein means are provided to switch on or off one or more appropriate segments, or groups of segments, to provide the visible length representing the current magnitude of heart rate of the user and/or the visible length forming the target zone.
12. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the analogue display means is of non-linear form.
13. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the non-linear form is of circular, part circular, or arcuate, form.
14. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the analogue display has a visible radial pointer indicating current magnitude of heart rate of the user according to its position.
15. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 14, wherein a plurality of narrow radial strips are provided, covering a range of magnitudes of heart rate to be monitored.
16. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 15, wherein means are provided to switch on or off appropriate strips selectively where a selected strip when switched on provides the visible radial pointer indicating the current magnitude of heart rate of the user.
17. A heart rate monitor as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the analogue display means is provided with a section for indicating the magnitude of heart rate of the user and a reference section providing a target zone scale of heart rate.
18. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 17, wherein the reference section is located adjacent to the
section for indicating the magnitude of heart rate of the user.
19. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the target zone scale of the reference section comprises a circumferential, or part-circumferential, scale arranged to provide a visible length.
20. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 19, wherein the target zone scale of the reference section corresponds to a selected target value, or range of target values, of heart rate.
21. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 19 or 20, wherein the circumferential, or part-circumferential, scale comprises a plurality of segments.
22. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 21, wherein means are provided to switch on or off one or more appropriate segments, or groups of segments, to provide the visible length forming the target zone.
23. A heart rate monitor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the analogue display means comprises liquid crystal display means.
24. A heart rate monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the analogue display means comprises gas discharge display means.
25. A heart rate monitor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the analogue display is arranged to cover a range of heart rates of between about 50 and about 100 percent of a user's maximum heart rate.
26. A heart rate monitor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the analogue display means is provided with added data, information, or patterning, such as by printing.
27. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 26, wherein a coloured background is provided and shows a change in colour, such as from blue to red, according to position of indication of current magnitude of heart rate.
28. A heart rate monitor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the display means of the heart rate monitor is arranged to incorporate other functions and/or features.
29. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 28, wherein a digital display of current heart rate is provided.
30. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 28 or 29, wherein a digital display indicating current magnitude of heart rate, in terms of percentage of maximum heart rate, is provided.
31. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 28,29 or 30, wherein a symbol, such as of a heart, is provided, which blinks or flashes whenever a heart beat is detected by the heart monitor.
32. A heart rate monitor as claimed in claim 28,29, 30 or 31, wherein one or more clock features is provided, such as for indicating time of day and/or an alarm therefor and/or for serving as a stopwatch and/or a count-down timer and/or as a heart rate sample recorder.
33. A heart rate monitor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
GB0016518A 2000-07-05 2000-07-05 Heart rate monitor incorporating an analogue display Withdrawn GB2368124A (en)

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GB0016518A GB2368124A (en) 2000-07-05 2000-07-05 Heart rate monitor incorporating an analogue display

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0016518A GB2368124A (en) 2000-07-05 2000-07-05 Heart rate monitor incorporating an analogue display

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GB2368124A true GB2368124A (en) 2002-04-24

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007085109A1 (en) * 2006-01-30 2007-08-02 Hamilton Medical Ag A method and a device for simplifying a diagnostic assessment of a mechanically ventilated patient
US7383081B2 (en) 2005-07-15 2008-06-03 Suunto Oy Training device and method
US20130006129A1 (en) * 2011-06-30 2013-01-03 Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Patient monitoring systems with goal indicators
US20160157740A1 (en) * 2014-12-09 2016-06-09 Polar Electro Oy Wrist device for observing physiological measurement data

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5544639A (en) * 1978-09-27 1980-03-29 Agency Of Ind Science & Technol Display device for patient supervisory
GB2052752A (en) * 1979-04-11 1981-01-28 Morgan M Improvements Relating to Beat Rate Sensors
US4301808A (en) * 1979-11-19 1981-11-24 Taus Herbert G Pulse rate monitor
JPH0938051A (en) * 1995-07-25 1997-02-10 Kiyokukou Bussan Kk Method and device for measuring suitable intensity of exercise
US6234963B1 (en) * 1996-12-11 2001-05-22 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. System and method for displaying medical process diagrams

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5544639A (en) * 1978-09-27 1980-03-29 Agency Of Ind Science & Technol Display device for patient supervisory
GB2052752A (en) * 1979-04-11 1981-01-28 Morgan M Improvements Relating to Beat Rate Sensors
US4301808A (en) * 1979-11-19 1981-11-24 Taus Herbert G Pulse rate monitor
GB2103787A (en) * 1979-11-19 1983-02-23 Herbert G Taus Pulse rate monitor
JPH0938051A (en) * 1995-07-25 1997-02-10 Kiyokukou Bussan Kk Method and device for measuring suitable intensity of exercise
US6234963B1 (en) * 1996-12-11 2001-05-22 Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. System and method for displaying medical process diagrams

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7383081B2 (en) 2005-07-15 2008-06-03 Suunto Oy Training device and method
WO2007085109A1 (en) * 2006-01-30 2007-08-02 Hamilton Medical Ag A method and a device for simplifying a diagnostic assessment of a mechanically ventilated patient
US20130006129A1 (en) * 2011-06-30 2013-01-03 Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Patient monitoring systems with goal indicators
US8852115B2 (en) * 2011-06-30 2014-10-07 Covidien Lp Patient monitoring systems with goal indicators
US20160157740A1 (en) * 2014-12-09 2016-06-09 Polar Electro Oy Wrist device for observing physiological measurement data

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