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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to identification means for the ends of lead wires
of electrocardiographic monitoring instruments or the like.
Electrocardiographic monitoring instruments are provided with a plurality
of lead wires which comprise output terminals to correspond to each of the
commonly recorded anatomical positions; for instance, LA, RA, LL, RL,
VI-6, or others, with the lead wires or output terminals associated with
the common anatomical positions such as left arm, right arm, left leg,
right leg, and particular torso areas. Thus, it can be seen that as many
as ten or more lead wires and output terminals are required for each
machine. During use, the lead wires require repetitious handling or
manipulation for placing onto and off of a patient's body as well as being
plugged into and out of the machine itself. Because of this repeated
handling of the lead wires, they oftentimes become damaged or broken and
must be replaced, requiring a hospital or other user to maintain a
considerable supply of replacement wires to insure continuous and
immediate usage of the machines. The supply of such an inventory of such
lead wires creates problems particularly in view of the fact that the lead
wires are labelled, usually by color coding, for each of the plurality of
anatomical positions for which the lead wires are utilized in conjunction
with the machine itself. The color coding for the patient leads usually is
in conformance with uniform colors for electrocardiographs used in the
United States and, preferably, world-wide. The color codifications may be
associated with either individually colored lead wires or with plug bodies
if used at the lead ends.
In the past, the color codifications most often were provided by labeling
or cable legends of a permanent type, such as by tags or engraving, for
each individual lead wire and, should a lead wire become damaged or
broken, a replacement therefor must be obtained from the hospital's
inventory corresponding to the particular permanently coded broken lead
wire. Readily removable legends or labels are undesirable because of the
possible problem of erroneous labeling which would result in an inaccurate
reading by the electrocardiographic machine. In addition, environmental
problems are caused when using permanent labeling which might be obscured
or otherwise made unreadable due to liquids or other materials commonly
found around hospitals and the storerooms thereof.
To further exemplify the problems involved in maintaining an inventory of
replaceable lead wires for electrocardiographic machines, a present
standard or common color coding presently used in the United States might
be described. As referred to above, an electrocardiographic machine might
include ten lead wires corresponding to the commonly recorded anatomical
positions; namely, LA (left arm), RA (right arm), LL (left leg), RL (right
leg), and VI-6 (six torso positions). The RL through LA lead wires for the
legs and arms would have a base color codification, such as white, and
additional color codification for each limb; namely, green for RL, red for
LL, white (white on white) for RA, and black for LA. The torso lead wires
VI-6 would have a brown base color accompanied by additional indicia
relating to the six different torso positions. It can readily be seen that
considerable problems result in maintaining an inventory of lead wires for
the electrocardiographic machine, particularly when an institutution such
as a large hospital might employ a number of such machines. The problems
further are enhanced when different machines from different manufacturers
are employed which might utilize different types of lead wires or output
terminals for the different machines.
This invention is directed to providing identification means for solving
these problems in using electrocardiograph monitoring instruments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of this invention is to provide an identification means
for the lead wires of electrocardiographic machines of the character
described in order to solve the aforementioned problems.
Another object of this invention is to provide identification means for
application to and in combination with the ends of lead wires of
electrocardiographic monitoring instruments or the like to greatly reduce
the number of lead wires required to be maintained in inventory during
normal use of such machines when initial selection or replacement of such
lead wires are required.
A further object of the invention is to provide identification means of the
character described for use on the lead wires of electrocardiographic
machines or the like, with the identification means being readily
positionally adjustable to facilitate omni-directional reading of the
identification means without undue manipulation of the lead wires
themselves.
The invention embodied herein is in the form of identification means for
application to and in combination with the ends or output terminals of
lead wires for electrocardiographic monitoring instruments or the like.
Each lead wire has a terminal body member, including a strain relief
portion secured at one end of a lead wire and having a circular peripheral
recess extending substantially thereabout. An identification member having
identifying means corresponding to one of a plurality of commonly recorded
anatomical positions is assembled onto the terminal body member. The
identification member is sized to be positionable over at least a portion
of the terminal body member including the peripheral recess thereof and
has an interior lip snap fit within the recess to retain the
identification member onto the terminal body member and prevent
unintentional removal therefrom. The outer peripheral surface of the
identification member and the adjacent outer peripheral surface of the
terminal body member are rounded and flush with each other to preclude any
positive gripping means therebetween. The circular recess of the terminal
body member has a uniform cross-section to provide for relative rotation
between the terminal body member and the identification member to
facilitate omni-directional reading of the identifying means.
The identifying means on the identification member is color coded to one of
a plurality of standard color codifications corresponding to a plurality
of anatomical positions, as set forth and described in the preceeding
"Background Of The Invention" section herein. The identifying means as
disclosed herein comprises raised indicia such as "RL", "LL", "RA", "LA",
or "VI-6". The identification member itself exclusive of the raised
indicia also is color coded to different color codifications than the
raised indicia.
Each individual identification member comprises one of differently color
coded identification members corresponding to the above described
conventional color coding system.
In one form of the invention, the terminal body member has a protruding
exteriorly threaded portion and the identification member has an
interiorly threaded portion for threading onto the exteriorly threaded
portion of the terminal body member. The terminal body member also
provides a reduced diameter portion forming the aforementioned peripheral
recess adjacent to the inner end of the exteriorly threaded portion
thereof. The reduced diameter portion is adapted to receive the interiorly
threaded portion of the identification member out of threaded engagement
with the exteriorly threaded portion to further facilitate the prevention
of unintentional removal of the identification member as well as to permit
free rotation between the terminal body member and the identification
member.
As disclosed herein, the identification means of the present invention may
be employed on a terminal body member which is adapted for positioning
onto the skin of a human anatomy with the lead wire extending outwardly
from one side of the body member. The identification member is in the form
of a cap having an upwardly facing generally flat surface with the
identifying means or raised indicia thereof, the flat surface being in a
plane generally parallel to the lead wire. In this form, the outer side
surface of the identification cap is flush with the peripheral surface of
the terminal body member to preclude any positive gripping means
therebetween.
In another form of the invention herein, the identification means is
employed on the terminal plug portion of the lead wire, with the terminal
body portion including a terminal plug protruding outwardly therefrom and
electrically connected to the lead wire. The identification member is in
the form of a ring assembled onto the terminal body member with a hole
through which the terminal plug protrudes for insertion into the
electrocardiographic monitoring instrument.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent
from the following detailed description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmented side elevational view of a lead wire for
electrocardiographic monitoring instruments or the like with a terminal
plug at one end thereof includng the identification means of the present
invention and a terminal body member at the other end thereof adapted for
positioning onto the skin of a human anatomy;
FIG. 2 is a partially fragmented, exploded perspective view, on an enlarged
scale, of the terminal plug end of the lead wire, with the identification
ring removed to facilitate the illustration;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2 with the
identification ring assembled to the terminal plug end of the lead wire;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing another form
of the invention wherein the identification ring is threaded onto the
terminal plug end of the lead wire;
FIG. 5 is a generally vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken
generally along line 5--5 of FIG. 4 through the identification ring shown
therein;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the identification ring of FIG. 4
assembled onto the terminal plug end of the lead wire;
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the end of the lead wire which is
adapted for positioning onto a human anatomy, with the identification cap
removed to facilitate the illustration;
FIG. 8 is a generally vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the
components shown in FIG. 7; and
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the identification cap of FIG. 7 in
assembled position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and first to FIG. 1, the
identification means of the present invention is shown as applied to or in
combination with both ends of a lead wire 10 for an electrocardiographic
monitoring instrument or the like which is not shown herein. The
identification means is shown employed with the terminal plug end,
generally designated 12, as well as the opposite end, generally designated
13, of the lead wire 10. As described herein, the end 13 of the lead is
adapted for positioning onto a portion of a human anatomy.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the terminal plug end 12 of the lead wire 10
includes a terminal body member having a frusto-conical strain relief
portion 14, a reduced diameter cylindrical portion 16, and a circular
recessed portion 18 which is continuous and of uniform cross-section
between the strain relief portion 14 and reduced diameter portion 16. A
conductive terminal plug 20 protrudes generally axially outwardly of the
reduced diameter portion 16 and is electrically connected to the lead wire
10 for insertion into an appropriate socket in the electrocardiographic
machine. The lead wire 10 and the terminal body member which includes the
strain relief portion 14, reduced diameter portion 16 and recessed portion
18 preferably are of a neutral color such as gray.
The identification means of the present invention which is utilized with
the terminal plug end 12 of the lead wire 10 is in the form of an
identification ring 22 which is generally hollow and generally open ended,
and which has an interior lip 24 for snap fit within the recess 18 on the
terminal body member 12. The end of the identification ring 22 opposite
the lip 24 has a hole 26 through which the terminal plug 20 extends when
the identification ring is assembled to the terminal body member 12, as
shown in FIG. 3. The inner diameter of the identification ring 22 within
the lip 24 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the reduced portion 16
of the terminal body member 12 so that the identification ring can be snap
fit over the reduced diameter portion 16 until the lip 24 seats within the
recess 18. The diameter of the hole 26 in the outside end of the
identification ring 22 is smaller than the outside diameter of the reduced
portion 16 of the terminal body member 12.
As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the outer peripheral surface of the
identification ring 22 and the adjacent outer peripheral surface of the
terminal body member 12 are rounded and flush with each other when the
identification ring is assembled to the terminal body member to preclude
any positive gripping means therebetween so that there can be no
unintentional removal of the identification ring. Furthermore, the axial
width of the interior lip 24 of the identification ring 22 and the width
of the recess 18 of the terminal plug member 12 should be substantially
identical so that there is no gap between the identification ring and the
terminal plug member 12 when in fully assembled position as shown in FIGS.
1 and 3, whereby a foreign implement such as a screw driver or the like
cannot be utilized to pry the identification ring off of the terminal end
of the lead wire 10.
Referring to FIGS. 4 through 6, an alternate embodiment of the invention is
shown at the terminal plug end 12 of the lead wire 10 but like numerals
are applied corresponding to the same components shown in FIGS. 1-3. In
this embodiment of the invention, the identification ring is designated
22a and is shorter than the identification ring 22 shown in FIGS. 1-3. The
identification ring 22a has an interiorly threaded portion 28, and the
reduced diameter portion 16 of the terminal plug member 12 has an
exteriorly threaded portion 30 generally the same width as the threaded
portion 28 of the identification ring 22a. As with the interior lip 24 of
the identification ring 22 shown in FIG. 2, the interior threaded portion
28 of the identification ring 22 is generally the same width as the recess
18 not only to eliminate any gap between the identification ring and the
terminal body member but, in this instance, so that the threaded portion
28 of the identification ring 22a when fully threaded onto the terminal
body member is out of threaded engagement with the exteriorly threaded
portion 30 to further prevent unintentional removal of the identification
ring.
The identification rings 22 and 22a are shown in FIGS. 3 and 6,
respectively, in slightly different angular orientations in relation to
the terminal body member 12 and lead wire 10 to illustrate the rotational
capabilities of the identification rings to facilitate omni-directional
reading of the identifying means (described hereinafter) thereon. This is
important so that users of the associated electrocardiographic monitoring
instruments or machines can easily read the identifying means without
twisting the lead wires which oftentimes causes damages thereto which
necessitates their replacement.
The identifying means on the identification rings 22, 22a is in the form of
raised indicia 32. The raised indicia shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 is in the
form of raised letters "LL" corresponding to the left leg of a patient.
The terminal plug 20 therefor would be inserted into the appropriate
socket on the electrocardiograph monitoring instrument corresponding to
the position for receiving a reading from the patient's left leg. It can
be seen that with the identification ring being closely associated to and
immediately at the end of the terminal end of the lead wire, the
likelihood of erroneously positioning the appropriate lead wire into the
wrong socket of the electrocardiograph machine is greatly eliminated. The
raised indicia 32 is molded with the identification rings 22, 22a so as to
be an integral part thereof.
The identification rings 22, 22a shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 are color coded
in accordance with the standard color codifications referred to above for
the commonly recorded anatomical positions on a patient; namely, LA, RA,
LL, RL, VI-6 or others. The identification rings shown in FIGS. 1 through
6 have identifying means in the form of raised letters "LL" corresponding
to the left leg of a patient. Thus, the raised letters "LL" would be color
coded red in accordance with the conventional codification. The remainder
of the identification ring would have the base color white as described
above. Preferably, the identification ring and raised letters are
fabricated or molded of a thermoplastic material with the raised letters
forming an integral part of the identification ring, but with the raised
letters being of a different colored material than the remainder of the
ring. Each of the other identification rings in any set thereof for use on
the limbs of a patient would be white with the raised letters of a
different color such as green for the right leg, black for the left arm,
and white (white on white) for the right arm. The identification means for
the identification rings which are utilized with the terminal plugs for
the lead wires 10 corresponding to the anatomical positions on a patient's
torso would be fabricated so as to have a common color, namely brown, with
the torso positions, e.g., VI-6, comprising raised indicia having the
colors red, yellow, green, blue, orange, and violet each on the brown
colored rings.
Referring to FIGS. 7 through 9, the end of the terminal wire 10 (the
right-hand end as viewed in FIG. 1) opposite the terminal plug end of the
lead wire has a terminal body member or portion 34 and a strain relief
portion 36 protruding outwardly from one side thereof for receiving a lead
wire 10. As shown best in FIGS. 7 and 8, the body member has a reduced
diameter portion 38 at the top thereof and a peripheral circular recessed
portion 40 extending substantially thereabout. The identification means is
in the form of an identification cap 42 which has a generally flat top
surface 44 with raised indicia 46 protruding upwardly therefrom. The
identification cap 42 has an interior lip 48 which is snap fit within the
recess 40 of the terminal body member 34 to retain the identification cap
onto the terminal body member and prevent unintentional removal therefrom.
As with the rings 22, 22a shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the outer or side
periphery of the identification cap 42 and the adjacent outer periphery of
the terminal body member 34 are rounded and flush with each other to
preclude any positive gripping means therebetween. In addition, the width
of the recess 44 and the lip 48 are substantially the same so as to
eliminate any gap between the identification cap and the body member
within which a foreign tool such as a screw driver or the like may be
inserted to further reduce the possibility of removal of the
identification cap once it is properly assembled to the terminal body
member 34 on the end of the lead wire 10.
The raised indicia 46 is similar to the raised indicia 32 shown in FIGS. 1
through 6 except, in this instance, the raised indicia is in the form of
the letters "RL" corresponding to the right leg of a patient.
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