Light beam transmits heartbeat signal from electrodes on patient to electrocardiograph without exposing patient to possible severe electrical shock. System provides complete isolation between patient and EKG instrumentation

Palmer, E.

Rasquin, J. R.

Smith, H. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

May 1971	 Brief 71-10124 
NASA-TECH BRIEF 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are =courage encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
EKG Isolator 
The problem: 
Design a system for recording an electrocardio-
gram without exposing the patient to possible severe 
electrical shock. 
The solution: 
Use a light beam to transmit the heartbeat signal 
from the electrodes on the patient to the elec-
trocardiograph. 
How it's done: 
Use conventional type electrical contacts for con-
necting the electrocardiograph to the patient. Am-
plify the heartbeat signals and feed them to the 
EKG isolator, which converts the signal from an 
electrical impulse to a light beam, using a light 
emission diode. Relay the signal by a light beam 
from the diode to a photo transistor in the output 
portion of the isolator and subsequently to the 
electrocardiograph. 
This system provides complete isolation between the 
patient and the EKG instrumentation.
Note: 
Requests for further information should be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Code A&TS-TU 
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, Alabama 35812 
Reference: B71-10124 
Patent status: 
This invention is owned by NASA, and a patent 
application has been filed. Royalty-free nonex-
clusive licenses for its commercial use will be 
granted by NASA. Inquiries concerning license rights 
should be made to: 
Patent Counsel 
Mail Code A&TS-PAT 
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center 
Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 
Source: Euple Palmer, John R. Rasquin, and

Hubert E. Smith
Marshall Space Flight Center

(MFS-2 1236) 
Category 0 1,05 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710000123 2020-03-17T02:22:55+00:00Z


EKG isolator

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