BIOBELT SENDS LONG-DISTANCE ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS - Report to Senior Electronics Engineers & Managers

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore

Report to Senior Electronics Engineers & Managers describes NASA “IMBLMS” belt-based biomedical monitoring designed for long-distance electrocardiogram acquisition. A Lockheed-developed dry-skin 1.25-inch electrode and a 2.5-inch battery-powered lightweight belt detect body signals, amplify and filter them, and transmit binary data to a command unit for a three-view ECG at up to 5,120 samples per second. The system integrates optical isolation and a Biomedical Ground Lead System to prevent electrical shock, while also processing ear-canal temperature signals.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

BIOBELT SENDS LONG-DISTANCE ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS

Dry-skin electrode and belt hardware

Signal detection, amplification, and transmission

Safety features and Biomedical Ground Lead System

LEAP SECOND OCCURS IN JUNE

June 30 leap second implementation

New UTC adjustment method

Synchronization and frequency of leap seconds

COMPUTER SYSTEM TAKES OVER CAB BUSINESS

Computer dispatching workflow

Customer service impact

U.S. LEGAL VOLT USES PLANCK'S CONSTANT

Determination method using Josephson effect

Report to Senior Electronics Engineers &Managers August 1972Volume 90,Number 2 'BIOBELT'SENDS LONG-DISTANCE ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS Someday soon a physician wil1 be able to take an electrocardiogramfrom a belt strapped to the patient—who may even be anastronaut orbiting earth. Under the NASA "IMBLMS"contract,a waist belt that holds thecomplex electronics needed to monitor the condition of a person'sheart and body temperature has been developed at LockheedMissiles &Space Co.,Sunnyvale,Cal. Lockheed also has invented a dry-skin,1.25-in.diameter electrodethat can be applied with a piece of double-backed tape,aspart of the program.Although dry electrodes have been usedbefore,Lockheed's is unique.An amplifier mounted on theelect rode gives superior performance compared to other drytypes of electrodes. The 2.5-in.wide,battery-powered lightweight belt is linked toa set of electrodes on the patient's skin and through anumbilicalto the system¹s command and data-display unit whichhas a separate power source. This biobelt detects the required signals emanating from thebody,amplifies the signals,sorts the proper signals from othersbroadcast by the body,and feeds the signals in sequence tothe command unit—al1 to provide a three-view electrocardiogramof the heart. Ear canal temperature signals also are fed to the command unitat its direction. Biobelt changes the signals to binary form and transmits themto the command unit where they can be read on the command unit'sCRT from 10 up to 5,120 samples per second.The command unitdetermines the sample rate. A safety feature to prevent electrical shock,the opticalcoupler is part of the system guaranteed to prevent up to Copyright 1972,by Industrial Research Inc.,222 S.RiversideP1aza,Chicago,I11.60606.Reproduction prohibited withoutpermission. | 2.5 kV from reaching the patient.Thus,the biobelt and patient
are electronically isolated from the powered command unit.
An additional safety feature is bui1t into the leads connecting
the body-Worn electrodes to the biobelt electronics, This is
the Biomedical Ground Lead System(BGLS),invented earlier
by Lockheed.BGLS disconnects the electrodes from the electronics
if the current flowing in the leads rises above 100 μA.
With the aid of microcircuits,the be1t easily holds a package
that includes batteries,amplifiers,and plug-in points for
the electrodes.The complex electronics are needed to sort
out useful electronic signals from those normally emitted by
a person's body.
The dry-skin electrode eliminates the requirement of previously-
used electrodes that required cleaning and preparing the
patient's skin with chemicals prior to application.
The outer rim of the dry electrode is ceramic with a metal
center that makes direct contact with the skin.The electronics
on the electrode include resistors,capacitors,and a
preamplifier with high input impedance using a special
operational amplifier.
LEAP SECOND ocCURS IN JUNE
The first leap second in history occured June 30.At the
recommendation of the International Bureau of Time,an extra
second was inserted into the day of June 30,beginning at
23 hours 59 minutes 60 seconds UTC(Universal Coordinated
Time).The UTC clock at the National Bureau of Standards,
Boulder,Colo.,was set back one second.
The leap second also was incorporated into the broadcasts of
standard frequency and time stations WWV,WWVB,and WWVH
operated by the NBS Boulder Laboratories.
In the past,clocks were adjusted to our position in space
by adjusting the speeds of the clocks and by making step
adjustments of a fraction of a second.That method caused
confusion and was difficult to implement.
The new method,under international agreement,has been in
effect since the first of 1972.It requires no rate adjustments一
on1y occasiona1 leap second adjustments—mak

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Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore