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Abstract

Apparatus and method for monitoring exercise activity and exercise responses of a user/patient. The monitoring apparatus and method forms the basis of a physical fitness system or a patient rehabilitation system for rehabilitating cardiac, orthopedic or other patients that require physiological monitoring during a therapy session. The system includes a patient station which in the case of cardiac rehabilitation includes an ECG monitor and a transmitting unit for transmitting ECG data and patient speech signals over a voice grade phone line. A base unit, located at a remote location, receives a composite analog signal containing the ECG data and voice signal and includes signal processing devices for separating the signal and for continuously storing the ECG data on a mass storage device for the entire therapy session. At the conclusion of the therapy session, selected portions of the stored ECG data can be transferred to a removable storage medium such as a floppy disk. The base station includes means for transmitting commands in the form of DTMF tones to the patient station to initiate the therapy session and/or to control the work load of an exercise device being used by the patient. Patients are connected to the patient transmitting unit by a fiber optic or RF link. The ECG data is transmitted in a 2170-2370 Hz. frequency band using frequency modulation on a carrier of substantially 2270 Hz. Notch and band pass filters remove the selected frequency band from the voice signal.

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First Claim