Virtual medical instrument for performing medical diagnostic testing on patients

Claim 2

A virtual medical instrument system for a medical facility having a plurality of patient medical diagnostic test protocols, said virtual medical instrument comprising: a. a universal interface having a number of electrical contacts, said universal interface being configured for having connected to at least some of said contacts any selected set of a plurality of different sets of electrical conduits associated with a like plurality of different patient diagnostic test protocols; b. computer means for electronically storing said plurality of different patient diagnostic test protocols; c. selecting means connected to said computer means for enabling the selection of any one of said plurality of different patient diagnostic test protocols for conducting on a patient, the simultaneous selection of the corresponding set of electrical conduits to be connected to particular electrical contacts of said universal interface, and for causing the selected diagnostic test protocol to be performed on said patient after the corresponding set of electrical conduits have been connected to the universal interface contacts and to the patient on which the selected diagnostic test protocol is to be performed; d. receiving means connected to said universal interface for receiving electrical signals from the set of electrical conduits connected to said universal interface contacts from a patient undergoing said selected diagnostic test protocol and for providing said electrical signals to said computer means; and e. output means connected to said computer means for providing a detectable output corresponding to said received electrical signals.

Claim 3

A virtual medical instrument system for a medical facility having a plurality of patient medical diagnostic test protocols, said virtual medical instrument comprising: a. a universal interface having a number of electrical contacts, said universal interface being configured for having connected to at least some of said contacts any selected set of a plurality of different sets of electrical conduits associated with a like plurality of different patient diagnostic test protocols; b. selecting means connected to information and data storage means for enabling a user of the system to select from said information and storage means any desired one of said plurality of different patient diagnostic test protocols for conducting on a patient, and for selecting the appropriate set of electrical conduits to be connected to corresponding electrical contacts of said universal interface; c. operating means for causing the selected diagnostic test protocol to be performed on said patient after said appropriate electrical conduits are connected between said corresponding electrical contacts of said universal interface and said patient on which the selected diagnostic test protocol is to be performed; d. receiving means connected to said universal interface for receiving electrical signals from the set of electrical conduits connected to said universal interface contacts from a patient undergoing said selected diagnostic test protocol, said receiving means including a preamplifier connected to said universal interface for amplifying one or more of the electrical signals received therefrom; and e. output means for providing a detectable output corresponding to said received electrical signals.

Claim 4

A virtual medical instrument system for a medical facility having a plurality of patient medical diagnostic test protocols, said virtual medical instrument comprising: a. a universal interface having a number of electrical contacts, said universal interface being configured for having connected to at least some of said contacts any selected set of a plurality of different sets of electrical conduits associated with a like plurality of different patient diagnostic test protocols; b. selecting means connected to information and data storage means for enabling a user of the system to select from said information and storage means any desired one of said plurality of different patient diagnostic test protocols for conducting on a patient, and for selecting the appropriate set of electrical conduits to be connected to corresponding electrical contacts of said universal interface; c. operating means for causing the selected diagnostic test protocol to be performed on said patient after said appropriate electrical conduits are connected between said corresponding electrical contacts of said universal interface and said patient on which the selected diagnostic test protocol is to be performed; d. receiving means connected to said universal interface for receiving electrical signals from the set of electrical conduits connected to said universal interface contacts from a patient undergoing said selected diagnostic test protocol, said receiving means including a preamplifier connected to said universal interface for amplifying one or more of the electrical signals received therefrom; and e. output means for providing a detectable output corresponding to said received electrical signals.

Claim 5

A virtual medical instrument system for a medical facility having a plurality of patient medical diagnostic test protocols, said virtual medical instrument comprising: a. a universal interface having a number of electrical contacts, said universal interface being configured for having connected to at least some of said contacts any selected set of a plurality of different sets of electrical conduits associated with a like plurality of different patient diagnostic test protocols; b. selecting means connected to information and data storage means for enabling a user of the system to select from said information and storage means any desired one of said plurality of different patient diagnostic test protocols for conducting on a patient, and for selecting the appropriate set of electrical conduits to be connected to corresponding electrical contacts of said universal interface, said selecting means including verifying means for assuring that when the electrical contacts associated with the selected diagnostic test protocol are connected to particular ones of the universal interface contacts only the preselected diagnostic test protocol is enabled; c. operating means for causing the selected diagnostic test protocol to be performed on said patient after said appropriate electrical conduits are connected between said corresponding electrical contacts of said universal interface and patient on which the selected diagnostic test protocol is to be performed; d. receiving means connected to said universal interface for receiving electrical signals from the set of electrical conduits connected to said universal interface contacts from a patient undergoing said selected diagnostic test protocol; and e. output means for providing a detectable output corresponding to said received electrical signals.

Claim 6

A virtual medical instrument system for a medical facility having a plurality of patient medical diagnostic test protocols, said virtual medical instrument comprising: a. a universal interface having a number of electrical contacts, said universal interface being configured for having connected to at least some of said contacts any selected set of a plurality of different sets of electrical conduits associated with a like plurality of different patient diagnostic test protocols; b. selecting means connected to information and data storage means for enabling a user of the system to select from said information and storage means any desired one of said plurality of different patient diagnostic test protocols for conducting on a patient, and for selecting the appropriate set of electrical conduits to be connected to corresponding electrical contacts of said universal interface, said selecting means including verifying means for assuring that when the electrical contacts associated with the selected diagnostic test protocol are connected to particular ones of the universal interface contacts only the preselected diagnostic test protocol is enabled; c. operating means for causing the selected diagnostic test protocol to be performed on said patient after said appropriate electrical conduits are connected between said corresponding electrical contacts of said universal interface and patient on which the selected diagnostic test protocol is to be performed; d. receiving means connected to said universal interface for receiving electrical signals from the set of electrical conduits connected to said universal interface contacts from a patient undergoing said selected diagnostic test protocol; and e. output means for providing a detectable output corresponding to said received electrical signals.