Improved remote event marker for use in ambulatory monitoring

During ambulatory monitoring, physiological signals and other parameters are measured and stored in a portable recorder. To optimise subsequent interpretation, additional information is provided by the subject pressing a button at the onset of any relevant symptoms or events, simultaneously noting these in a personal diary. To distinguish between different events, the subject is instructed to press the event button a specific number of times. Confusion arises when the subject fails to press the button correctly or to record the event accurately on paper. The device described overcomes these problems by providing the subject with separate switches on a single remote unit. Depending on the button pressed, the unit automatically sends a coded signal to the recorder, allowing unequivocal identification of events during data playback and analysis. Although primarily used in urodynamics, this simple device can be used in many other similar recording systems with little or no modification.