BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The technical field relates to a measurement of respiration-related signals, and more particularly, to a measurement system of respiration-related signals and a method of operating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, an ECG measuring instrument is used to measure ECG (electrocardiogram) signals of a participant.
Recently, a physical measurement clothing is developed for the participant to conveniently measure the ECG signals. In particular, a plurality of electrodes for signal measurement, a signal processing unit, and a signal transmission unit are jointly installed on the physical measurement clothing. Accordingly, the ECG signals can be directly and conveniently measured by the electrodes touching on specific locations of the participant's body after the participant wears the physical measurement clothing.
The physical measurement clothing is used to measure the ECG signals by the electrodes, however, the measured ECG signals cannot be directly calculated to generate the required signals, such as respiration-related signals for the participant's family, physician, or caregiver.
For the existing physical measurement clothing, additional devices or sensors are usually coordinately used to effectively measure other signals except the ECG signals. As a result, it might reduce the participant's willingness to wear the physical measurement clothing due to higher costs of the physical measurement clothing and the additional devices or sensors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure is directed to a measurement system of respiration-related signals and a method of operating the same to calculate the ECG signals measured by the electrodes to acquire a cardiac axis angle change waveform. Also, the cardiac axis angle change waveform is directly used to be the respiration-related signals for approximating respiratory conditions of the participant.
One of the exemplary embodiments, the measurement system of respiration-related signals includes a plurality of electrodes, an ECG processing device, and an analysis device. The ECG processing device acquires a first analog differential signal and a second analog differential signal through the electrodes and generates a Lead-I ECG signal and a Lead-II ECG signal. In particular, the Lead-I ECG signal is orthogonal to the Lead-II ECG signal.
The analysis device receives the Lead-I ECG signal and the Lead-II ECG signal, and executes a function conversion to generate an angle change value of the cardiac axis. Also, the analysis device continuously calculates the angle change values to generate a cardiac axis angle change waveform. Because the cardiac axis angle change waveform is correlated with a respiration-related signal, the cardiac axis angle change waveform can be used to be the respiration-related signal for approximating respiratory conditions of the participant.
The Lead-I ECG signal and the Lead-II ECG signal which is orthogonal to the Lead-I ECG signal are measured by different arrangements of the electrodes, and further the cardiac axis angle change waveform is generated by calculating the two ECG signals. Accordingly, the technical feature of the present disclosure is that the cardiac axis angle change waveform is suitable for the prediction of respiratory conditions of the participant because of the high positive correlation between the frequency of the cardiac axis angle change waveform and the human respiratory frequency.
In addition, it is convenient to simultaneously measure the ECG signal and respiratory conditions of the participant by wearing the physical measurement clothing and using the electrodes.
Furthermore, the respiration-related signals can be measured and calculated by the electrodes and specific algorithms instead of the additional devices or sensors, thereby significantly reducing costs of measuring the respiration-related signals.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the present disclosure as claimed. Other advantages and features of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description, drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The features of the present disclosure believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present disclosure itself, however, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the present disclosure, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a measurement system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an electrode configuration according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of measuring respiration-related signals according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4A is a schematic view of projecting an electrocardiac signal on a first vector and a second vector according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4B is a schematic view of a cardiac axis angle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of waveform comparison according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an electrode configuration according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an electrode configuration according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an electrode configuration according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present disclosure in detail.
A measurement system of respiration-related signals (hereinafter referred to as a system) is used to measure respiration-related signals of a participant and to describe and record respiratory conditions of the participant according to the respiratory conditions of the participant according to the respiration-related signals.
Reference is made to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 which are a block diagram of a measurement system and a flowchart of measuring respiration-related signals according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the system mainly includes a plurality of electrodes, an electrocardiography processing device 14 (hereinafter referred to as an ECG processing device), and an analysis device 15. In this embodiment, the ECG processing device 14 is electrically connected to the electrodes, and the analysis device 15 is connected to the ECG processing device 14 using wired or wireless manners. In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the electrodes include a first electrode 11, a second electrode 12, and a third electrode 13, which are connected to the ECG processing device 14, respectively.
The electrodes 11-13 are used to directly touch the participant's body to measure electrocardiac signals and then generate ECG signals. In this embodiment, two of the three electrodes 11-13, such as the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 are used to acquire a first analog differential signal (S10); and two of the three electrodes 11-13, such as the second electrode 12 and the third electrode 13 are used to acquire a second analog differential signal (S12). In the present disclosure, the first analog differential signal and the second analog differential signal are measured by a plurality of electrodes 11-13, and the analog differential signals are calculated to generate the above-mentioned respiration-related signals. The detailed operation of the measurement system will be described hereinafter as follows.
Reference is made to FIG. 2 which is a schematic view of an electrode configuration according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The system is preferably installed on a physical measurement clothing 3, and the participant can use the system by wearing the physical measurement clothing 3 to produce the ECG signals and calculate the respiration-related signals of the participant. Accordingly, the respiratory conditions of the participant can be viewed and recorded via the system by the participant's family, physician, or caregiver.
As shown in FIG. 2, the electrodes 11-13 are configured on an inside surface of the physical measurement clothing 3, and the electrodes 11-13 are closely attached to the participant's body after the participant wears the physical measurement clothing 3. The detailed arrangement of the electrodes 11-13 will be described hereinafter as follows.
As shown in FIG. 2, a horizontal line through the participant's heart (hereinafter referred to as a cardiac horizontal line 41) and a vertical line through the participant's heart (hereinafter referred to as a cardiac vertical line 42) are illustrated. In this embodiment, the first electrode 11 is installed to firmly adhere at a second quadrant of the plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on the physical measurement clothing 3, namely the first electrode 11 is installed to firmly adhere above the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the left of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 2. The second electrode 12 is installed to firmly adhere at a first quadrant of the plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on the physical measurement clothing 3, namely the second electrode 12 is installed to firmly adhere above the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the right of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 2. The third electrode 13 is installed to firmly adhere at a fourth quadrant of the plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on the physical measurement clothing 3, namely the third electrode 13 is installed to firmly adhere below the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the right of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 2. However, the embodiment is only exemplified but is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The maximum amplitude of the electrocardiac signal can be measured to acquire the complete electrocardiographic waveform when two electrodes are vertically or horizontally installed to each other to completely cover the participant's heart.
Especially, a first vector is defined between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 and a second vector is defined between the second electrode 12 and the third electrode 13, and the first vector is approximately orthogonal to the second vector. In this embodiment, an included angle between the first vector and the second vector can be 75° to 105°, and the 90-degree included angle is preferably arranged. Especially, the dominant frequency of the respiration-related signal is closer to the participant's actual respiratory frequency when the included angle is closer to 75°.
See FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 again, the ECG processing device 14 acquires the first analog differential signal and the second analog differential signal via the electrodes 11-13, and then executes signal processing procedures, such as amplifying and filtering the differential signals (S14). Accordingly, the ECG processing device 14 can generate a Lead-I analog signal and a Lead-II analog signal using the above-mentioned signal processing procedures (S16).
The ECG processing device 14 further executes a signal conversion procedure, such as an A/D conversion procedure of the Lead-I analog signal and the Lead-II analog signal (S18). Accordingly, the ECG processing device 14 can generate a Lead-I digital signal 51 and a Lead-II digital signal 52 shown in FIG. 4A using the A/D conversion procedure (S20). In this present disclosure, the Lead-I analog signal and the Lead-I digital signal 51 can be collectively called a Lead-I ECG signal, and the Lead-II analog signal and the Lead-II digital signal 52 can be collectively called a Lead-II ECG signal.
In this embodiment, the Lead-I digital signal 51 is generated by processing and converting the first analog differential signal, and the Lead-II digital signal 52 is generated by processing and converting the second analog differential signal. In other words, the Lead-I digital signal 51 is measured via the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12, and the Lead-II digital signal 52 is measured via the second electrode 12 and the third electrode 13. That is, the Lead-I digital signal 51 is derived from the first vector and the Lead-II digital signal 52 is derived from the second vector, and the an included angle between the Lead-I digital signal 51 and the Lead-II digital signal 52 can be from 75° to 105°, and the 90-degree included angle is preferably designed.
After the step (S20), the ECG processing device 14 transmits the Lead-I digital signal 51 and the Lead-II digital signal 52 to the analysis device 15 through wired or wireless manners. The analysis device 15 receives the Lead-I digital signal 51 and the Lead-II digital signal 52 and executes a specific algorithm to calculate an angle change value between the first vector and the second vector of the cardiac axis according to the Lead-I digital signal 51 and the Lead-II digital signal 52. More specifically, the analysis device 15 executes a function conversion to generate an angle change value of the cardiac axis according to the Lead-I digital signal 51 and the Lead-II digital signal 52 (S22). In this embodiment, the function conversion is a trigonometric function conversion, and more particularly to a tangent function conversion.
Reference is made to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B which are schematic views of signal projections and a cardiac axis angle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively. In particular, the angle change value is acquired using the trigonometric function of a ratio between the Lead-I digital signal 51 and the Lead-II digital signal 52.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the amplitude of the electrocardiac signal is projected on the first vector to generate the Lead-I digital signal 51, and the Lead-I digital signal 51 is calculated by the analysis device 15 to acquire a first projection 71. Also, the amplitude of the electrocardiac signal is projected on the second vector to generate the Lead-II digital signal 52, and the Lead-II digital signal 52 is calculated by the analysis device 15 to acquire a second projection 72. In addition, the analysis device 15 executes a tangent function of the ratio between the first projection 71 and the second projection 72 to acquire the angle change value. In this embodiment, the first projection 71 and the second projection 72 are calculated by the analysis device 15 according to the amplitude area or the peak amplitude value of the Lead-I digital signal 51 and the Lead-II digital signal 52, respectively. However, the embodiments are only exemplified but are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
As shown in FIG. 4A, a coordinate axis 6 can be constituted by the first vector and the second vector if the first vector is orthogonal to the second vector. Accordingly, the ratio of the first projection 71 and the second projection 72 is equal to the tangent function of the included angle θ, namely:
Accordingly, the calculation formula of the included angle θ is:
As shown in FIG. 4B, the analysis device 15 can calculate the included angle θ between the cardiac axis 7 and the coordinate axis 6 using the above-mentioned calculation formula. The included angle θ is changed when the first analog differential signal and the second analog differential signal measured by the electrodes 11-13 are changed. As a result, the angle change value of the cardiac axis 7 is generated when the included angle θ between the cardiac axis 7 and the coordinate axis 6 is changed.
See FIG. 3 again, a cardiac axis angle change waveform is generated according to the plural angle change values which are continuously acquired by the analysis device 15 (S24).
As shown in FIG. 1, the analysis device 15 is wirelessly connected to a user terminal 2 and the user terminal 2 provides a display device thereon. In this embodiment, the user terminal 2 can be a smart mobile device, a tablet PC, or a notebook computer, but not limited. After generating the cardiac axis angle change waveform, the analysis device 15 transmits the cardiac axis angle change waveform to the user terminal 2, and the cardiac axis angle change waveform is displayed on the user terminal 2 (S26). In addition, a display unit can be installed in the analysis device 15 or on the physical measurement clothing 3 to directly display the cardiac axis angle change waveform from the analysis device 15 or the physical measurement clothing 3.
More specifically, the analysis device 15 generates the cardiac axis angle change waveform according to the continuous angle change values and outputs the cardiac axis angle change waveform to the display device for displaying the cardiac axis angle change waveform. In other embodiments, however, the analysis device 15 can directly output the continuous angle change values on the display device, thus directly displaying the continuous angle change values. Also, the continuous angle change values constitute the cardiac axis angle change waveform. However, these examples are for demonstration and not for limitation of the present disclosure.
After the step (S26), the system judges whether the measurement operation is finished (S28). That is, it is to judge whether the system is turned off or not, or to judge whether the electrodes 11-13 are non-contact to the participant. If the measurement operation is not finished, it is to return to the step (S10). Therefore, the electrodes 11-13 continuously measure the first analog differential signal and the second analog differential signal, the ECG processing device 14 continuously executes the signal processing procedure and the signal conversion procedure, and the analysis device 15 continuously calculates the angle change values to generate the cardiac axis angle change waveform.
The cardiac axis 7 would be relatively displaced to the thoracic cavity when a human breathes. Accordingly, two orthogonal Lead ECG signals, such as the Lead-I digital signal 51 and the Lead-II digital signal 52 are provided to calculate the angle change value of the cardiac axis 7. In addition, the frequency of the cardiac axis angle change waveform is highly positive correlation to the human respiratory frequency.
Reference is made to FIG. 5 which is a schematic view of waveform comparison according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates an upper envelope of a single-Lead ECG measurement waveform 81, a cardiac axis angle change waveform 82, and an actual respiratory signal measurement waveform 83. The upper envelope of the single-Lead ECG measurement waveform 81 is an upper envelope of the Lead-I digital signal 51 or an upper envelope of the Lead-II digital signal 52. The single-Lead ECG measurement waveform 81 is not suitable for the prediction of respiratory conditions of the participant because the upper envelope of the single-Lead ECG measurement waveform 81 is significantly different from the actual respiratory signal measurement waveform 83 as shown in FIG. 5.
Obviously, the cardiac axis angle change waveform 82 is quite similar to the actual respiratory signal measurement waveform 83 as shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the cardiac axis angle change waveform 82 is directly used to be the respiration-related signals for approximating respiratory conditions of the participant.
Especially, the ECG signals measured by the electrodes 11-13 are not affected by the respiration-related signals. Also, one of the three electrodes 11-13 can be grounded as a reference electrode to provide a reference signal.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the electrodes 11-13 are installed on the physical measurement clothing 3, and the first electrode 11 is preferably grounded as a reference level to provide the reference signal. The preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 2, however, the operator (user) can adjust the arrangement of the electrodes 11-13 on the physical measurement clothing 3 in accordance with the actual demand.
Reference is made to FIG. 6 which is a schematic view of an electrode configuration according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, the first electrode 11 is installed to firmly adhere at a second quadrant of a plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on a physical measurement clothing 31, namely the first electrode 11 is installed to firmly adhere above the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the left of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 6. The second electrode 12 is installed to firmly adhere at a first quadrant of the plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on the physical measurement clothing 31, namely the second electrode 12 is installed to firmly adhere above the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the right of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 6. The third electrode 13 is installed to firmly adhere at a third quadrant of the plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on the physical measurement clothing 31, namely the third electrode 13 is installed to firmly adhere below the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the left of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 6.
In this embodiment, a distance between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 is preferably greater than a horizontal width of the participant's heart; and a distance between the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13 is preferably greater than a vertical height of the participant's heart.
As shown in FIG. 6, the first analog differential signal is measured via the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 by the ECG processing device 14; and the second analog differential signal is measured via the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13 by the ECG processing device 14. In particular, the first electrode 11 or the third electrode 13 is preferably grounded as a reference level to provide the reference signal.
Reference is made to FIG. 7 which is a schematic view of an electrode configuration according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7, the first electrode 11 is installed to firmly adhere at a third quadrant of a plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on a physical measurement clothing 32, namely the first electrode 11 is installed to firmly adhere below the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the left of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 7. The second electrode 12 is installed to firmly adhere at a fourth quadrant of the plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on the physical measurement clothing 32, namely the second electrode 12 is installed to firmly adhere below the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the right of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 7. The third electrode 13 is installed to firmly adhere at a first quadrant of the plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on the physical measurement clothing 32, namely the third electrode 13 is installed to firmly adhere above the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the right of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 7.
In the embodiment, a distance between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 is preferably greater than a horizontal width of the participant's heart; and a distance between the second electrode 12 and the third electrode 13 is preferably greater than a vertical height of the participant's heart.
As shown in FIG. 7, the first analog differential signal is measured via the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 by the ECG processing device 14; and the second analog differential signal is measured via the second electrode 12 and the third electrode 13 by the ECG processing device 14. In particular, the first electrode 11 is preferably grounded as a reference level to provide the reference signal.
Reference is made to FIG. 8 which is a schematic view of an electrode configuration according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 8, the first electrode 11 is installed to firmly adhere at a third quadrant of a plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on a physical measurement clothing 33, namely the first electrode 11 is installed to firmly adhere below the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the left of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 8. The second electrode 12 is installed to firmly adhere at a fourth quadrant of the plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on the physical measurement clothing 33, namely the second electrode 12 is installed to firmly adhere below the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the right of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 8. The third electrode 13 is installed to firmly adhere at a second quadrant of the plain defined by the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the cardiac vertical line 42 on the physical measurement clothing 33, namely the third electrode 13 is installed to firmly adhere above the cardiac horizontal line 41 and the left of the cardiac vertical line 42 viewed from the front of FIG. 8.
In the embodiment, a distance between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 is preferably greater than a horizontal width of the participant's heart; and a distance between the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13 is preferably greater than a vertical height of the participant's heart.
As shown in FIG. 8, the first analog differential signal is measured via the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 by the ECG processing device 14; and the second analog differential signal is measured via the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13 by the ECG processing device 14. In particular, the first electrode 11 or the third electrode 13 is preferably grounded as a reference level to provide the reference signal.
In conclusion, only the three electrodes 11-13 installed on the physical measurement clothing 31-33 are used to measure the respiratory conditions of the participant, thereby improving convenience and significantly reducing costs due to the absence of external devices or sensors.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20160128591
