The present invention relates to a mobile electrocardiograph (ECG) apparatus.
Auscultation, medical interviews, resting electrocardiographic tests, and the like are carried out in health examinations in order to detect cardiovascular disease; however, it is difficult to detect all cardiovascular disease from these alone. For example, there are cases in which paroxysmal arrhythmia or the like is not manifested in auscultation or electrocardiographic tests that are performed in a short time period. In order to ascertain such symptoms that present suddenly, there are mobile ECG apparatuses, such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, with which it is possible to perform electrocardiographic tests immediately when a subject experiences symptoms.
The mobile ECG apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured so as to acquire an electrocardiographic signal when a grip portion including a negative electrode and a contact portion including a positive electrode are brought into contact with the palms of the two hands of a subject, the grip portion being designed so as to be held in the hand, or when a grip portion including a negative electrode is gripped in the right hand of the subject and a contact portion including a positive electrode is brought into contact with the lower-left quadrant of the abdomen.
A mobile ECG of such description presents advantages in terms of obviating disposable electrodes, and in terms of the very low cost of operation; however, this configuration necessitates a display unit for displaying the measurement results, a memory, and a large battery for driving these devices. Therefore, a mobile ECG having the above configuration presents a drawback in being heavy, in that the muscles of the two hands or of the right hand supporting the ECG body of the apparatus are actuated, and in that contamination by myoelectric noise readily occurs.
A configuration may be adopted in which a Holter ECG is used (to avoid having to hold the apparatus in the hands) together with disposable electrodes to reduce the myoelectric noise; however, in such a case, a drawback is presented in terms of the increased cost of operation.
Prior-Art Documents
[Patent Document 1] JP-A 2005-468
In view of the above, the present invention was contrived in order to provide a mobile electrocardiograph (ECG) apparatus in which: there is no need to provide a monitor or other display unit to an ECG unit, allowing the apparatus to be commensurately reduced in size and weight; the cost of operation is reduced through the use of a handheld electrode unit; and a body-surface-adhering electrode can be used only in cases when low-noise tests are required, thus promoting ease of handling.
The main points of the present invention are described below with reference to the attached drawings.
The present invention relates to a mobile electrocardiograph (ECG) apparatus for acquiring an electrocardiographic signal upon electrodes being brought into contact with a body surface, wherein the mobile ECG apparatus is characterized by comprising an ECG unit 1 and an electrode unit that includes a plurality of induction electrodes, the ECG unit 1 being configured so as to acquire an electrocardiographic signal from the body surface potential via the electrode unit, and also being configured so as to be capable of wirelessly transmitting the electrocardiographic signal to an analyzer; the ECG unit 1 and the electrode unit furthermore being provided so as to be capable of being attached to and detached from each other by a plurality of connection parts; and the plurality of connection parts being provided with induction-electrode contact points for respectively connecting to the plurality of induction electrodes.
The present invention also relates to a mobile ECG apparatus characterized in that: the connection parts are configured from connecting members 2 provided to the ECG unit 1, and to-be-connected members 4 provided to the electrode unit; and the induction-electrode contact points 2′ are provided to at least the connecting members 2.
The present invention also relates to a mobile ECG apparatus characterized in that the ECG unit 1 is provided with signal processing means for converting the body surface potential to an electrocardiographic signal, sampling means for sampling the electrocardiographic signal obtained by the signal processing means, and transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the sampled electrocardiographic signal to an analyzer.
The present invention also relates to a mobile ECG apparatus characterized in that the electrode unit is a handheld electrode unit 3 that can be held in the hands.
The present invention also relates to a mobile ECG apparatus characterized in that the handheld electrode unit 3 is provided in a state such that at least two induction electrodes A, B are set apart from each other.
The present invention also relates to a mobile ECG apparatus characterized in that the at least two induction electrodes A, B are separated by a distance of 100 mm or more.
The present invention also relates to a mobile ECG apparatus characterized in that: the handheld electrode unit 3 is a substrate that can be held in the hands; and the at least two induction electrodes A, B are provided on the two side-end surfaces of the substrate so as to sandwich the connection parts.
The present invention also relates to a mobile ECG apparatus characterized in that: the substrate upper surface, which is substantially perpendicular to the right-side end surface on which is provided one induction electrode A from among the induction electrodes A, B, is provided with a cavity 7 for induction at the thumb at a position where contact is made by the thumb of the right hand; and the substrate lower surface, which is on the opposite side from the substrate upper surface, is provided with a cavity 8 for induction at the middle finger, the cavity 8 contacting the middle finger of the right hand.
The present invention also relates to a mobile ECG apparatus characterized in that the right-side end surface and the left-side end surface are both set in a shape so as to bend convexly outward.
The present invention also relates to a mobile ECG apparatus characterized in that the electrode unit is a body-surface-adhering electrode 11 that can adhere to the body surface.
Because the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to provide a mobile ECG apparatus in which: there is no need to provide a monitor or other display unit to an ECG unit, allowing the apparatus to be commensurately reduced in size and weight; the cost of operation is reduced through the use of a handheld electrode unit; and a body-surface-adhering electrode can be used only in cases when low-noise tests are required, thus promoting ease of handling.
Preferred examples of the present invention are concisely described below with reference to the drawings by indicating the effects of the present invention.
In cases when a handheld electrode unit 3 is used, an ECG unit 1 acquires an electrocardiographic signal in a state in which induction electrodes A, B of a handheld electrode unit 3 on which the ECG unit 1 is mounted are brought into contact with the palms of the two hands or the like of a subject such that the handheld electrode unit 3 is being gripped, the acquired electrocardiographic signal is transmitted to a personal computer (referred to below as a “PC”) or other analyzer, and the electrocardiographic signal is then analyzed.
Specifically, it is possible to transmit the electrocardiographic signal to a separate analyzer for analysis and display. This obviates the need to provide an electrocardiographic analysis mechanism, or a monitor or other display unit, to the apparatus itself, thus making it possible to correspondingly reduce the size and weight of the apparatus and battery. Accordingly, when an electrocardiographic signal is acquired using a handheld electrode unit 3, myoelectric noise is not readily mixed with the electrocardiographic signal.
Therefore, adopting a configuration in which myoelectric noise is not readily mixed with the electrocardiographic signal while the handheld electrode unit 3 is used makes it possible to easily perform highly precise tests, obviates the need to continuously use a body-surface-adhering electrode (disposable electrode), and correspondingly reduces the cost of operation.
In cases such as when noise is to be reduced as much as possible, it is possible to: attach a body-surface-adhering electrode 11, as the electrode unit, to an induction-electrode contact point on the ECG unit 1 (i.e., to connect a connecting member 2 of the ECG unit 1 and a to-be-connected member 4 of the body-surface-adhering electrode 11) without connecting the ECG unit 1 to the handheld unit 3; and bond the body-surface-adhering electrode 11 to the chest of the subject, whereby an electrocardiographic signal is acquired from the body surface potential obtained via the body-surface-adhering electrode 11.
Specifically, the present invention is configured so as to be capable of connecting a detachable electrode (or a contact part of such an electrode) to an electrode contact point on the ECG unit, thereby making it possible for an operator to properly use the apparatus in accordance with symptoms and/or conditions of a body.
Additionally, although only one type of electrocardiographic signal can be obtained in cases when the electrocardiographic signals are acquired using a handheld electrode unit 3 comprising two induction electrodes, adding an additional induction electrode to the ECG unit 1 makes it possible, e.g., to acquire electrocardiographic signals that cannot be obtained from only the two hands and reduce electrocardiographic noise. Therefore, it is possible to perform more highly precise tests.
Specific examples of the present invention are described below with reference to the diagrams.
The present example relates to a mobile ECG apparatus for acquiring an electrocardiographic signal upon electrodes being brought into contact with a body surface, wherein: the mobile ECG apparatus comprises an ECG unit 1 and an electrode unit that includes a plurality of induction electrodes; the ECG unit 1 is configured so as to acquire an electrocardiographic signal from the body surface potential via the electrode unit, and is also configured so as to be capable of wirelessly transmitting the electrocardiographic signal to an analyzer; the ECG unit 1 and the electrode unit are furthermore provided so as to be capable of being attached to and detached from each other by a plurality of connection parts; and the plurality of connection parts are provided with induction-electrode contact points for respectively connecting to the plurality of induction electrodes.
Specifically, the connection parts in the present example are configured from connecting members 2 provided to the ECG unit 1 and to-be-connected members 4 provided to the electrode unit, the connecting members 2 additionally functioning as a plurality of induction-electrode contact points 2′ for connecting to the plurality of induction electrodes. In the present example, a configuration in which a handheld electrode unit 3 comprising a substrate that can be held in the hands is used, and in which to-be-connected members 4 of the handheld electrode unit 3 and connecting members 2 (induction-electrode contact points 2′) of the ECG unit 1 are connected, is described as pertains to a method for acquiring the electrocardiographic signal.
As shown in
As shown in
In the present example, a “snap-button-type” mechanism, in which the connecting members 2 of the ECG unit 1 have barrel-shaped concave parts in the central portions thereof and the to-be-connected members 4 of the handheld electrode unit 3 have barrel-shaped convex parts for mating with the barrel-shaped concave parts, is employed as the attachment/detachment mechanism. Causing these barrel-shaped parts to matingly connect makes it possible to acquire the electrocardiographic signal from the body surface potential obtained from induction electrodes A, B. The present invention is not limited to this snap-button-type mechanism; other mechanisms, such as an electroconductive surface fastener or an electroconductive tape, may be employed as long as it is possible to ensure electroconductivity and to easily perform the attachment/detachment operation.
As shown in
In addition to the pair of induction electrodes A, B provided to the side-end surfaces of the substrate, it is also possible to provide a reference electrode C to a protruding part 5 that protrudes forward from the handheld electrode unit 3, as in other example 1 shown in
As shown in
Additionally, the substrate lower surface, which is on the opposite side from the substrate upper surface of the handheld electrode unit 3, is provided with an arcuate-groove-shaped cavity for induction from the middle finger at a position so as to contact the middle finger of the right hand when the handheld electrode unit 3 is gripped in a manner such that the one induction electrode A provided to the right-side end surface is in contact with the right hand in a range from the index finger to the ball of the thumb. The cavity 8 for induction from the middle finger is provided along a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the pair of induction electrodes A, B face. The cavity 8 for induction from the middle finger may be configured such that induction is carried out from the ring finger as well as from the middle finger.
Therefore, because the cavity 7 for induction from the thumb and the cavity 8 for induction from the middle finger are provided, it is possible to more reliably bring the right hand into contact with the one induction electrode A in a range from the index finger to the ball of the thumb when the handheld electrode unit 3 is gripped in the right hand, and to grip the handheld electrode unit 3 in a stable state. If the handheld electrode unit 3 can be stably gripped in this manner, it is possible to reduce contamination of the ECG by myoelectricity, and to obtain electrocardiographic measurements having less noise.
The right-side end surface provided with the one induction electrode A with which the right hand comes into contact and the left-side end surface provided with the other induction electrode B facing the opposite direction are both set in a shape so as to bend convexly outward. In the present example and in other example 1, the right-side end surface is similarly set in a shape so as to bend convexly outward.
Therefore, as shown in
Accordingly, in the present example and in other example 1, it is easy to perform tests in an orientation in which the handheld electrode unit 3 is gripped in the right hand such that the palm of the right hand is in contact with the one induction electrode A, and in which the other induction electrode B is pressed against the chest or another location other than the left hand (e.g., the left leg). At such time, a circuit is completed from the location on the body of the subject with which the other induction electrode B is in contact through the heart to the right hand with which the one induction electrode A is in contact, and it is possible to obtain, from the difference in potential between the one induction electrode A and the other induction electrode B, the action potential that accompanies electrical excitation produced during activity of the heart muscle of the subject; this makes it possible to measure the electrocardiographic signal.
In other example 1, the electrode C is described as a reference electrode C; however, a configuration may be adopted in which the electrode C is configured as an induction electrode that is not a reference electrode. There is a possibility that there will be more noise in this case than in a case in which a reference electrode is used, but obtaining the difference in potential between the induction electrode A and the induction electrode C, and the difference in potential between the induction electrode B and the induction electrode C, makes it possible to obtain information about two types of electrocardiographic signals. In this case, increasing the amount of information obtained makes it possible to diagnose a disease from different standpoints.
In other example 2 shown in
A configuration may be adopted such that three or more connecting members 2 (induction-electrode contact points 2′) are provided to the lower surface of the ECG unit 1, as shown in
In other example 3 shown in
As shown in
In the case of other example 3 as well, it is possible to acquire electrocardiographic signals without using a reference electrode. There may be more noise in this case than in a case in which a reference electrode is used, but because it is possible to obtain information about a greater number of types of electrocardiographic signals, diseases can be diagnosed from different standpoints.
Because the present example is configured as described above, the electrocardiographic signal can be analyzed and displayed using a separate PC or other analyzer once the electrocardiographic signal is transmitted to the analyzer. This obviates the need to provide an electrocardiographic analysis mechanism, or a monitor or other display unit, to the apparatus itself, thus making it possible to correspondingly reduce the size and weight of the apparatus and battery. When the electrocardiographic signal is acquired using a handheld electrode unit 3, myoelectric noise is not readily mixed with the electrocardiographic signal.
Therefore, achieving a configuration in which the electrocardiographic signal is not readily contaminated by myoelectric noise while using a handheld electrode unit 3 makes it possible to easily perform highly precise tests, and correspondingly reduces the cost of operation.
Additionally, in cases when noise is to be reduced as much as possible, or in other such situations, it is possible to attach a body-surface-adhering electrode 11 to the connecting members 2 (induction-electrode contact points 2′) of the ECG unit 1 without fitting the handheld electrode unit 3 into the ECG unit 1, and bond the body-surface-adhering electrode 11 to the left side of the chest of the subject, thereby acquiring an electrocardiographic signal.
Additionally, providing sub-electrode contact points 9 to the ECG unit 1 and achieving a configuration such that sub-electrodes 6 can be connected makes it possible to acquire electrocardiographic signals that cannot be obtained from only the two hands or a reference potential; therefore, it is possible to perform more highly precise tests.
Accordingly, the present example provides a highly utilitarian mobile ECG apparatus with which it is possible for an operator to properly use the apparatus in accordance with symptoms and/or conditions of a body.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2015-228944 | Nov 2015 | JP | national |