Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/24—Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
  • A61B5/25—Bioelectric electrodes therefor
  • A61B5/279—Bioelectric electrodes therefor specially adapted for particular uses
  • A61B5/28—Bioelectric electrodes therefor specially adapted for particular uses for electrocardiography [ECG]
  • A61B5/282—Holders for multiple electrodes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/24—Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
  • A61B5/30—Input circuits therefor
  • A61B5/303—Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for acquiring electrical signals from the human body, and more particularly for acquiring electrical signals from the heart for the production of electrocardiograms.
• electrocardiograph The complexity of an electrocardiograph is determined by the number of leads, because the greater the number of leads, the more information from the heart. To date, there are electrocardiographs ranging from one to twelve leads.
• the ten electrodes are arranged as follows: • six electrodes on the chest, • four electrodes distributed at the ends of the patient's body at the wrists and ankles.
• the electrical signals picked up by the electrodes can be used by the electrocardiograph, either directly on a paper medium, or by means of a computer comprising specific software for visualization and calculations.
• Electrodes For the acquisition of electrical signals, there are two types of electrodes: either pear electrodes or pre-gelled electrodes.
• the pear electrodes are suction cups requiring the application of a gel on the area of the body of the patient receiving the electrode to allow good adhesion.
• the doctor must place the electrodes one by one at the chest points of the wrists and ankles.
• Each suction pad electrode is connected by an electrical wire to a specific input of the electrocardiograph according to its position on the patient's body.
• the pre-gelled electrodes are similar to those described in patents US 4,393,584, US 4,559,950, US 4,082,087 and EP 0 284,943 in that they comprise an adhesive structure which is placed on the patient's body. Each electrode is then connected to an electric wire via either an alligator clip or a press button.
• the self-adhesive structure comprises several electrodes according to US patent 4082087, the latter are connected to the electrocardiograph directly by electrical wires integrated into the structure.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises at least two independent connection elements respectively comprising supports each provided with electrodes connected by an electrical cable with parallel strands which are connected to an input of an acquisition card for the reception and the transmission without electromagnetic disturbance of the electrical signals coming from the electrodes to a central unit for the processing, the analysis and the edition of information.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises at least two independent connection elements comprising respectively: • two supports each provided with three electrodes connected by an electric cable which is connected to an input of the acquisition card, • two other supports each provided with two electrodes connected by an electric cable which is connected to an input of the acquisition card.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises a first connection element which is fixed on the patient's body at the level of the thorax so that each support with three electrodes is placed in a vertical direction, and from side to side. 'other of the vertical axis XX' visualizing the position of the sternum.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises a second connection element which is fixed to the patient's body in below the heart so that each support with two electrodes is directed in a substantially curved direction going down and to the right of the patient.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises an adhesive face which is covered with a protective film of paper or the like having a profile similar to that of the support in order to cover all of the surfaces of the parts.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises a protective film which is cut to form a first detachable element covering, on the one hand entirely the surface of the elongated part of the support, and on the other hand half of the surface of the rectangular part of said support, and a second detachable element which covers the other half of the remaining surface of the part of the support.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises electrodes which each have a surface covered with gel for picking up electrical signals and a surface for the electrical connection of the cable.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises electrodes which are aligned on the support so that each surface is bonded, after the removal of the first detachable element from the protective film, on the self-adhesive face of the elongated part, while each surface is glued to the adhesive face corresponding to half the surface of the rectangular part.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises electrodes which are positioned so that each connection surface covers part of the self-adhesive face of the rectangular part, not protected by the second detachable element, in order to constitute between the edge of the detachable element and the surfaces, a self-adhesive free space for the installation of the electric cable.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises a second element detachable from the protective film which is removed to release the other half of the self-adhesive face of the rectangular part to be folded around the cable and to stick to the other half to maintain said cable on the support, and protect the connections of the electric wires on the connection surface of each electrode.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises a first element detachable from the protective film which comprises a flap.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises an adhesive strip which is positioned between the cable and the folded edge of the flap of the first detachable element of the protective film in order to perfectly secure the two folded halves one on the other of the rectangular part.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises an adhesive strip which is designed to receive on one of its faces, and more particularly that located opposite the first detachable element, an advertising placard.
• the device for acquiring electrical signals comprises an electrical cable which is connected at one of its ends to a connector for its connection with the input of the acquisition card.
• Figure 1 is a schematic view showing the positioning on the body of a patient of a portion of the electrodes of an acquisition device of the prior art and the surface of the electromagnetic field induced in the loop formed by the leads.
• Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the positioning identical to that of Figure 1 of a portion of the electrodes of the acquisition device according to the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a plot obtained by the acquisition device according to the present invention and according to FIG. 3.
• Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating the placement on the body of an adult patient of all the electrodes of the acquisition device according to the present invention.
• the electrodes L and R are connected respectively via a box B to an electrocardiograph E by a cable S1 and S2 to allow the transmission of electrical signals.
• the surface of the electromagnetic field CE is induced in the loop formed by the cables S1, S2 of the electrodes L, R and the box B of the electrocardiograph E.
• the electrode L is connected to that R by a strand 50 of a cable 5 allowing the connection of the two electrodes to an acquisition card or adapter 6.
• the card 6 can be connected either directly to a central unit formed by a computer 7 provided with software for processing and editing information, or to the housing B of an electrocardiograph E known per se.
• the cable 5 consists of parallel strands assembled against each other and the number of which varies as a function of the number of electrodes to be connected to the card 6.
• the constitution of the cable 5 makes it possible to eliminate the electromagnetic field induced by the loop formed by the branches and to eliminate the electromagnetic disturbances originating from the electrical apparatuses located near the acquisition device 1.
• FIG. 5 shows the position, on the body of an adult patient P, of each electrode of the device for acquiring electrical signals 1 according to the present invention.
• the acquisition device 1 consists of two independent connection elements 80, 90 for taking electrical signals, which are arranged in different areas of the patient's body P, and each connected to a different input on the acquisition card 6.
• the first connection element 80 consists of electrodes referenced L, R, N and F.
• the references L, R, N and F are the benchmarks commonly used for the peripheral electrodes of an electrocardiograph and to facilitate the position of each electrode on the patient's body P.
• the first connection element 80 comprises four supports 4 each provided with an electrode 3 which are connected by a cable 5 to the input 10 of the acquisition card 6.
• the cable 5 consists of four parallel and independent strands 50, 51, 52, 53 connecting each electrode 3 to the input 10 of the card 6.
• the first connection element 80 is fixed to the body of the adult patient P so that each support 4 is placed to form the angles of a square substantially centered with respect to the vertical axis XX 'showing the position of the sternum.
• the second connection element 90 consists of the electrodes referenced C1C2, C3C4 and C5C6.
• the references L, R, N and F are the benchmarks commonly used for the precordial electrodes of an electrocardiograph and to facilitate users the position of each electrode on the body of patient P.
• the second connection element 90 comprises three supports 4 each provided with two electrodes 3 which are connected by another cable 5 to the input 11 of the acquisition card 6.
• the cable 5 consists of six parallel and independent strands 54 to 59 connecting each electrode 3 to the input 11 of the card 6.
• the second connection element 90 is fixed to the patient's body P below the heart and so that each support 4 with two electrodes 3 is directed in a substantially curved direction going down and to the right of the patient.
• the acquisition card or adapter 6 is connected, in this example, to an electrocardiograph E formed by a central unit 7 via a housing B.
• FIG. 6 shows a device for acquiring electrical signals 1 which is fixed and glued to the body of a child patient 2 for the production of an electrocardiogram.
• the acquisition device 1 comprises electrodes 3 bonded to supports 4, so that each electrode is connected by electrical cables 5, 5 ′ to an electrical signal acquisition card 6.
• the acquisition card 6 is connected to a central unit forming a computer 7 provided in this case with software for processing and editing the information coming from the card 6.
• the acquisition card is of the modem type comprising an integrated microprocessor which automatically manages, on the one hand the connections of the cables 5, 5 ′, and on the other hand the acquisition of the electrical signals coming from the electrodes 3 in order to keep them in memory when needed.
• the treatment software provided in the computer 7 includes basic functions, advanced functions and a patient file.
• ECG electrocardiogram
• the acquisition device 1 comprises two independent connection elements 8, 9 for taking the electrical signals, which are arranged in different zones of the patient's body 2, and each connected to a different input of the acquisition card 6.
• the first connection element 8 consists of the electrodes referenced L, R, N, F, C1 and C2.
• the references L, R, N and F are the benchmarks commonly used for the peripheral electrodes, while the references C1 and C2 are the benchmarks used for the pericordial electrodes of an electrocardiograph.
• the first connection element 8 comprises two supports 4 each provided with three electrodes 3 which are connected by a cable 5 to the input 10 of the acquisition card 6.
• the first connection element 8 is fixed on the patient's body 2 at the level of the thorax so that each support 4 with three electrodes 3 is placed in a vertical direction, and on either side of the vertical axis XX 'showing the position of the sternum.
• the second connection element 9 consists of the electrodes referenced C3, C4, C5 and C6.
• the references C3, C4, C5 and C6 are the references used for the pericordial electrodes of an electrocardiograph.
• the second connection element 9 comprises two supports 4 each provided with two electrodes 3 which are connected by another cable 5 'to another input 11 of the acquisition card 6.
• the second connection element 9 is fixed to the patient's body 2 below the heart and so that each support 4 with two electrodes 3 is directed in a substantially curved direction going down and to the right of the patient.
• FIG. 7 to 13 there is shown an example of support 4 provided for the connection elements 8, 9; 80, 90 of the acquisition device 1 according to the present invention.
• the support 4 described by way of example in FIGS. 7 to 13, comprises three electrodes 3 knowing that the other supports are identical in their structures and can, depending on the connection elements, comprise either one, two or three electrodes according to the conditions of use of the acquisition device 1 according to the present invention.
• FIG. 7 shows a support 4 produced in a woven or nonwoven strip, provided with an adhesive face 12 suitable for receiving the electrodes 3.
• the support 4 has a T-shaped profile or the like delimited by an elongated part 13 whose ends are rounded, and another rectangular part 14 of larger surface than that 13 and which extends the latter on its side of greater length.
• the self-adhesive face 12 is covered with a protective film 15 of paper or the like having a profile similar to that of the support 4 in order to cover all of the surfaces of the parts 13 and 14.
• the protective film 15 is cut to form a first detachable element 16 covering, on the one hand entirely the surface of the elongated part 13 of the support 4, and on the other hand half of the surface of the rectangular part 14 of the support 4 .
• the protective film 15 comprises a second detachable element 17 which covers the other half of the remaining surface of the part 14 of the support 4.
• FIG. 8 shows the support 4, the first detachable element 16 of the protective film 15 of which has been removed in order to release, on the one hand the self-adhesive face 12 of the elongated part 13, and on the other hand half of the self-adhesive face 12 covering the rectangular part 14.
• the removal of the element 16 makes it possible to stick to the self-adhesive face 12 of the support 4 either one, or two, or three electrodes 3 depending on the embodiment, either of the first connection element 8, 80, or of the second 9, 90 .
• the electrodes 3 have a surface 18 for taking the electrical signals and a surface 19 with a curved profile for the connection of the corresponding strands of each electric cable 5, 5 '.
• each electrode 3 is covered with a gel 20 facilitating contact with the skin of the patient 2.
• the electrodes 3 are aligned on the support 4 so that each square surface 18 is bonded to the self-adhesive face 12 of the elongated part 13, while the surface 19 with a curved profile is bonded to the uncovered area of the self-adhesive face 12 representing the half the area of the rectangular part 14.
• FIG. 9 shows the support 4 provided with electrodes 3, the number of which varies according to the embodiment of the connection element 8, 80 or of the connection element 9, 90.
• FIG. 10 shows the support 4 provided with the electrodes 3 connected to the parallel strands, for example, of the electric cable 5 which is stuck in the free space 22 of the rectangular part 14.
• the electric cable 5 is previously and partially stripped on one of its faces to release three electric wires or strands 23 to 25 out of the six in total, knowing that the other wires or strands 26 to 28 will allow the connection of the other support. 4 constituting, for example, the first connection element 8.
• the ends of the wires or strands 23 to 25 are stripped and positioned respectively on the curved surface 19 of each electrode 3 of the support 4.
• a self-adhesive film 29 fixes the wires or strands 23 to 25 on the curved surface 19 of each electrode 3 to allow connection and electrical contact between each electrode 3 and its appropriate wire or strand.
• the detachable element 17 of the protective film 15 is removed to release the other half of the adhesive face 12 of the rectangular part 14.
• the rectangular part 14 of the support 4 folded around the cable 5 is reinforced by an adhesive strip 30 made of a woven or nonwoven material.
• the adhesive strip 30 is positioned between the cable 5 and the folded edge of the flap 21 of the detachable element 16 of the protective film 15, in order to perfectly secure the two halves folded one on the other of the rectangular part 14 to avoid opening the latter.
• the adhesive strip 30 is designed to receive on one of its faces, and more particularly that located opposite the detachable element 16, an advertising poster.
• the connectors 31 connected to one end of the cables 5 and 5 ′ are of different dimensions in order to avoid any connection error at the level of the acquisition card 6 by the doctor.
• the acquisition device 1 comprises, in each configuration, two connection elements 8, 9; 80, 90 allowing the acquisition of electrical signals from the body of the adult patient P or child 2.
• the installation of the connection elements 8, 9 and 80, 90 on the body of the adult patient P or child 2 is very easy, since it suffices for the doctor to remove the detachable element 16 from the protective film 15 by pulling on the flap 21 to release the self-adhesive face 12 corresponding to the elongated part 13 of the support 4.
• the doctor then applies the supports 4 of each connection element 8, 9 or 80, 90 according to the patient and according to a determined position, so that the surfaces 18 covered with gel 20 of each electrode 3 are in contact with the skin of the patient adult P or child 2.
• the information recovered by the acquisition card 6 is transmitted either to the electrocardiograph E or to the computer 7 which will process said information using the software so that the doctor obtains the traces of the electrocardiogram of his adult patient P or child 2.
• each electrode must include an electrical signal pickup area covered or not with a gel, and an electrical connection area.
• cables 5 and 5 ′ can be produced by parallel plies of wires or strands, by printed or integrated circuits, without however changing the subject of the invention.
• doctor can complete his examination by means of an electronic stethoscope which is connected to a third input of the acquisition card 6 to carry out a phonocardiogram the results of which will be processed and analyzed by the computer software 7.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Cardiology (AREA)
• Measurement And Recording Of Electrical Phenomena And Electrical Characteristics Of The Living Body (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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• 2000
  • 2000-07-19 FR FR0009483A patent/FR2811878B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-06-28 AU AU2001270699A patent/AU2001270699A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-06-28 CA CA002418164A patent/CA2418164A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-06-28 US US10/333,411 patent/US20030191401A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-06-28 WO PCT/FR2001/002070 patent/WO2002005711A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2001-06-28 EP EP01949570A patent/EP1301122A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-06-28 CN CNB01815784XA patent/CN1203806C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-06-28 JP JP2002511655A patent/JP2004503323A/ja active Pending
• 2006
  • 2006-09-11 US US11/518,227 patent/US20070004987A1/en not_active Abandoned

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