HU208600B - Circuit arrangement and method for transmitting ekg-signals from the place of measurement to and indicator in the centre - Google Patents

Abstract

- (Dwg.1/1)

Description

(31a) forming the data input (3a) of the signal processing unit (3), connected to the storage output (31b) of the data storage unit (4), the data input (3d) of the output signal generating circuit (32) Connected to (32a), a program input (31c), a program store (51) output (51a), a timer input (3g), a first timing circuit (33) output (33a), and an output signal generating circuit (32). a sine-board input (32c) is connected to an output (52a) of a sine-board store (52), a second output (32b) of a timing circuit (32d) is connected to a timer input (32d) and a data processing unit (3b) is connected. ) data output (3d) and the control input (le) of the ECG signal amplifier (1) to the ECG signal amplifier control output (3f) of the signal processing unit (3), the input and output of the signal processing unit (3) telephone line interface (3e) the telephone line interface (7) is connected to the input (7c) of the controller.

The present invention also provides a method for transmitting ECG signals from a measuring location to a central display device, wherein the ECG signals are measured by an ECG sensor, processed, and then transmitted over a telephone line to a fax machine in the center. analog signals from the sensor are amplified by an ECG signal amplifier and digitized by an A / D converter. It is characterized in that the digitized signals are placed continuously in a data storage unit (4) and after the measurement is completed, the signal processing unit (3) produces an image of the ECG curve, which is divided into white and black line sections in phase-modulated sine voltage transmitting it to the telephone line (8), for which the values necessary for generating the sinusoidal voltage are stored in digital form in a sine-table storage (52). The digital values for each sinusoidal voltage are transmitted to the output signal generating circuit (32) at a rate from the timing circuit (33), where it is modulated in phase as a function of the phase shift carrying the data content of that pixel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for transmitting ECG signals from a measurement location to a center display device comprising an ECG sensor, a signal processing unit coupled between an ECG sensor and a telephone line, and an ECG signal output to the ECG sensor output. the amplifier input is connected, the ECG signal amplifier output is connected via the A / D converter to the data input of the signal processing unit, now the data output of the signal processing unit is connected to the D / A converter input, and the D / A converter output is connected by telephone line interface .

The present invention also relates to a method of operating a circuit arrangement in which the ECG signals are measured by an ECG sensor, processed, and then transmitted over a telephone line to a fax machine in the control panel, while amplifying the ECG signal from the ECG sensor. amplified and digitized by A / D converter.

As medical diagnostics progressed, there was a strong demand for performing ECG measurements in patients' homes without the presence of a physician and transmitting the measured signals to a central user location.

A possible embodiment of the task is to perform a measurement using a conventional ECG device and then transmit the measurement results to a fax machine at the evaluation center.

The disadvantage of this solution is that the ECG curve suffers from quality degradation during optical scanning that in many cases it becomes invaluable.

It is also unfavorable to have expensive equipment (ECG, printer, fax) placed in the patient.

U.S. Patent Nos. 3,920,005 and 3,872,552 exemplify a solution in which ECG signals, such as analog signals, modulate the carrier frequency transmitted over a telephone line to a specific receiving device.

The disadvantage of this solution is that since there is no data compression, the transmission takes as long as the measurement time. It is also a disadvantage that multiple channels are difficult to transmit and signal quality can be degraded during transmission over the telephone line.

A more advanced solution is illustrated in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,622,979, 4,700,378, 4,736,407, 4,751,126 and 4,759,053. A common feature of this solution is that the information containing the ECG waveform is transmitted in digital form over a telephone line and converted to an audio frequency signal.

They also share a separate MODEM unit for converting the processed signals of the ECG waveforms into an audio frequency signal.

so e.g. U.S. Patent No. 4,622,979 discloses a frequency modulator constructed from discrete elements, while U.S. Patent No. 4,752,726 employs a factory modem chip (XE1203).

A common disadvantage of the above solutions is that the high cost and power consumption of the currently used FAX MODEM chips do not allow the production of a cheap and longer-lasting ECG device for use in the patient's home and only a dedicated receiving station (computer with modem unit and appropriate software) may be used to transmit information, which equipment must be purchased and maintained for this purpose only.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a circuit arrangement and method that makes it easier, faster and less expensive to transmit ECG signals than known solutions.

HU 208,600 Β

The inventive idea is based on the discovery that the object of the present invention can be accomplished by processing the ECG signals after amplification and generating an encoded sequence of processed signals electronically that allows any further transmission to the receiving side of the telephone line. displaying ECG waveforms on a fax machine without action.

According to an object of the present invention, the circuit arrangement of the present invention for transmitting ECG signals from a measuring location to a central display means comprising an ECG sensor, a signal processing unit coupled between the ECG sensor and a telephone line, and an ECG the ECG signal amplifier input is connected to the sensor output, the ECG signal amplifier output is connected to the A / D converter data input, the data processing unit data output is then connected to the D / A converter input, and the D / A converter output is connected to the telephone line. unit is connected to the telephone line - configured by assigning to the signal processing unit a data storage unit and a program storage unit, the signal processing unit controlling circuit, an output signal generating circuit and a timer contains a circuit, the program storage unit actuator program storage and a sine-table storage, the control circuit data input is the signal processing unit data input, the storage input is connected to the data storage unit input and output, the output signal circuit input data program input, the output of the program memory, the first output of the timing circuit is connected to the timer input, the sine board input of the output signal generator is connected, the second output of the timing circuit is connected to the timer input, and the data output of the signal processing unit and the ECG signal amplifier control input to the signal processing unit's ECG signal amplifier control output, and the signal processing unit's telephone line interface controller input and output to the telephone line interface controller input, and connected to its output.

A further feature of the invention may be that the ECG signal amplifier electrode is provided with amplifiers, the electrode amplifier is connected to a multiplexer, and the multiplexer control input is connected to the ECG signal amplifier control output of the control circuit.

In a further embodiment, the control input of the telephone line interface unit is connected to the telephone line interface control output of the control circuit.

The present invention provides a method for transmitting ECG signals from a measuring location to a center display device, wherein the ECG signals are measured using an ECG sensor, processed, and then transmitted over a telephone line to a fax machine at the control panel, with an ECG signal from the ECG sensor. Amplifier amplifies and digitizes it via A / D converter - based on placing the digitized signals continuously in a data storage unit and then completing the measurement generates an ECG waveform image in a signal processing unit, which is divided into white and black line sections by the fax machine in the center is transmitted to the telephone line in the form of phase-modulated sine-wave voltages which can be processed, to which the values necessary for generating the sine-voltage are digitally stored the digital values associated with each sinusoidal voltage are transmitted to the output signal generating circuit at a rate of a timing circuit signal, whereby it is modulated in phase as a function of the phase shift carrying the data content of that pixel.

In a preferred embodiment, the digital signal generated in the output signal generating circuit generates a phase modulated sine analog signal through a D / A converter which is transmitted to the telephone line via a telephone line interface unit.

In any of the embodiments, the control circuit generates and transmits the signals needed to call and identify the fax machine in the exchange after completing the measurement, and before transmitting data, to the telephone line via the telephone line interface unit.

The circuit arrangement and method according to the invention have several advantageous properties. The most important of these is that the transmitting side is simple to use and inexpensive, while the receiving side can display ECG curves on the increasingly widespread and cheaper fax machines without any further action.

It is also advantageous that the receiving side can be varied arbitrarily due to the use of fax machines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. The attached drawings show

Figure 1 is a general block diagram of a circuit arrangement according to the invention, a

Figure 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the circuit arrangement of Figure 1, a

Figure 3 is a flowchart of the method implemented by the circuit arrangement of Figure 1, a

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of transmitting the phase modulated signal.

Figure 1 shows a general block diagram of a circuit arrangement according to the invention. The output (9a) of the ECG sensor (9) is connected to the input (Ia) of the ECG signal amplifier (1).

The output (1b) of the ECG signal amplifier (1) is connected to the input (2a) of the A / D converter (2). The output (2b) of the A / D converter (2) is connected to the data input (3a) of the signal processing unit (3). The output of the ECF signal amplifier control unit (3f) is connected to the ECG signal amplifier control (1) input (1).

The storage input and output of the signal processing unit (3b) are connected to the data input (4a) of the storage unit (4). The program output (5a) of the program storage unit (5) is connected to the program input (3c) of the signal processing unit (3).

HU 208,600 Β

The data output (3d) of the signal processing unit (3) is connected to the input (6a) of the D / A converter (6). The output (6b) of the D / A converter (6) is connected to the input (7a) of the telephone line interface unit (7). The output (7b) of the telephone line interface (7) is connected to the telephone line (8) and the input and output of the controller (7c) are connected to the input and output of the telephone line interface controller (3e) of the signal processing unit (3).

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a possible embodiment of the circuit arrangement of Figure 1.

In this embodiment, the signal processing unit (3) has a control circuit (31), an output signal generating circuit (32) and a timing circuit (33). The program storage unit (5) is provided with an operating program storage (51) and a sine-table storage (52).

The output (2b) of the A / D converter (2) is connected to the data input (31a) of the control circuit (31) forming the input (3a) of the signal processing unit (3). The storage input and output of the signal processing unit (3b) is formed by the storage input (31b) of the control circuit (31) connected to the data input (4a) of the storage unit (4).

The data output (3d) of the control circuit (31) is connected to the data input (32a) of the output signal generating circuit (32). The data output (32b) of the output signal generating circuit (32) forms the data output (3d) of the signal processing unit (3) and is connected to the input (6a) of the D / A converter (6).

The output (51a) of the operating program storage (51) of the program storage unit (5) to the program input (31c) of the control circuit (31), while the output (52a) of the sine table storage (52) is the output circuit (32c). ) is connected to the input of a sine table.

The first output (33a) of the timing circuit (33) is connected to the timing input (3g) of the control circuit (31), and the second output (33b) is connected to the timing input (32d) of the output signal generating circuit (32).

The ECG signal amplifier control output of the signal processing unit (3f) is the ECG signal amplifier control output (31) of the control circuit (31) and the telephone line interface controller (3e) is the input and output of the telephone line interface controller (3e). consists of inputs and outputs.

The ECG signal amplifier (11a) has electrode amplifiers (11a ... 1 In), the input of which forms the input (Ia) of the ECG signal amplifier (1). The outputs of the electrode amplifiers (11a ... 1 In) are connected to the multiplexer input (12). The output of the multiplexer (12) forms the output (1b) of the ECG signal amplifier (1). The control input (12a) of the multiplexer (12) is connected to the ECG signal amplifier control output (31f) of the control circuit (31).

The circuit arrangement described above implements the process of the present invention as follows:

The signals from the ECG sensor (9) are amplified and band limited by the amplifiers (11a ... 1 In) of the ECG signal amplifier (1).

These signals are applied successively to the A / D converter (2) by means of the multiplexer (12), which preferably produces ten-bit digital signals.

These digital signals are transmitted to the data storage unit (4) via the control circuit (31).

Upon completion of the measurement, the signal processing unit (3) generates a series of data representing the ECG curves from the digital signals stored in the data storage unit (4).

This data set is transmitted to the telephone line (8) via the D / A converter (6) and the telephone line interface unit (7). The data transfer process is shown in Figure 3.

In generating a data set representing ECG curves, the timing circuit 33 and the output signal generating circuit 32 are configured such that each clock signal of the timing circuit 33 receives the output signal 32 from the sine table storage. next item. After each drawn complete sine wave, the control circuit (31) reprograms the output signal generating circuit (32) to begin drawing another sine wave.

In the case of a phase jump (which carries the digital information), the control circuit (31) sets not the next starting point of the sine waveform (52) to the next point of the sine wave, but to a point on the sine table where begins a stored sequence of elementary points of a sinusoidal phase transition filtered with a raised cosine filter for a given phase transition (see Figure 4)

The output signal generating circuit 32 transmits the readings from the sinusoidal memory 52 to the D / A converter 6, the output of which has a phase-modulated sine voltage output to the telephone line via the telephone line interface.

Thus, by the above method, a phase modulated sine signal is required for the receiving facsimile machine so that the receiving facsimile machine will display curves corresponding to the ECG signals.

The circuit arrangement and method of the present invention are advantageously applicable to conducting a patient's home after surgery, heart disease patients, and medical therapy.

Claims (6)

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Circuit arrangement for transmitting ECG signals from a measuring location to a center display means comprising an ECG sensor, a signal processing unit coupled between an ECG sensor and a telephone line, and an ECG sensor output for an ECG sensor output. its input is connected, the ECG signal amplifier output is connected via the A / D converter to the data input of the signal processing unit, the data output of the signal processing unit is then connected to the D / A converter input, and the D / A converter output is connected by a telephone line interface , characterized in that a data storage unit (4) and a program storage unit (5) are associated with the signal processing unit (3), the signal processing unit controlling circuit (31), The HU 208 includes a 600 Β control circuit (32) and a timing circuit (33), the program storage unit (5) is provided with an operating program memory (51) and a sine table memory (52), the data input (31a) of the control circuit (31). forming the data input (3a) of the signal processing unit (3), the input and output (4a) of the data storage unit (4a) connected to the input and output of the storage unit (3a) and the data input of the output signal generating circuit (32) Connected to (32a), the program input (31c), the output (51a) of the program store (51), the first output (33a) of the timing circuit (33a) connected to the timer input (31g), and a sine board for the output signal (32). its input (32c) is connected to the output (52a) of the sine board (52), its timing input (32d) is connected to the second output (33b) of the timing circuit (33) and the data output (32b) of the signal processing unit (3) (3d), plus the ECG signal amplifier (1) control input (down) to signal processing unit (3) ECG signal amplifier control output (3f) and signal processing unit (3) telephone line interface control input and output (3e) telephone line interface control (7) controller is connected to its input and output (7c). Circuit arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the ECG signal amplifier (1) is provided with electrode amplifiers (IIa ... IInn), the electrode amplifiers (IIa ... IInn) are connected to a multiplexer (12). and the control input (12a) of the multiplexer (12) is connected to the ECG signal amplifier control output (3 lf) of the control circuit (31). The switching arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control input and output (7c) of the telephone line interface unit (7) is located on the control line input and output (3 le) of the control circuit (31). connected. 4. A method of transmitting ECG signals from a measuring location to a central display device, wherein the ECG signals are measured using an ECG sensor, processed, and then transmitted over a telephone line to a fax machine at the control panel, amplifying the signals by means of an ECG amplifier and digitizing them by means of an A / D converter characterized in that the digitized signals are continuously placed in a data storage unit (4), and after the measurement is completed, an image of the ECG curve is generated in subdivided into white and black line sections, transmitting to the telephone line (8) in the form of a phase modulated sine voltage which can be processed by the fax machine in the center, for which the values needed to produce sine voltage are digitally stored in a sine table (52), transmitting the digital values for each sinusoidal voltage to the output signal generating circuit (32) at a rate from the signal of the timing circuit (33), where it is modulated in phase as a function of the phase shift carrying the data content of that pixel. The method of claim 4, wherein said digital signal generated in said output signal generating circuit (32) generates a phase modulated sine analog signal through a D / A converter (6) and is transmitted to said telephone line via a telephone line interface unit (7). Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, after the measurement is completed, the control circuit (31) generates and transmits the signals necessary to call and identify the fax machine in the exchange before starting the data transmission to the telephone line interface unit (31). 7) via the telephone line (8).