JP2004209024A - Electrocardiograph - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrocardiograph by which an electrocardiographic waveform can easily be measured, displayed and transmitted in occurrence of the event of a subject. <P>SOLUTION: This electrocardiograph is provided with at least : a main body case held on the chest especially the front surface of the sternum of the patient; a pair of arm parts extending to both of the sides by a prescribed length from this main body case; a first electrode provided on the side of the chest of the subject of the main body case; the second and third electrodes provided at the tips of the pair of the arm parts; and an electrocardiograph detection means for detecting the electrocardiograph of the patient based on a signal from the first, second and third electrodes. It is desirable that the first, second and third electrodes are provided respectively at prescribed intervals, that an interval between the second and third electrodes ranges 55 mm to 65 mm, and that an interval between the first electrode and the second and third electrodes ranges 60 mm to 70 mm. Thus, the electrocardiographic waveform including P-wave and QRS can be detected even from on a garment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a so-called pendant type which is held by suspending the subject on the chest, particularly the anterior chest (front of the sternum), and detects an electrocardiogram waveform when the subject has a seizure, and displays and transmits the electrocardiogram waveform. Related to an electrocardiograph that can be used.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Electrocardiographs can be broadly classified into 12-lead electrocardiographs and holter electrocardiographs that can be configured. The 12-lead electrocardiograph is a large-sized electrocardiograph used in a rearranging examination room or the like of a medical institution, and basically measures a short-term precise electrocardiogram at rest.
[0003]
Since the Holter monitor (for example, Patent Document 1) is portable, it can detect an electrocardiogram waveform continuously for 24 hours, so that an electrocardiogram waveform in daily life other than at rest can be obtained as data. it can. However, since most of the measured data is normal data, there is a problem that an abnormal electrocardiogram waveform cannot be easily captured. For this reason, many event-type electrocardiographs (for example, Patent Literature 2) that can measure an electrocardiogram when chest tightness, pain, or the like (event) occur have been commercialized.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-224917 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-5-123302
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional event-type electrocardiographs are all unipolar leads, and the subject has to hold one electrode in his hand, open the chest, and apply the measurement to the chest. This is a very troublesome task when there is a feeling of pressure on the chest or when there is pain in the chest, and it is almost impossible for the subject having the event to measure.
[0006]
In addition, the electrocardiographs disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have a disadvantage that the main body must be carried by a carry bag or a belt, and the electrode must be kept attached to a predetermined location. .
[0007]
In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrocardiograph capable of easily measuring an electrocardiogram waveform when an event of a subject occurs, and displaying and transmitting the electrocardiogram.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, the electrocardiograph according to the present invention includes a main body case held on the chest, particularly the front of the sternum, a pair of arms extending from the main body case to both sides for a predetermined length, A first electrode provided on the chest side, second and third electrodes provided on the tips of the pair of arms, and an electrocardiogram of the subject based on signals from the first, second and third electrodes. And an electrocardiogram detecting means for detecting. Further, the second and third electrodes are located in a horizontal direction with respect to the subject, and the first electrode is located at a predetermined distance in a vertical direction from an intermediate point between the second and third electrodes. It is desirable. This arrangement makes it possible to measure so-called P-waves and QRS satisfactorily.
[0009]
Preferably, the first, second, and third electrodes are provided at predetermined intervals, and the interval between the second and third electrodes is in a range of 55 mm to 65 mm. It is desirable that the distance between the first electrode and the second and third electrodes is in the range of 60 mm to 70 mm. Further, the interval between the second and third electrodes is desirably 60 mm, and the interval between the first electrode and the second and third electrodes is correspondingly around 67 mm. Is desirable. Thereby, it is possible to measure a precise electrocardiogram waveform including the P wave and the QRS.
[0010]
Further, the first, second and third electrodes are desirably non-paste electrodes, and a spring is provided at a tip of the spring for contacting an electric circuit of an electric board disposed in the main body case. It is preferable that at least a conductive magnet, a conductive plate detachable from the magnet, and a conductive gel fixed to the magnetic plate be used. As a result, it is possible to measure the electrocardiogram waveform including the P wave and the QRS even from the clothing.
[0011]
Further, a switch means is provided for starting the detection of an electrocardiogram by, for example, pressing the main body case against the chest of the subject so as to bring the first, second and third electrodes into contact with the chest. A switch means may be provided on the front surface of the main body case, and may start the detection of an electrocardiogram when both are pressed simultaneously for a predetermined time.
[0012]
Preferably, the apparatus further comprises transmitting means for transmitting the electrocardiogram detected by the electrocardiogram detecting means to a predetermined device, and further comprises a display means provided on the main body case and displaying the electrocardiogram detected by the electrocardiographic detecting means. It is desirable to have.
[0013]
Furthermore, the first electrode may be a common electrode, the second electrode may be a positive electrode, the third electrode may be a negative electrode, the first electrode may be a positive electrode, The second electrode may be a common electrode, and the third electrode may be a negative electrode.
[0014]
Further, the main body case is preferably suspended from the neck by the suspension means and held on the chest of the subject, particularly on the front of the sternum.Furthermore, a pulse is applied to the contact part of the suspension means with the subject's neck. A pulse detecting means for detecting the pulse may be provided. Furthermore, it is desirable that the suspension means be detachable from the main body case.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
1A and 1B show an example of an electrocardiograph according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The electrocardiograph 1 is suspended from the neck by a strap 2 and held on the subject's anterior chest, particularly on the front of the sternum, and a pair of electrode arms 4 extending from the body case 3 to both sides. It is constituted by and. A first electrode (common electrode in this embodiment) 5 is provided on the side surface 3a of the body case 3 on the human body side, and a second electrode and a third electrode ( An electrocardiogram waveform detection electrode) 6 is provided. Generally, one of the electrocardiogram waveform detection electrodes 6 is a positive electrode and the other is a negative electrode.
[0017]
Further, the common electrode 5 and the electrocardiogram waveform detection electrode 6 are non-paste electrodes made of a synthetic resin having electrical conductivity, for example, a synthetic resin containing carbon fibers. By using this non-paste electrode, it is possible to detect P-waves and QRS even from above clothing.
[0018]
On the front surface 3b of the main body case 3, a display screen 7 composed of an LCD panel, a pair of activation switches 8a and 8b, and an audio display unit 9 in which a speaker is installed are provided. In this embodiment, the sound display unit 9 is a buzzer. However, the sound display unit 9 may perform sound notification, warning, and the like.
[0019]
The strap 2 is made of a string, a chain, or the like, and is provided with a bonding magnet 40 at a tip portion thereof, and is provided at a predetermined position on a side portion of the case main body 3 shown in FIG. The case body 3 is held in front of the subject's sternum by adhering the magnet 40 to the adhesive plate 41 made of a magnetic material such as iron or stainless steel. As a result, the electrodes can be arranged at predetermined positions on the front surface of the sternum at predetermined intervals, so that an electrocardiogram waveform, particularly, a P wave and a QRS can be detected. Further, when a certain degree or more of force is applied to the strap 3, the magnet 40 is detached from the adhesive plate 41, so that it is possible to prevent a subject's neck suspension accident or the like.
[0020]
An electric circuit 10 for detecting, displaying and transmitting an electrocardiogram waveform from the signals detected by the electrodes 5 and 6 is provided inside the main body case 3. FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an example of processing in the electric circuit.
[0021]
In this block diagram, a signal detection unit 12 detects an analog electrocardiogram waveform signal based on a change in a current value, a change in a voltage value, a change in impedance, and the like generated between the electrodes 5 and 6. The AD converter 14 converts the analog electrocardiogram waveform signal into a digital signal so that the signal can be calculated by the calculator 16. The arithmetic unit 16 includes at least a central processing unit (CPU) (not shown), a random accelerator memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an input / output port (I / O), and the like. The signal is calculated and converted into an output signal, and the signal detector 12, the AD converter 14, a display 18, and a transmitter 20, which will be described later, are controlled. Further, the arithmetic unit 16 may detect the pulse rate from the electrocardiogram waveform. In a normal state, the electrocardiogram waveform calculated by the arithmetic unit 16 may be stored in the storage unit 24, and the presence / absence and degree of abnormality may be calculated by comparing with the electrocardiogram waveform determined at the time of the event. Things.
[0022]
Further, a switch control unit (SW control unit) 22 is connected to the start switches 8a and 8b, determines that both of them are turned on for a predetermined time, for example, 5 seconds, starts the arithmetic unit 16, and starts various control. Is to execute.
[0023]
Further, the display unit 18 displays the electrocardiogram waveform calculated by the calculation unit 16 on the display screen 7, and may display not only the electrocardiogram waveform but also the pulse rate and the like.
[0024]
The transmission unit 20 transmits an electrocardiogram waveform according to an instruction from the arithmetic unit 16. In this embodiment, since the subject may be wearing a pacemaker, it is once transmitted to the receiving unit 32 attached to the transmitting device 30 such as the mobile phone shown in FIG. The transmitting device 30 held in the waist or the bag transmits the data to the monitoring center or the computer of the attending physician again. As another configuration, there is a power source such as a battery (not shown).
[0025]
An example of the control executed by the electric circuit 10 having the above configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart started from step 100 shown in FIG. 3. First, in step 110, it is determined whether or not the start switch 8a (SW1) is pressed (ON? ) Is determined, and in step 120, it is determined whether or not the activation switch 8b (SW2) is pressed (ON?). In this determination, the process proceeds to step 130 only when both of the start switches 8a and 8b are pressed at the same time. In step 130, the state in which both of the start switches 8a and 8b are pressed continues for t seconds (for example, 5 seconds). It is determined whether or not it is.
[0026]
In the above steps 110, 120, and 130, it is confirmed that the subject wants to measure the electrocardiogram waveform only when both of the start switches 8a and 8b are pressed for t seconds. That is, an event (eg, chest pain) occurs in the subject, and the subject presses the start switches 8a, 8b on the main body case 3 for, for example, 5 seconds so that the subject presses the electrocardiograph 1 on the chest. It can be determined.
[0027]
Thus, the process proceeds to the next step 140, in which the buzzer for starting the measurement is sounded to inform the subject that the measurement is to be started. In this embodiment, the start of measurement is notified to the subject by sounding a short buzzer twice. Then, proceeding to step 150, the electrocardiogram waveform or the electrocardiogram waveform and the pulse rate during a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds to 3 minutes) are detected, and proceeding to step 160, the buzzer for terminating the measurement is sounded. In this case, the end of the measurement is notified to the subject by sounding a short buzzer seven times.
[0028]
Then, the process proceeds to step 170, where the measured waveform is displayed on the display screen 7 for a predetermined time via the display unit 18. Thus, when the subject wants to check the measurement waveform, the electrocardiograph 1 can be taken out from the chest and the display screen 7 can be viewed. In addition, there is an advantage that a nurse can check a subject's electrocardiogram waveform when an event occurs.
[0029]
Then, the process proceeds to step 180 to transmit the measured waveform to the transmitting device 30 via the transmitting unit 20. This allows the monitoring center and the attending physician to confirm that the event has occurred in the subject and to recognize the electrocardiogram waveform at this time, so that appropriate treatment can be performed.
[0030]
Hereinafter, an electrocardiograph according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, and the same reference numerals will be used for the same portions or portions having the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment. The description is omitted here.
[0031]
In the electrocardiograph 1A according to the second embodiment, an activation switch is integrally mounted on each of the electrodes 5A and 6A. That is, by pressing the main body case 3A toward the human body, the electrodes 5A and 6A come into contact with the human body and are pressed, whereby the electrodes 5A and 6A come into contact with the circuit and start up. is there. Although this complicates the structure of the electrodes 5A and 6A, the activation switch is automatically turned on by pressing the main body case 3A so that the electrodes 5A and 6A come into strong contact with the human body. Since there is no limitation on the operation, the measurement becomes easy.
[0032]
Further, in this embodiment, by providing the activation switch integrally with the electrodes 5A and 6A, there is an effect that the display screen 7A can be enlarged.
[0033]
An electrocardiograph 1B according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 has a shape in which the above-mentioned electrocardiographs 1 and 1A are turned upside down. Specifically, the arm portion 4B extends from an upper portion of the main body case 3B, and activation switches 8a and 8b are provided at an upper portion of the main body case 3B, and an audio display portion 9 is provided at a lower portion of the main body case 3B. However, these positions are not particularly limited.
[0034]
In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B or FIG. 6, the common electrode is the second electrode 50, the plus electrode is the first electrode 60A, and the minus electrode is the third electrode 60B. It was done. The distance _{L 2} between the second electrode 50 and the third electrode 60B is in the range of 55Mm～65mm, it is desirable to set the particular 60 mm, the first electrode 60A, the second and in the vertical direction distance from the third electrode _{(L 1)} is 55～65Mm, it is desirable that especially 60 mm. Therefore, the distance (L ₃ ) between the first electrode 60A and the second electrode 50 or the third electrode 60B is about 67 mm. According to the experiment, it is possible to measure the P wave and the QRS of the electrocardiogram, which are difficult to measure with a simple electrocardiograph, in such an electrode setting.
[0035]
The electrode 80 desirably used as the first, second, and third electrodes includes a spring 81 made of a conductive material that contacts an electric circuit terminal 71 of the electric board 70, as shown in FIG. It is desirable that the spring 81 be constituted by a magnet 82 fixed to the tip of the spring 81, a plate 83 made of a magnetic material detachable from the magnet 82, and a conductive gel 84 fixed to the plate 83. . Thereby, since the electrode portion constituted by the plate 83 and the conductive gel 84 can be detachably attached to the magnet 82, even when the conductivity of the electrode portion is reduced, by replacing it, The electrode section can always maintain a good state.
[0036]
Further, since the strap 2 is hung on the neck of the subject, a pulse detection sensor 90 may be provided at a contact portion between the strap 2 and the neck as shown in FIG. Since the artery through which the pulse rate can be easily measured passes through the neck, the pulse detection sensor 90 can be disposed near the neck, so that the pulse rate can always be accurately measured.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the electrocardiograph is suspended from the neck by a strap or the like and held on the chest, and the electrocardiograph held on the front of the sternum at the time of an event occurs from the clothing on the front of the sternum. Since the ECG waveform is measured, displayed and transmitted by pressing, the ECG waveform can be detected, displayed, and transmitted without any natural movement of the subject, in other words, without any special operation. It is possible to accurately grasp the electrocardiogram waveform of the subject. Also,
[0038]
In addition, since unnecessary measurement can be omitted, power consumption can be reduced, and the life of a battery as a power source can be extended, and so forth.
[0039]
Further, since the positions and intervals of the electrodes are set, the measurement of the P-wave and the QRS becomes easy, so that a more detailed electrocardiographic waveform diagnosis can be performed.
[0038]
Furthermore, the pulse rate can be easily detected by providing a pulse detection sensor at the portion of the strap that comes into contact with the neck.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a front view of an electrocardiograph according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a rear view thereof.
FIG. 2A is a block diagram of an electric circuit housed in a main body case, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating an example of a transmission device.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control example of the electric circuit.
FIG. 4A is a front view of an electrocardiograph according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a side view thereof.
FIG. 5A is a front view of an electrocardiograph according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a rear view thereof.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a distance between electrodes.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an electrode.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a structure of a strap.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 1A, 1B Electrocardiograph 2 Strap 3, 3A, 3B Main body case 4, 4B Electrode arm 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 50, 60A, 60B Electrode 7 Display screen 8a, 8b Start switch 9 Audio display 10 Electric circuit 40 Magnet 41 Adhesive plate 80 Electrode 90 Pulse detection sensor

Claims (15)

A body case held on the subject's chest,
A pair of arms extending from the main body case to both sides of a predetermined length,
A first electrode provided on the subject's chest side of the main body case;
Second and third electrodes provided at the tips of the pair of arms,
An electrocardiograph comprising at least electrocardiogram detection means for detecting a subject's electrocardiogram based on signals from the first, second and third electrodes. The second and third electrodes are located at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction with respect to the subject, and the first electrode is vertically separated from the midpoint between the second and third electrodes by a predetermined interval. The electrocardiograph according to claim 1, wherein the electrocardiograph is located. The electrocardiograph according to claim 2, wherein a distance between the second and third electrodes is in a range of 55 mm to 65 mm. The electrocardiograph according to claim 2, wherein an interval between the first electrode and the second and third electrodes is in a range of 60 mm to 70 mm. The electrocardiograph according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first, second, and third electrodes are non-paste electrodes. The first, second, and third electrodes include a spring that contacts an electric circuit of an electric board disposed in the main body case, a conductive magnet provided at a tip of the spring, The electrocardiograph according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the electrocardiograph comprises at least a detachable conductive plate and a conductive gel fixed to the magnetic plate. A switch means for starting detection of an electrocardiogram by pressing the main body case against the chest of the subject so that the first, second and third electrodes are brought into contact with the chest. The electrocardiograph according to any one of 6. The heart according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a switch provided on the front surface of the main body case and starting detection of an electrocardiogram when both are pressed simultaneously for a predetermined time. Electric meter. The electrocardiograph according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising transmission means for transmitting the electrocardiogram detected by the electrocardiogram detection means to a predetermined device. The electrocardiograph according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a display unit provided on the main body case and displaying an electrocardiogram detected by the electrocardiogram detection unit. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a common electrode, the second electrode is a plus electrode, and the third electrode is a minus electrode. Electrocardiograph. The said 1st electrode is a positive electrode, the said 2nd electrode is a common electrode, The said 3rd electrode is a negative electrode, The Claims any one of Claims 1-10 characterized by the above-mentioned. Electrocardiograph. The electrocardiograph according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the main body case is suspended from a neck by suspension means and held on a chest of a subject. 14. The electrocardiograph according to claim 13, further comprising a pulse detecting means for detecting a pulse at a portion of the suspension means in contact with the neck of the subject. The electrocardiograph according to claim 13, wherein the suspension unit is detachable from the main body case.

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