JP2004344581A - Method for mounting electrode for animal and structure of electrode for animal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely measure a physiological electric activity inside the body without giving pain to an animal at all. <P>SOLUTION: The method for mounting an electrode for the animal is to mount the electrode B on the body hair A1 of the animal A and hang it near the skin A2 of the animal A. By this, the body hair A1 which is thought as a disadvantageous condition in the conventional method for directly mounting the electrode on the skin is effectively utilized as a mounting means of the electrode B on the contrary. Furthermore, by sticking a fluid conductive body D containing an electrolyte over the skin A2 from this hung electrode B, an electric conductivity is promoted and electric conduction is attained between the skin A2 and the electrode B even when the electrode is not brought into contact with the skin. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for measuring the electrocardiographic waveform of an animal by using an electrocardiograph, for example, for the purpose of examining the health condition of an animal such as a pet or livestock covered with body hair such as a dog or cat. The present invention relates to a method for attaching an electrode to an animal, and an animal electrode structure thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to an animal electrode mounting method and an animal electrode structure for mounting an electrode on an animal body for measuring physiological electrical activity in the animal body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a method for mounting an electrode of an electrocardiograph for an animal for measuring an electrocardiographic waveform in an animal body and an electrode structure for an animal, when mounting an electrode on a limb, conventionally, the animal hair of the limb is previously shaved to expose the skin. In addition, after exfoliating the animal hair to expose the skin, an electrocardiographic electrode was directly attached to the skin. At this time, in order to increase the electrical conductivity between the skin and the electrocardiograph (to reduce the impedance), a cream or liquid substance to which a low-irritating electrolyte such as sodium chloride is added to the skin is added. Is applied to a portion attached to the electrode or sprayed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Electrocardiograph electrodes used for animals are roughly divided into two types from the time that electrocardiographs began to be used on animals, because the skin of the animal has hair and the electrodes for the human body could not be used at all. Electrodes have been used. That is, a crocodile clip-type electrode which is attached with the animal's skin sandwiched therebetween as shown in FIG. 3, and a needle-type electrode which is attached through the animal's skin as shown in FIG. Although these two types of animal-specific electrodes have undergone some design changes to date, they are basically directly and more, such as sandwiching the skin with a metal with excellent electrical conductivity (conductivity), penetrating with a needle, etc. At present, it is being used for attachment to the skin.
In FIG. 4, the tip of the needle-shaped electrode penetrating the skin is pierced with an elastic member, such as a synthetic resin sponge, which is difficult to come off. Is prevented from falling off.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-238868 (pages 2-3, FIG. 1)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional animal electrode mounting method and animal electrode structure, even if the animal is slightly violent, the animal is easily displaced or detached, so it is necessary to mount the electrode as strongly and securely as possible. Either a crocodile clip-type electrode that is attached to the animal's skin or a needle-type electrode that penetrates the animal's skin is used as an animal-specific electrode, causing some pain by stimulating the pain of the animal's skin Above all, especially in the case of nervous dogs and cats and small pets, during the work of attaching the electrode for animal use, the animal ramps up due to pain and screams, and unavoidably stop measuring the ECG waveform. There is a problem that sometimes it is unavoidable.
In addition, from the pet owner's point of view, a veterinarian who should save the sick and vulnerable animal's life, the pet's skin that he loves for measuring the electrocardiographic waveform, has a painful metal crocodile clip-type electrode Acts of pinching or piercing with a needle-type electrode look very cruel and are not reliable. For this reason, some owners begged to stop measuring ECG waveforms.
In addition, most of the animals whose ECG waveforms are to be measured are old, lack physical strength, have some illness, and are mostly nervous animals. It can be burdensome.
That is, the animal-specific electrodes up to now have the following features.
{Circle around (1)} There was a drawback that the animals suffered somewhat.
(2) Hair has been considered a disadvantageous condition for measuring electrocardiographic waveforms.
(3) Since the purpose is to attach the electrode directly to the skin in close contact, the more securely the electrode is held on the skin, the more pain will be given to the animal and the more pain the animal will have. The more contradiction it was, the more contradictory it was that the electrode was more likely to fall off the skin.
(4) There was a disadvantage that the owner's feelings were not taken into account.
Under such circumstances, veterinary medicine has long sought an animal electrode mounting method and an animal electrode structure that overcome some of the disadvantages of the features described above.
[0005]
The inventions according to claims 1 and 2 of the present invention are intended to reliably measure physiological electrical activity in the body without causing any pain to the animal.
The third aspect of the present invention has the object of securely sandwiching body hair without separately adding an elastic component to the electrode, in addition to the object of the second aspect of the present invention.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention attaches an electrode to the hair of an animal, hangs it near the skin of the animal, and extends from the suspended electrode to the skin. A flowing electric body containing an electrolyte is attached.
In the invention according to claim 2, the electrode has a grip portion for sandwiching only the hair of the animal, and the electrode is hung near the skin of the animal in a state where only the hair is sandwiched by the grip portion. It is characterized in that a gap with the skin is filled with a flowing electric body containing an electrolyte.
The invention according to claim 3 is the configuration according to claim 2, wherein the electrode is formed by bending an elastically deformable material, and a gripping portion is elastically pressed in a direction of sandwiching only animal hair. It is characterized in that a configuration is provided in which an operation section for opening the grip section in the anti-elastic direction in conjunction with a manual pressing operation is integrally formed.
[0007]
[Action]
The effect of the invention of claim 1 is that, by attaching an electrode to the animal's body hair and hanging it near the animal's skin, the body hair, which has been disadvantageous in the conventional method of attaching the electrode directly to the skin, On the contrary, it is effectively used as an attaching means, and furthermore, by attaching a flowing current-containing body containing an electrolyte from the suspended electrode to the skin, the conductivity is promoted, and the electrode is not in contact with the skin. Even so, it is possible to conduct electricity between the two.
The effect of the invention of claim 2 is that, by sandwiching only the animal's hair at the gripping portion of the electrode and suspending the electrode near the skin of the animal, the hair, which was conventionally regarded as a disadvantageous condition, is attached to the electrode. Conversely, it is effectively used as a means.Furthermore, by filling and filling a gap between the suspended electrode and the skin with a flowing current body, the conductivity is promoted, and even if the electrode is not in contact with the skin, both electrodes are contacted. The space can be energized. The operation of the invention according to claim 3 is, in addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 2, in addition to a grip portion which bends an elastically deformable material and is elastically pressed in a direction of pinching the animal hair, and By integrally forming an operating part for opening the part in the anti-elastic direction, the gripping part is opened by manually pressing the operating part, and the above operation is performed in a state where the hair is inserted between the gripping parts. When the pressing operation of the portion is released, the body hair is elastically sandwiched between the grip portions, and hardly detaches from the hair until the grip portion is pressed again.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an animal-specific electrode B attached to the body of the animal A for measuring physiological electrical activity in the body of the animal A is elastically deformable, such as a metal. A grip portion 1 that bends and forms a single band-shaped plate B ′ made of a material having excellent electrical conductivity (conductivity) to sandwich only the hair A1 of the animal A, and an operation portion 2 that opens the grip portion 1 This shows a case where they are integrally formed.
[0009]
The gripping portion 1 of the electrode B is composed of a pair of sandwiching pieces 1a, 1a opposing each other so as to be openable and closable, and these sandwiching pieces 1a, 1a are arranged to be closed in a normal state. In a state where the hair A1 of the animal A is sandwiched between the hairs 1a, 1a, in order to increase their frictional resistance, the area of the sandwiching pieces 1a, 1a in contact with the hair A1 is further increased, and the hair A1 is easily caught. It is preferable to form a concavo-convex pattern on both of the sandwiching pieces 1a, 1a so as to be as follows.
[0010]
In the case of the present embodiment, the sandwiching pieces 1a, 1a are formed in a parallel plane, and the opposing surfaces thereof are formed with a convex portion 1b and a concave portion 1c which are fitted to each other at the time of closing movement, thereby sandwiching. The hair A1 is bent along the convex portion 1b and the concave portion 1c to increase the contact area, and, for example, a locking groove 1d such as a lattice pattern is formed over the entire opposing surface. To make it harder to slip out.
[0011]
Further, in the illustrated example, a required number of through-holes 1e are formed in one or both of the sandwiching pieces 1a, 1a, and the pinching condition of the body hair A1 can be visually confirmed through the through-holes 1e.
[0012]
Then, either of the widthwise ends of either of the sandwiching pieces 1a, 1a is bent, or both widthwise ends are alternately bent to form guide portions 1f, 1f which are inclined so as to spread slightly.
[0013]
The operating portion 2 of the electrode B is composed of a pair of pressing surfaces 2a, 2a which are continuously provided to the holding pieces 1a, 1a of the gripping portion 1 so as to be movable toward or away from each other. The surfaces 2a, 2a are arranged apart from each other in a normal state, and are brought closer to each other by a manual pressing operation.
[0014]
In the case of this embodiment, the main body of the electrode B is formed by bending a single band-shaped plate B ′ made of an elastically deformable material such as a metal, so that the pressing surfaces 2a, 2a are elastically deformed in a normal state. , The clamping pieces 1a, 1a of the gripper 1 are closed, and the pressing surfaces 2a, 2a are manually pressed to approach each other to open the both clamping pieces 1a, 1a in the anti-elastic direction. Let it.
[0015]
As a specific structure thereof, a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the band-shaped plate B ′ is bent into a U-shaped cross section, and narrow portions connected to both ends of the bent portion 3 intersect with each other in an X-shaped side surface. The pinching pieces 1a, 1a of the gripping portion 1 are connected to the tip of the gripping member 4, respectively, and the pinching pieces 1a, 1a are closed using the elastic force of the bent portion 3 to restore the original state before the bending. To make surface contact.
[0016]
On the other hand, the tip of an induction cord C is connected to the electrode B by wiring, and in the case of the present embodiment, an electrocardiograph (not shown) is used as a measuring device for measuring physiological electrical activity in the animal A. Is used, and the leading end of the lead cord C communicating with the electrocardiograph is wired and connected to the bent portion 3 which does not hinder the manual operation of the operation portion 2 described above.
[0017]
Further, the electrode B is suspended close to the skin A2 of the animal A by holding the body hair A1 alone with the holding pieces 1a, 1a of the gripper 1 and then releasing the hand from the hand. In the gap between the electrode B and the skin A2 of the animal A, a flow conductor D made of, for example, a liquid or a cream containing at least an electrolyte is attached or filled by application, for example.
Here, the above-mentioned flowing electric current body D includes, for example, not only a commercially available electrocardiograph electrode cream or a drug solution sprayed by a spray as described in JP-A-2002-238868, but also a clinical solution. Almost all electrolyte solutions are included, such as possible lactolingel and saline.
[0018]
Next, such an animal electrode mounting method and animal electrode structure will be described in the order of working steps.
First, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), when the operating portion 2 of the electrode B is pinched and pressed with, for example, a finger, the holding pieces 1a, 1a of the gripping portion 1 are automatically opened and brought close to the animal A as it is. Then, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), if only the body hair A1 is sandwiched and then released, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the electrode B is hung right beside the skin A2 and is in contact with the skin A2. It is set close to the body hair A1 or air in between.
[0019]
As a result, the hair A1, which has been disadvantageous in the conventional method of directly attaching the electrode to the skin, is effectively used on the contrary as a means for attaching the animal-specific electrode B, and can be securely held regardless of the length of the hair A1. However, even if the animal A is somewhat violent, it does not come off.
[0020]
Further, a flow conductor D containing an electrolyte is attached from the suspended electrode B to the skin A2, or the gap between the electrode B and the skin A2 is filled and filled with the flow conductor D.
[0021]
Thereby, when various tests were attempted with the impedance between the electrode B and the skin A2 as a guide, even if the skin A2 and the electrode B were not in contact with each other, if they were present near the skin A2, It turned out that sufficient electrical conductivity sufficient for measuring an electrocardiogram waveform was secured.
[0022]
As a result, the pain sensation of the animal A is not stimulated at all, and there is no pain at all. Therefore, the animal A is caused to measure the electrocardiographic waveform while being calm. Without being affected, even weak physiological electrical activity (voltage) of the heart can be reliably received, whereby the electrocardiographic waveform can be measured and the electrocardiogram can be reliably collected.
[0023]
Further, in the case of this embodiment, the elastically deformable material is bent, and the gripper 1 is elastically pressed in a direction to sandwich the body hair A1 of the animal A, and the gripper 1 is opened in the anti-elastic direction. Since the operating unit 2 is formed integrally with the operating unit 2, if the operating unit 2 is manually pressed, the gripping unit 1 opens and the body unit A1 is inserted between the gripping units 1. When the pressure operation is released, the hair A1 is elastically sandwiched between the grips 1 and hardly detaches from the hair A1 until the grip 1 is pressed again.
[0024]
As a result, there is an advantage that the hair A1 can be reliably sandwiched by utilizing the elastic force of the electrode B itself without separately adding an elastic component to the electrode B.
[0025]
In particular, when the main body of the electrode B is manufactured by bending a single band-shaped plate B ′ made of an elastically deformable material such as metal instead of a combination of parts, heat (boiling) or It is compatible with any disinfection method, such as gas (ethylene oxide gas), and does not use an elastic component such as a spring coil, so that no germs remain even in gas disinfection.
[0026]
Further, as shown in the drawing, the pinch condition of the hair A1 is visually confirmed through the through hole 1e formed in at least one of the pinch pieces 1a, 1a, so that the number of pinched hairs A1 is small and the electrode B falls. When this is likely to happen, the operator can be alerted to pinch again.
[0027]
Further, by forming guide portions 1f, 1f which are inclined so as to slightly spread on at least one of the holding pieces 1a, 1a, the body hair A1 held between the holding pieces 1a, 1a can be moved at both ends in the width direction. It plays the role of a bank so as not to escape from the side, and also has a role of protecting the skin A2 from being accidentally pinched by the pinching pieces 1a, 1a.
[0028]
In the above-described embodiment, the entirety of the electrode B is formed by bending a single band-shaped plate B ′ made of a material that is elastically deformable, such as metal, and has excellent electrical conductivity (conductivity). Although the case where the operation unit 2 and the operation unit 2 are integrally formed is shown, the present invention is not limited to this case. For example, a bent wire may be used instead of the strip-shaped plate B 'except for the most part, or the whole or a part of the electrode B may be formed of an elastically deformable synthetic resin.
However, when the entirety or a part of the electrode B is formed of a synthetic resin, it is necessary to attach or fill the flow conductor D so as to conduct electricity to the induction cord C.
[0029]
Further, the holding pieces 1a, 1a of the gripping portion 1 are not limited to the shape shown in the figure, but are not shown, but have another structure such as, for example, forming one or both of the holding pieces 1a, 1a in a comb shape. And measures to prevent detachment of the body hair A1 may be taken.
[0030]
Further, when an electrocardiogram is measured and an electrocardiogram is collected by connecting a lead cord C connected to an electrocardiograph to the electrode B as a measuring device for measuring physiological electrical activity in the animal A, However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be used for measurement other than an electrocardiographic waveform such as a brain waveform and an electromyographic waveform.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention attaches an electrode to the hair of an animal and suspends the electrode close to the skin of the animal, which is disadvantageous in the conventional method of attaching the electrode directly to the skin. The body hair, which has been said to be effective, is effectively used in reverse as an electrode attaching means, and furthermore, by applying a flowing electric body containing an electrolyte from the suspended electrode to the skin, the electric conductivity is promoted. Even if the electrode is not in contact with the skin, it is possible to conduct electricity between the two, so that physiological electrical activity in the body can be reliably measured without causing any pain to the animal.
Therefore, the electrode is brought into direct contact with the skin as compared with the conventional animal electrode mounting method that uses a crocodile clip-type electrode that holds the skin of the animal as an electrode dedicated to the animal or a needle-type electrode that passes through the skin of the animal. This eliminates the need for stress, such as harm or suffering to the animal. Even animals that are too nervous to measure can now measure ECG waveforms, and since their owners do not seem to be cruel, nobody refuse to measure ECG waveforms for their pets Not only do they not need to shave or squeeze the hair to expose the skin, but veterinarians can easily perform medical treatment.
[0032]
According to the invention of claim 2, the body hair, which has conventionally been regarded as a disadvantageous condition, is used as a means for attaching the electrode by sandwiching only the animal hair at the grip portion of the electrode and suspending the electrode near the skin of the animal. On the contrary, it is effectively used, and furthermore, by filling and filling the gap between the suspended electrode and the skin with a flowing current-carrying body, the conductivity is promoted, and even if the electrode is not in contact with the skin, the gap between the two can be achieved. Since electricity can be supplied, physiological electrical activity in the body can be reliably measured without causing any pain to the animal. Therefore, it is not necessary to directly contact the electrode with the skin, as compared with a crocodile clip-type electrode that is attached across the animal's skin or a conventional animal electrode structure that uses a needle-type electrode that is attached through the animal's skin. As a result, stress such as damage and suffering to the animal is completely eliminated, and it is possible to easily measure electrocardiographic waveforms even in elderly animals with severe illness and reduced physical fitness, and it is not possible to measure with conventional animal-dedicated electrodes Even a very nervous animal can measure ECG waveforms, and since it does not seem to be a cruel act from the owner, not only will there be no people who refuse to measure ECG waveforms for their pets Veterinarians can easily perform medical treatment because there is no need to shave the body hair or scrape the skin to expose the skin.
[0033]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect of the present invention, a gripping portion is formed by bending an elastically deformable material so as to be elastically pressed in a direction of pinching an animal's hair, and the gripping portion. Is formed integrally with the operation unit for opening and closing the operation unit in the anti-elastic direction, so that when the operation unit is manually pressurized, the gripping unit is opened and the operation unit is inserted in a state in which body hair is inserted between the gripping units. When the pressing operation is released, the hair is elastically sandwiched between the gripping parts, and hardly detaches from the hair until the gripping part is pressed again, so that there is no need to separately add an elastic component to the electrode. Even so, the hair can be reliably pinched.
Therefore, the structure of the electrode can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the disinfection becomes easy and the maintenance cost can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an animal electrode structure showing one embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a perspective view showing a state before mounting, (b) is a perspective view showing a state after mounting, and (c). () Is a partially enlarged sectional view.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are enlarged perspective views of an electrode, wherein FIG. 2A is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a grip is closed, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the grip is opened.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional animal electrode structure.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional animal electrode structure.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List A Animal A1 Body hair A2 Skin B Electrode B 'Elastically deformable material (strip-like plate) D Flowing current generator 1 Gripping unit 2 Operating unit

Claims (3)

An electrode mounting method for an animal (A), wherein an electrode (B) is attached to the body of the animal (A) to measure physiological electrical activity in the body.
The electrode (B) is attached to the hair (A1) of the animal (A) and suspended near the skin (A2) of the animal (A), and extends from the suspended electrode (B) to the skin (A2). A method for mounting an electrode for animals, characterized in that a flowing electric body (D) containing an electrolyte is adhered. In an animal electrode structure for attaching an electrode (B) to the body of the animal (A) to measure physiological electrical activity in the animal (A),
The electrode (B) has a grip portion (1) that holds only the body hair (A1) of the animal (A), and the electrode (B) holds the body hair (A1) only with the grip portion (1). Is suspended near the skin (A2) of the animal (A), and a gap between the electrode (B) and the skin (A2) is filled with a flowing current body (D) containing an electrolyte. Animal electrode structure. A grip portion (1) in which the electrode (B) is bent elastically deformable material (B ') and elastically pressed in a direction to sandwich only the body hair (A1) of the animal (A); The animal electrode structure according to claim 2, wherein an operation section (2) for opening the section (1) in the anti-elastic direction in response to a manual pressing operation is formed integrally.

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