JP3240485B2 - Holter monitor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a Holter monitor (portable electrocardiograph), and more particularly, to a Holter monitor having an improved power supply unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electrocardiographs have conventionally been used to examine the function of a patient's heart. In recent years, a Holter electrocardiograph having an outer shape similar to a portable cassette tape recorder has been developed, and is worn on a patient to record an electrocardiogram for about one to two days. This type of ECG recorder periodically measures the heartbeat of the patient and records it on a built-in recording device. When the recorded electrocardiogram is reproduced, the recorded electrocardiogram is reproduced by a dedicated analyzing device, and the heart function is diagnosed.

Conventional Holter electrocardiography systems are roughly classified into the following two types. Tape system In this system, an electrocardiogram is recorded by attaching an audio cassette tape to a patient unit in the form of a small portable cassette tape recorder (for example, Walkman (registered trademark) manufactured by Sony Corporation). Next, the cassette tape on which recording has been completed is mounted on the analyzer, and is played back at high speed and analyzed. IC system In this system, an IC memory is built in a patient unit in the form of a small portable cassette tape recorder, and an electrocardiogram is recorded in the IC memory. Next, this unit is mounted on a dedicated analyzer and analyzed.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional Holter monitor (particularly, IC system), a unit carried by a patient is integrated. In order to maintain the recording time for 24 hours or more, it is usual to incorporate two to five AA batteries. For this reason, the unit becomes heavy, and there is a limit to weight reduction. Furthermore, as a result of the increased burden on the patient, it has been difficult to easily monitor the daily activities of the patient.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a Holter monitor which can reduce the weight.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a patient unit for recording an electrocardiographic signal of a patient,
A power supply unit for supplying power to the patient unit;
Consists of a power generation unit that supplies power to the power supply unit
Is, a Holter monitor, which is attached to the patient, the
The power generation unit is weighted by the patient's body
The up and down movement is converted into rotational movement by a ratchet gear.
It is configured to generate power by rotating the AC generator by rolling motion
It is characterized by having been done .

[0007]

The holter monitor is separated into a patient unit and a power supply unit, and power is supplied to the power supply unit from the power generation unit. According to the present invention , power can be obtained permanently by the power generation unit, so that it is not necessary to use many dry batteries, and only a small and light rechargeable battery (secondary battery) is prepared in the power supply unit. No. Therefore, according to the present invention, the weight of the Holter monitor can be reduced. If sufficient power generation can be obtained, a rechargeable battery is not required.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a patient unit for recording an electrocardiographic signal of a patient, reference numeral 20 denotes a power supply unit for supplying power to the patient unit 10, and reference numeral 30 denotes a power generation unit for supplying power to the power supply unit 20. As the power generation unit 30, various types of power generation mechanisms can be used. Reference numeral 11 denotes a patient electrode connected to the power generation unit 10.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the patient unit 10. As shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The patient unit shown in the figure is of the IC type described above, but may be of the tape type. Power is supplied to this circuit from the power supply unit 20.

[0010] When a plurality of electrodes 11 are attached to a patient, the patient electrodes 11 generate electric signals corresponding to heartbeats. This signal is amplified by the following ECG amplifier 12. The amplified electrocardiogram signal is supplied to the following A / D converter 13
Is converted into a digital signal for each channel. At this time, the CPU 15 determines a sampling cycle of the A / D converter 13.

The output of the A / D converter 13 is edited by the CPU 15 as necessary, and then stored in the IC memory 14. The data write control at this time is performed by the CPU 15
Do. When data for, for example, 24 hours is stored in the IC memory 14, the contents of the IC memory 14 are read out by an analysis device dedicated to the IC system, and necessary analysis processing is performed.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of the power supply unit 20. The bridge rectifier circuit 21 includes the power generation unit 3
It receives an AC voltage from 0 and converts it to a DC voltage. This DC voltage is smoothed by the capacitor C and becomes a flat DC voltage. Reference numeral 22 denotes a rechargeable battery (2) which is charged by the DC voltage and supplies power to the patient unit 10.
Battery). With such a configuration, the battery 22 can be small and light, and the burden on the patient can be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the power generation unit 30. In this embodiment, the ratchet gear 32 is rotated clockwise in the figure by swinging the weight 31 up and down, and the AC generator 33 is driven by the rotation of the ratchet gear 32.

In the drawing, reference numeral 34 denotes an arm whose base end is rotatably supported. A weight 31 is attached to the tip of this arm 34, and this arm 34 is locked by a spring 35 locked at an intermediate portion of the arm 34. The weight 32 is supported to be able to move up and down. Further, a pawl 36 meshing with the ratchet gear is rotatably attached to an intermediate portion of the arm 34, and the pawl 36 is urged to the ratchet gear 32 by a spring 37. Reference numeral 38 denotes a rotating shaft integrated with the ratchet gear 32, and rotation of the rotating shaft is transmitted to a rotating shaft of the AC generator 33.

In the device configured as described above, when the patient walks or exercises, the weight 31 vibrates up and down as shown in the figure. By this vertical movement, the pawl 36 attached to the arm 34 sequentially meshes with the teeth of the ratchet gear 32. As a result, the rotation shaft 38 rotates clockwise in the drawing. When the rotating shaft 38 rotates, the alternator 3
A third rotor (not shown) rotates to generate an AC voltage. The generated AC voltage is applied to the power generation unit 20 shown in FIG.
Will be supplied. The power generation unit 30 shown in FIG.
Generates power permanently as long as the patient moves.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state of attachment to a patient according to the present invention. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the figure, 10 is a patient unit, 11 is a patient electrode attached to a patient's body, 20 is a power supply unit, and 30 is a power generation unit. The patient unit 10, the power supply unit 20, and the power generation unit 30 are attached to a belt 40, and are held on the waist of the patient by the belt 40. If these units are mounted together at one place, the balance will be poor and the patient will be burdened. In addition, these units can be attached in various ways, such as a method of passing the belt, a method of fitting the belt, and a method of incorporating the belt. Alternatively, a method that does not use a belt may be used.

The patient unit 10 may be placed in a pocket of a patient's clothes instead of a belt.
As shown, the power supply unit 20 and the power generation unit 30
In the case where the power supply unit 20 is separately provided, if a terminal of an existing standard is used as an input terminal of the power supply unit 20, power can be supplied from a battery of a notebook computer or a power supply terminal (cigar socket) of a car, for example. can do.

[0018]

Further, as the power generation unit 30, a power generation mechanism using a piezoelectric element may be attached to, for example, a shoe sole so as to generate power every time a patient walks. Alternatively, the alternator may be rotated by a balance by a spring. Further, the alternator may be rotated by using an automatic winding mechanism of a wristwatch. Further, these plurality of power generation units may be used in combination.

By providing the power supply unit 20 and the power generation unit 30 as separate units, if the power generation unit 30 is purchased from another specialized manufacturer, it is possible to obtain the power generation unit 30 which is cheaper and lighter. , Can increase the market. Separating the patient unit 10, the power supply unit 20, and the power generation unit 30 makes it possible to replace and use each unit.
And it becomes possible to develop each separately.

In the above description, the patient unit 1
An example in which the power supply unit 20, the power supply unit 20, and the power generation unit 30 are separated from each other has been described. However, when miniaturization is possible, these units may be integrally formed to form a single unit. The configuration of the present invention can be applied to not only the holder electrocardiograph but also other small portable devices.

[0022]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, by providing the power generation unit, it is possible to provide a Holter electrocardiograph capable of reducing the weight, and it is possible to perform longer-term monitoring. Becomes

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a patient unit.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration example of a power supply unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a power generation unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of attachment to a patient according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Patient unit 11 Patient electrode 20 Power supply unit 30 Power generation unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (73) Patent holder 501103686 Shunji Hayashi 2-9-13-301 Gotenyama, Musashino-shi, Tokyo Yokogawa Electric Corporation Inokashira House A (73) Patent holder 501103701 Shuichi Haruyama Ota-ku, Tokyo Kitamagome 1-chome 15-11-103 (73) Patentee 501103712 Tobita Masahito 2-5-28 Hibarigaoka, Hoya-shi, Tokyo (72) Inventor Yoshinao Sato 9-1-1, Takakuracho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Yokogawa / Examiner at Hewlett-Packard Co., Ltd. Toshiaki Nakamaki (56) References JP-A-1-291829 (JP, A) JP-A-58-188005 (JP, U) JP-A-4-83207 (JP, U) ( 58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 5/0404

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A patient unit for recording an electrocardiographic signal of a patient.
And a power supply unit for supplying power to the patient unit
And a power generation unit for supplying power to the power supply unit
Holter monitor that is attached to the patient.
The power generation unit is linked to the movement of the patient's body
Holter characterized by being configured to generate electricity
Electrocardiograph. 2. The power generation unit is mounted on a patient on which the power generation unit is mounted.
The vertical movement of the weight due to the downward movement is turned into a rotational movement by the ratchet gear.
The power is converted by rotating the alternator with this rotational motion.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Holter monitor. 3. The power generation unit is mounted on a patient's shoe sole.
Attached piezoelectric element that generates power each time the patient walks
2. The holder according to claim 1, wherein
Ter ECG. 4. A patient mounted as the power generation unit.
The vertical movement of the weight accompanying the vertical movement of the
To rotate the alternator with this rotational motion.
Electricity and attaching a piezoelectric element to the patient's sole
Claims characterized by using power generation each time a person walks
2. The Holter monitor according to 1.