JP4272703B2 - Body surface electrocardiograph - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to clearly capture a cardiac electrical phenomenon, the present invention measures a cardiac potential from many points on the body surface close to the heart, and calculates a measured cardiac potential to display a body surface potential diagram for a certain time. Regarding electric meters.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A body surface electrocardiograph has a plurality of electrodes arranged at 100 to 500 points on the body surface close to the heart, collects electrocardiograms from all the electrodes simultaneously, and comprehensively analyzes the heart potential from the collected electrocardiograms. Create a body surface potential distribution map to judge electrical phenomena.
[0003]
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the body surface electrocardiograph creates a body surface potential distribution diagram that is a potential distribution diagram that appears on the body surface near the heart at a certain time. The potential distribution diagram is a distribution diagram of potentials on the body surface of the cardiac electrical phenomenon. The potential distribution diagram is calculated by a computer based on measurement signals from all electrodes. In other words, the measured potential of each electrode at a certain time is stored in the memory of the computer, the equipotential line is calculated based on the measured potential of each electrode, and the equipotential line is monitored, for example, every several tens of microvolt pitches. It is displayed on a TV or printer.
[0004]
The body surface electrocardiograph having this structure can inspect the electrical phenomenon of the heart more precisely than the conventional electrocardiograph. However, since this body surface electrocardiograph detects the cardiac potential from a large number of electrodes, it is extremely difficult to accurately and stably detect the cardiac potential from all the electrodes. This is because it is difficult to bring all the electrodes into contact with the body surface in an electrically low resistance state. When the contact resistance between the electrode and the body surface increases, the large contact resistance causes a decrease in the cardiac potential detected by the electrode. Further, when the electrode is brought into contact with the body surface, a local battery is generated between the body surface and the electrode, and the voltage of the local battery is several hundred mV, which is extremely large compared to the cardiac potential. Makes detection difficult. Since the local battery generates a DC voltage, it can be distinguished from a changing cardiac potential unless it changes. However, since the voltage of the local battery is extremely large, several tens to one hundred times, compared to the cardiac potential, a slight voltage change makes it difficult to accurately detect the cardiac potential. This is because the change in the voltage of the local battery and the change in the cardiac potential cannot be distinguished.
[0005]
In order to avoid such adverse effects, a conventional body surface electrocardiograph uses a disposable electrode that adheres to the body surface via a conductive paste. Since this electrode adheres to the body surface via the conductive paste, it can contact the body surface in a state of low resistance as long as it can be normally adhered. However, in reality, it is considerably difficult to adhere all the electrodes of 100 or more to the body surface so as not to peel off, and there is a drawback that the electrocardiogram cannot be accurately detected when any electrode peels from the body surface. . In addition, since all the electrodes of 100 or more are made disposable, there is a disadvantage that the running cost of electrocardiographic measurement of one patient becomes extremely high.
[0006]
In order to eliminate such drawbacks, an electrode that independently presses a large number of metal rods against the body surface has been developed (see Patent Document 1). Since this electrode presses each metal rod to the body surface independently, the electrocardiogram induced on the body surface can be accurately detected. In particular, the electrocardiogram can be detected without using a conductive paste. That is, when the metal rod is continuously pressed against the body surface, a conductive liquid such as sweat is interposed between the metal rod and the body surface, and the contact resistance between the body surface and the metal rod This is because becomes smaller.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-9811
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The electrode having this structure is suitable for detecting an electrocardiogram from a large number of sites on the body surface, but has a drawback that the structure is complicated and the manufacturing cost is increased. In addition, there is a drawback that it is difficult to wear on the patient's body surface so that the electrode spacing is accurate. This is because the metal rods are installed in a plurality of cases so that each electrode can be pressed against the body surface independently. Adjacent cases are connected with a string, but if the inclination angle of the case is different, the distance between the electrodes attached to the adjacent case changes, and it is attached to the patient's body surface while accurately identifying the electrode distance There are drawbacks that make it difficult to do.
[0009]
Furthermore, in the electrode that detects a cardiac potential by pressing a metal rod against the body surface, the temperature and humidity at the time of measurement affect the measurement. Unfortunately, a patient-friendly environment is not necessarily a comfortable environment for accurately detecting cardiac potential from multiple electrodes. The environment in which the electrocardiogram can be accurately detected with the metal rod is an environment with high temperature and humidity. This is because in this environment, the body surface of the patient becomes wet with sweat and the electrical contact resistance between the metal rod and the body surface is reduced and stabilized. Although this environment can be realized without cooling in the summer, in reality there is almost no detection of cardiac potential in such an environment. If the air is cooled in summer or heated in winter, the humidity in the room decreases. When the humidity decreases, the skin becomes dry, and the contact resistance between the metal rod and the body surface increases, making it difficult to accurately detect the electrocardiogram.
[0010]
The present invention has been developed for the purpose of solving such drawbacks. An important object of the present invention is to provide a body surface electrocardiograph capable of accurately and stably detecting a cardiac potential from a large number of sites on the body surface and capable of mass production at a low cost with a very simple structure.
Another important object of the present invention is to provide a body surface electrocardiograph capable of accurately detecting a cardiac potential and creating a highly accurate body surface potential distribution map even in a comfortable indoor environment. .
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The body surface electrocardiograph of the present invention includes an electrode 1 for detecting a cardiac potential induced at a plurality of locations on a patient's body surface, and a body surface that is induced on the body surface by calculating a cardiac voltage induced on the electrode 1 And a calculation display unit 2 for displaying a potential distribution diagram. The electrode 1 includes a lower electrode 1B disposed on the upper surface of the bed 3 and contacting the lower surface of the patient's body surface, and an upper electrode 1A contacting the patient's upper surface. The lower electrode 1B is made of an insulating material at least on the surface, and has a flexible surface layer 21, and is disposed on the surface layer 21 with a center interval (d) of 10 to 60 mm and on the surface. A cushion electrode 20 comprising 20 to 500 local electrodes 22 having conductivity and an elastic pressing member 23 that is disposed on the back surface of the surface layer 21 and elastically presses each local electrode 22 against the body surface. As well as The elastic pressing member 23 integrally presses the plurality of local electrodes 22, In this body surface electrocardiograph, when the cushion electrode 20 is pressed by a patient, the elastic pressing member 23 elastically presses each local electrode 22 against the body surface and is guided to the body surface by the local electrode 22. Detecting cardiac potential.
[0012]
In the body surface electrocardiograph of the present invention, the cushion electrode 20 is disposed on the bed 3. In this body surface electrocardiograph, when a patient is placed on the cushion electrode 20, the elastic pressing member 23 elastically presses each local electrode 22 against the body surface.
[0013]
The local electrode 22 can be made of metal. The local electrode 22 can be any of stainless steel, sinchu, lead, silver, and silver chloride. Furthermore, the local electrode 22 can be made of metal having a metal plating layer on the surface. The metal plating layer can be any of gold, platinum, silver, silver chloride, nickel, chrome, shinchu, and lead.
[0014]
The cushion electrode 20 has a surface layer 21 as a flexible sheet 21A, and a plurality of local electrodes 22 can be fixed to the flexible sheet 21A at a predetermined interval. The local electrode 22 includes a contact electrode 22A formed by pressing a metal plate and curving the contact surface 24 with the body surface into a central convex shape, and a fixed portion 22B disposed on the back surface of the flexible sheet 21A. Can be configured. The local electrode 22 can be fixed to the flexible sheet 21A by connecting the flexible electrode 21A with the contact electrode 22A and the fixing part 22B so as to sandwich the flexible sheet 21A. The flexible sheet 21A can be synthetic leather.
[0015]
The elastic pressing member 23 can be a plastic foam that is elastically deformed. The elastic pressing material 23 which is a plastic foam can be formed as a surface layer 21 by providing a non-foamed layer on the surface. Further, the elastic pressing member 23 can also be provided with a surface layer 21 by applying any one of a coating agent, a paint, and an adhesive to the surface of the plastic foam. Further, the elastic pressing member 23 can be formed by laminating a plurality of elastic deformation plates 23A having different elastic coefficients. Furthermore, the elastic pressing member 23 can be an air-tightly closed air cushion filled with air. The lead wire 27 connected to each local electrode 22 can be wired inside the elastic pressing member 23.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the following examples illustrate body surface electrocardiographs for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify body surface electrocardiographs as described below.
[0017]
Further, in this specification, in order to facilitate understanding of the scope of claims, the numbers corresponding to the members shown in the embodiments are referred to as “claims” and “means for solving the problems”. It is added to the member shown by. However, the members shown in the claims are not limited to the members in the embodiments.
[0018]
A body surface electrocardiograph according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. The body surface electrocardiographs shown in these drawings are guided to the body surface by calculating the cardiac voltage induced at the electrode 1 for detecting the cardiac potential induced at a plurality of locations on the body surface of the patient and the electrode 1. And a calculation display unit 2 for displaying a body surface potential distribution diagram.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the electrode 1 includes a lower electrode 1B disposed on the upper surface of the bed 3 and contacting the lower surface of the patient's body surface, a body electrode 1C contacting the patient's body side, and a patient And an upper electrode 1A that is in contact with the upper surface. The lower electrode 1B is disposed in a region facing almost the whole from 60% or more of the lower surface of the patient's body surface. The upper electrode 1A is also disposed in a region facing almost the whole from 60% or more of the upper surface of the body surface. The body side electrode 1C is disposed to face the body side of the armpit. When the patient lies on the bed 3 and detects the cardiac potential on the body surface, the lower electrode 1B contacts the patient's back, the body electrode 1C contacts the body side, and the upper electrode 1A contacts the patient's chest. The electrocardiogram induced on the body surface in contact with the body is detected. When the patient is turned upside down and lies down on the bed 3, the lower electrode 1B contacts the patient's chest and the upper electrode 1A contacts the patient's back.
[0020]
In the body surface electrocardiograph of FIG. 3, the lower electrode 1B and the body side electrode 1C are used as cushion electrodes 20 having the following unique structure, and the upper electrode 1A is used as a rod electrode 10 that presses a metal rod against the body surface. The cushion electrode can be the lower electrode alone or the body electrode alone. Further, only the upper electrode can be a cushion electrode, and further, all of the lower electrode, the upper electrode, and the body side electrode can be cushion electrodes. Furthermore, the body surface electrocardiograph may be configured as a single cushion electrode without necessarily separating the electrode into the lower electrode, the body electrode, and the upper electrode. This cushion electrode can be one that contacts the back and body side, one that contacts the chest and body side, one that contacts the chest and back, and one that contacts the chest, body side and back.
[0021]
The cushion electrode 20 is shown in FIGS. 5 is a perspective view of the lower electrode 1B, FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower electrode 1B, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the body-side electrode 1C. As shown in these drawings, the cushion electrode 20 has a surface layer 21 having a flexible surface layer 21 and a plurality of local electrodes arranged on the surface layer 21 at a predetermined interval, while the surface or the whole is made of an insulating material. 22 and an elastic pressing member 23 which is disposed on the back surface of the surface layer 21 and elastically presses each local electrode 22 against the body surface.
[0022]
In the lower electrode 1B shown in FIG. 5, 48 local electrodes 22 are arranged in total, 8 pieces in 6 rows. These local electrodes 22 are arranged at equal center intervals (d). The center distance (d) of the local electrodes 22 is determined by the area of the region to be measured and the number of local electrodes 22, that is, the number of points to be measured. For example, the lower electrode 1B in the figure can measure the cardiac potential in a region of about 500 cm 2 with the center interval (d) being 35 mm. However, the number of local electrodes, that is, the number of measurement points, can be 20 to 500, the measurement region can be 150 to 900 cm2, and the center distance (d) can be 10 to 60 mm. For example, the lower electrode can measure the cardiac potential in a region of about 600 cm 2 where the number of local electrodes is 11 × 15, 165, and the center interval of the local electrodes is 20 mm.
[0023]
Further, the body-side electrode 1C shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 has 12 local electrodes 22 in total, 6 in 2 rows. These local electrodes 22 are also arranged at equal center intervals (d). For example, the body side electrode 1C can measure the cardiac potential in an area of about 80 cm 2 with a center interval (d) of 35 mm. However, the number of local electrodes, that is, the number of measurement points, can be 4 to 40, the measurement region can be 3 to 150 cm2, and the center interval (d) can be 10 to 60 mm. For example, as for the body side electrode, the number of the local electrodes is 3 × 11 33, and the central interval between the local electrodes is 20 mm, and the electrocardiogram in the region of about 100 cm 2 can be measured.
[0024]
Further, in the cushion electrode, it is not always necessary to make all the center intervals (d) of the plurality of local electrodes arranged equal. The cushion electrode can change the center distance of the local electrode in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the patient, or can be changed partially.
[0025]
The cushion electrode 20 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 has a surface layer 21 as a flexible sheet 21A, and a plurality of local electrodes 22 are fixed to the flexible sheet 21A. The flexible sheet 21A is a synthetic leather that can be freely deformed. Synthetic leather has the feature that the surface is coated with a plastic layer, so that sweat does not soak in, and dirt such as sweat adhering to the surface can be easily wiped off. However, a plastic sheet that is not synthetic leather can be used as the flexible sheet 21A. Moreover, a fabric and a nonwoven fabric can also be used. The flexible sheet 21A, which is a fabric or a non-woven fabric, can be coated with a coating agent or paint on the surface to prevent permeation of sweat and the like, and can also wipe away dirt such as sweat adhering to the surface. Furthermore, the flexible sheet 21A can be a sheet in which a plastic sheet, a fabric, a nonwoven fabric, or the like is laminated. As the flexible sheet 21A, all flexible sheets that can be deformed along the unevenness of the patient's body surface can be used. Further, the flexible sheet 21A is preferably a stretchable sheet. A stretchable sheet has a feature that it can be deformed along an uneven body surface. However, the flexible sheet 21A is arranged on the surface of the elastic pressing member 23 in a state where there is some play, and can be deformed along the unevenness of the body surface. The flexible sheet 21A covers the surface of the elastic pressing member 23 and the periphery thereof. Furthermore, the flexible sheet 21 </ b> A can also cover the back surface of the elastic pressing member 23 and be connected on the back surface.
[0026]
However, the cushion electrode does not necessarily need to be a flexible sheet in the surface layer. Although not shown, the surface layer can be provided by applying a coating agent, a paint, or an adhesive on the surface of the plastic foam which is an elastic pressing material. As the coating agent, paint, and adhesive forming the surface layer, those having flexibility in a cured state are used. As these coating agents, paints and adhesives, silicon-based and urethane rubber-based ones can be used. Further, the cushion electrode can be formed as a surface layer by providing a non-foamed layer on the surface of a plastic foam which is an elastic pressing material. These surface layers also have the feature of preventing permeation of sweat and the like inside, and easily wiping off dirt such as sweat adhering to the surface.
[0027]
The local electrode 22 is made of metal and is elastically pressed against the body surface to detect an electrocardiogram induced on the body surface. The local electrode 22 is manufactured by pressing a metal plate. The local electrode 22 is provided with a metal plating layer on the surface of a metal plate. As the metal plating layer, gold plating, platinum plating, silver plating, silver chloride plating, nickel plating, chrome plating, Shinchu plating, lead plating, or the like can be used. Gold plating and platinum plating have the feature of being able to make stable electrical contact with the body surface. Silver plating and silver chloride plating can stably contact the body surface in a low resistance state. Nickel plating and chrome plating can stably contact the body surface. Shinchu plating and lead plating can effectively prevent the surface from rusting. However, the local electrode 22 may be formed of a metal plate such as stainless steel, shinchu, lead, silver, silver chloride, or the like so as not to have a metal plating layer on the surface. In particular, the local electrode 22 formed of a metal such as stainless steel, Shinchu, or lead has a feature that it is difficult to rust.
[0028]
The local electrode 22 shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 is disposed on the back surface of the flexible sheet 21A and the contact electrode 22A formed by pressing a metal plate and curving the contact surface 24 with the body surface in a central convex shape. And a fixed portion 22B. 22 A of contact electrodes and the fixing | fixed part 22B are connected so that the flexible sheet | seat 21A may be clamped, and the local electrode 22 is being fixed to the flexible sheet | seat 21A.
[0029]
The contact electrode 22A has a circular contact surface 24 that contacts the body surface. The outer diameter of the contact surface 24 is important for stably detecting the electrocardiogram. If it is too small, the contact area with the body surface becomes small, so that the cardiac potential cannot be detected stably. On the other hand, if it is too large, the electrocardiogram induced at the local surface of the body cannot be accurately detected. This is because an electrode having a large area shorts the cardiac potential induced on the body surface to the same potential. From the above, the outer diameter of the contact electrode 22A is 4 to 20 mm, preferably 7 to 15 mm, and more preferably 8 to 13 mm. The center of the circular contact electrode 22A is positioned at the measurement point, and the cardiac potential around the measurement point and its periphery can be detected stably. However, the contact electrode is not necessarily circular, and may be elliptical, oval, or polygonal. The contact electrode having a polygonal shape can be softened when touching the body surface by curving the corners at the corners.
[0030]
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the contact electrode 22A preferably curves the contact surface 24 in a central convex shape. As described above, the contact electrode 22A in which the contact surface 24 is curved centrally has a feature that it can always contact the body surface in a wide area even if the angle with respect to the body surface changes. However, even if the radius of curvature of the contact surface 24 is too small, the area of contact with the body surface is small. In the illustrated contact electrode 22A, the radius of curvature is increased at the center of the contact surface 24, and the radius of curvature is decreased toward the periphery. The contact electrode 22A has a radius of curvature of the central portion of the contact surface 24 of 10 to 100 mm, preferably 12 to 50 mm, and a radius of curvature of the peripheral portion of 1 to 20 mm.
[0031]
Further, although the contact electrode is not shown, the contact surface can be flat if it can be pressed perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the body surface. For example, the contact electrode has an area of 15 to 300 mm <2>, preferably 30 to 100 mm <2>, and can be brought into contact with an uneven body surface over a wide area. The contact electrode having a flat contact surface can also preferably have a peripheral edge curved with a radius of curvature of 1 to 20 mm to soften the touch when it comes into contact with the body.
[0032]
22 A of contact electrodes have the connection convex part 25 which penetrates 21 A of flexible sheets. This connection convex part 25 penetrates the flexible sheet 21A and is connected to the fixing part 22B on the inner surface of the flexible sheet 21A. In the contact electrode 22A of FIG. 8, the connecting convex portion 25 is made of another metal plate. This connection convex part 25 is the shape which provided the collar 25B in the end of cylinder part 25A. The contact electrode 22A sandwiches the peripheral portion of the flange 25B with the peripheral portion caulked inward. The connecting convex portion 25 is fixed to the contact electrode 22A with the peripheral portion of the collar 25B sandwiched between the peripheral portion of the contact electrode 22A that is caulked.
[0033]
The fixing portion 22 </ b> B is provided around a through hole 26 that penetrates the connecting convex portion 25. The connecting convex portion 25 inserted through the through hole 26 is deformed so as to expand the lower end of the cylindrical portion 25A as shown by an arrow in FIG. 8, and is connected so as not to come out from the fixing portion 22B. The fixed portion 22B in FIG. 8 has an outer shape substantially equal to the outer shape of the contact electrode 22A. The fixing portion 22B can fix the local electrode 22 so as not to come out of the flexible sheet 21A. The fixed portion 22B having this shape is manufactured by press-molding a metal plate or by molding plastic.
[0034]
A lead wire 27 is connected to the local electrode 22. The lead wire 27 is connected to the local electrode 22 by soldering or spot welding. The lead wire 27 is connected to either the contact electrode 22A or the fixed portion 22B. The lead wires 27 connected to each local electrode 22 are wired inside the elastic pressing member 23 as shown in FIGS. The lead wire 27 wired inside the elastic pressing member 23 is preferably wired in a slightly loosened state so that it will not be broken due to excessive force acting even if the elastic pressing member 23 is deformed. As described above, the cushion electrode 20 for wiring the lead wire 27 inside the elastic pressing member 23 can have a clean appearance on the surface, and can be stably measured without being disturbed by the lead wire 27 during measurement. is there. Further, the connecting portion between the local electrode 22 and the lead wire 27 is embedded in the adhesive 28 as shown in FIG. This structure can effectively prevent disconnection of the connecting portion of the lead wire 27. The local electrode 22 is displaced every time the elastic pressing member 23 is deformed. At this time, if the connecting portion of the lead wire 27 is deformed, it is easy to break. As shown in FIG. 8, the structure in which the connection portion is embedded in the adhesive 28 does not deform even when the local electrode 22 moves, and the disconnection of this portion can be effectively prevented.
[0035]
The elastic pressing member 23 is a plastic foam that is elastically deformed. As the plastic foam, a flexible urethane foam that is foam-molded so as to have open cells is suitable. However, as the plastic foam, soft polyvinyl chloride foam, polyethylene foam, ethylene vinyl acetate foam, or the like can be used. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the elastic pressing member 23 may have a structure in which a plurality of elastic deformation plates 23 </ b> A having different elastic coefficients are stacked. The elastic pressing member 23 is formed by laminating a flexible elastic deformation plate 23A on the electrode side to which the local electrode 22 is fixed, and is less likely to be deformed on the opposite side away from the local electrode 22 than the elastic deformation plate 23A on the electrode side. The elastic deformation plate 23A is laminated. In this structure, the local electrode 22 can be pressed against the body surface with the flexible elastic deformation plate 23A on the electrode side, and can be firmly pressed with the elastic deformation plate 23A that is difficult to deform. Furthermore, although not shown, the elastic pressing material can be an air-tightly closed air cushion filled with air. The elastic pressing material, which is an air cushion, has a structure that can be deformed along the body surface of the patient, can uniformly distribute and press the patient's load, and can ideally press all the local electrodes against the body surface.
[0036]
The elastic pressing member 23 has a plate shape with a thickness of 110 to 130 mm. However, the elastic pressing member 23 can have a thickness of 30 to 200 mm, preferably 80 to 150 mm. In addition, the elastic pressing member 23 may have a shape whose upper surface is curved along the body surface of the patient without making the entire thickness uniform. For example, the human back is somewhat curved along the spine. Therefore, the elastic pressing material provided on the lower electrode can ideally press all the local electrodes against the body surface by curving the upper surface in a shape along the back. Further, although not shown, the cushion electrode can be divided into a plurality of regions, and the thickness and shape of the elastic pressing material disposed in each region can be changed to conform to the patient's body surface. For example, the lower electrode may be divided into two regions of the shoulder side and the waist side, the elastic pressing material disposed on the shoulder side is thinned, and the elastic pressing material disposed on the waist side is thickened. it can.
[0037]
Further, the elastic pressing member 23 of FIG. 9 is provided with a protruding portion 29 at a portion facing the local electrode 22. The elastic pressing member 23 presses the local electrode 22 against the body surface at the protruding portion 29. For this reason, the local electrode 22 is firmly pressed against the body surface, and the cardiac potential on the body surface can be detected stably.
[0038]
[0039]
[0040]
The body side electrode 1 </ b> C of the cushion electrode 20 shown in FIG. 7 is connected to the fixed case 31 via the push spring 30. A gap of several mm is provided between the peripheral wall 32 of the fixed case 31 and the body side electrode 1C so that the body side electrode 1C can smoothly enter and exit from the fixed case 31. The body-side electrode 1 </ b> C has a support plate 33 fixed to a surface pressed by the push spring 30. The support plate 33 is a metal or hard plastic plate, and is pressed by the push spring 30 to push the body side electrode 1C toward the body surface. With this structure, the local electrode 22 can be pressed against the body surface by the elastic pressing member 23 while firmly pressing the body-side electrode 1 </ b> C with the support plate 33 pushed out by the push spring 30. The cushion electrode 20 shown in this figure is an elastic pressing member 23 in which a plurality of elastic deformation plates 23A having different elastic coefficients are laminated. However, the cushion electrode can also be composed of a support plate and a single-layer elastic deformation plate. The cushion electrode is formed by, for example, laminating and fixing a flexible elastic deformation plate on the surface of a metal or plastic support plate, and presses the local electrode against the body surface with the elastic deformation plate.
[0041]
Further, although not shown, a coil spring whose coil diameter is changed in the axial direction of the spring is preferably used for the push spring that connects the cushion electrode to the fixed case. As this coil spring, for example, a conical shape, a zigzag shape or a barrel shape can be used. Since the coil springs of these shapes can secure the stroke of the spring, there is a feature that the cushion electrode can smoothly enter and exit along the fixed case. In particular, these coil springs are optimal for extrusion springs that connect cushion electrodes, which are body-side electrodes, to a fixed case. This is because the stroke can be performed while effectively preventing the cushion electrode pressed in the horizontal direction by the push spring from drooping downward.
[0042]
The fixed case 31 is connected to the lifting mechanism 34 and is arranged so that the vertical position can be changed. The elevating mechanism 34 includes a support arm 34A that is fixed to the bottom surface of the fixed case 31 and protrudes to the back side of the body-side electrode 1C, a guide rod 34B that is disposed in a vertical posture and passes through the support arm 34A, and a support arm 34A. A fixing screw 34C that is screwed into the arm 34A and fixes the support arm 34A to the guide rod 34B is provided. The lifting mechanism 34 adjusts the vertical position of the support arm 34A indicated by the arrow A in the figure with the fixing screw 34C loosened, and screws the fixing screw 34C to fix the support arm 34A so as to optimize the body-side electrode 1C. Fix to height.
[0043]
Further, the elevating mechanism 34 is connected to the slide mechanism 35 so that the position in the left-right direction indicated by the arrow B in the figure can be adjusted. The slide mechanism 35 includes a slide base 35A in which the lower end of the guide rod 34B is fixed, a guide rail 35B that slides the slide base 35A in the direction indicated by the arrow B, and a screw that is screwed into the slide base 35A. A fixing screw 35C for fixing to the guide rail 35B is provided. This slide mechanism 35 adjusts the distance between the body side electrode 1C and the patient's body side by sliding the slide base 35A in the direction indicated by the arrow B with the fixing screw 35C loosened, and screwing the fixing screw 35C into the slide base 35A. Is fixed to fix the left and right positions of the body-side electrode 1C. Therefore, the body-side electrode 1C is arranged at an optimal position on the patient's body side, with the vertical position adjusted by the lifting mechanism 34 and the horizontal position adjusted by the slide mechanism 35.
[0044]
Further, the body-side electrode 1C shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 is chamfered by cutting four sides that are peripheral portions of the surface facing the body surface on which the local electrodes 22 are arranged. The body-side electrode 1C having this structure can be disposed in a state in which the local electrode 22 protrudes toward the body surface side, so that the local electrode 22 can be reliably brought into contact with the body surface. However, similarly to the lower electrode shown in FIG. 9, the body-side electrode can also be provided with a protruding portion at a portion facing the local electrode, and the local electrode can be pressed against the body surface by this protruding portion. Furthermore, the body side electrode The station It is possible to make the pressing portion facing the partial electrode harder to deform than the other portions, and the local electrode can be firmly pressed against the body surface by this pressing portion.
[0045]
Furthermore, the lower electrode 1B can also be attached to the fixed case 31 via the push spring 30 as shown in FIG. The lower electrode 1B is also provided with a gap between it and the peripheral wall 32 of the fixed case 31 so that it can enter and exit smoothly. The extrusion spring 30 can also be a conical, pinched or barrel coil spring whose coil diameter changes in the axial direction of the spring. However, the cushion electrode can also be directly fixed without using an extrusion spring.
[0046]
Furthermore, the lower electrode 1 </ b> B shown in FIG. 5 displays a positioning line 36 so that the patient can be laid at the correct position of the cushion electrode 20. The cushion electrode 20 shown in the figure displays four positioning lines 36 in parallel to each other at symmetrical positions. These positioning lines 36 indicate the positions of the shoulders, nipples, ribs, and the like when the patient is in the correct measurement position, and the patient can be put to an accurate position based on the positioning line 36. I am doing so. In the lower electrode 1B shown in the drawing, for example, the patient's nipple is positioned so that the patient's nipple is positioned between the two center positioning lines 36, and the lower electrode 1B is disposed at a predetermined position. I can do it. Thus, the cushion electrode 20 provided with the positioning line 36 can always lay the patient in an accurate position. Further, although not shown, the lower electrode can also display a positioning line for specifying the left and right positions. Furthermore, the cushion electrode can display a point or a mark that can specify the vertical and horizontal positions of the patient instead of the positioning line.
[0047]
The upper electrode 1A, which is the rod electrode 10, is composed of a plurality of electrode units 11 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 11, and 12. The rod electrode 10 shown in these drawings includes eight electrode units 11. Eight electrode units 11 are arranged in two rows by four. As shown in the front view of FIG. 11 and the bottom view of FIG. 12, each electrode unit 11 is connected by a movable member 15 that is a string-like rubber-like elastic body. As described above, the rod electrode 10 composed of the plurality of electrode units 11 can ideally contact the patient's chest with the plurality of conductive rods 12 as a structure in which the posture of each electrode unit 11 can be individually changed. This is because the lower surface of each electrode unit 11 can be arranged in a posture along the chest surface of the patient.
[0048]
Further, the rod electrode 10 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 has an elastic deformation plate 16 fixed to the lower surface of the electrode units 11 in each row, and the four electrode units 11 are connected by the elastic deformation plate 16. The elastic deformation plate 16 is a plate material or sheet material having elasticity in the bending direction, such as a rubber plate or a synthetic resin plate. The elastic deformation plate 16 has an advantage that the posture of each electrode unit 11 can be arranged in a state along the chest surface of the patient while keeping the interval between the electrode units 11 adjacent to each other at a predetermined interval. Furthermore, this elastic deformation plate 16 also serves to prevent the electrode units 11 on both sides from falling over in a state where the electrode units 11 located on both the left and right sides are inclined in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG.
[0049]
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, each electrode unit 11 is equipped with a plurality of conductive rods 12 that are pressed against a plurality of locations on the patient's body surface, and these conductive rods 12 can be moved in and out. An electrode body 13 and an elastic pusher 14 that elastically pushes the conductive rod 12 from the electrode body 13 are provided.
[0050]
The electrode unit 11 shown in the figure includes eight conductive rods 12. Eight conductive rods 12 are arranged in two rows on each electrode unit 11 having a rectangular bottom shape. These conductive rods 12 are arranged with an equal center interval (d). The center distance (d) of the conductive rods 12 can be made equal to the center distance (d) of the local electrodes 22 of the lower electrode 1B and the body side electrode 1C. However, the center distance (d) of the conductive rods 12 of the upper electrode 1A can be variously changed. The center distance (d) of the conductive rods 12 is determined by the area of the region to be measured and the number of conductive rods 12, that is, the number of points to be measured. The rod electrode 10 shown in the figure is provided with 64 conductive rods 12 as a whole because eight conductive rods 12 are arranged in each of eight electrode units 11.
[0051]
The plurality of conductive rods 12 elastically protrude from the electrode body 13 toward the body surface and press the patient's body surface independently. These conductive rods 12 are connected to the rod portion 12B connected to the electrode body 13 so as to be able to enter and exit, and are connected to the tip of the rod portion 12B so as to contact the body surface and induce a cardiac potential induced on the body surface. 12A of contact electrodes to detect. In the illustrated conductive rod 12, the rod portion 12B is a metal rod. The rod portion 12B is a metal wire having a diameter of 1.5 to 6 mm, preferably 3 to 4 mm. If the rod portion 12B is too thin, it is easy to bend, and if it is too thick, the sliding resistance increases and it is difficult to smoothly enter and exit. For the rod portion 12B, a stainless steel wire such as SUS304 or a metal wire that is difficult to bend such as a piano wire plated on the surface is suitable. Further, the rod portion can be lightened as a cylindrical shape. However, the rod part does not necessarily need to be a metal rod. For example, a hard plastic rod surface or inner surface coated with a conductive film, or a conductive carbon fiber molded into a rod shape can be used. it can. The rod portion 12B is attached to the electrode body 13 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and is pressed toward the body surface by the elastic pusher 14.
[0052]
The contact electrode 12A is made of metal and is elastically pressed against the body surface to detect an electrocardiogram induced on the body surface. The contact electrode 12A is manufactured by cutting, casting, or pressing a metal. The metal contact electrode 12A can be formed of a metal such as stainless steel, Shinchu, lead, silver, or silver chloride. In particular, the contact electrode 12A formed of a metal such as stainless steel, shinchu, or lead has a feature that it is difficult to rust. Further, the metal contact electrode 12A can be provided with a metal plating layer on the surface of the contact surface 12a or the entire surface in order to detect the cardiac potential stably. As the metal plating layer, gold plating, platinum plating, silver plating, silver chloride plating, nickel plating, chrome plating, Shinchu plating, lead plating, or the like can be used. Gold plating and platinum plating have the feature of being able to make stable electrical contact with the body surface. Silver plating and silver chloride plating can stably contact the body surface in a low resistance state. Nickel plating and chrome plating can stably contact the body surface. Shinchu plating and lead plating can effectively prevent the surface from rusting.
[0053]
The size and shape of the contact surface 12a of the contact electrode 12A are important for stably detecting the cardiac potential. In the contact electrode 12A, the contact surface 12a that contacts the body surface has a circular shape that is larger than the cross section of the rod portion 12B. If the outer diameter of the contact surface 12a is too small, the contact area with the body surface becomes small, so that the cardiac potential cannot be detected stably. On the other hand, if it is too large, the electrocardiogram induced at the local surface of the body cannot be accurately detected. This is because an electrode having a large area shorts the cardiac potential induced on the body surface to the same potential. From the above, the outer diameter of the contact electrode 12A is 5 to 20 mm, preferably 7 to 15 mm, more preferably 8 to 13 mm, and 2 to 15 times, preferably 3 to 8 times the diameter of the rod portion 12B. To do. The center of the circular contact electrode 12A is positioned at the measurement point, and the cardiac potential around the measurement point and its periphery can be detected stably. However, the contact electrode is not necessarily circular, and may be elliptical, oval, or polygonal. The contact electrode having a polygonal shape can be softened when touching the body surface by curving the corners at the corners.
[0054]
Furthermore, the contact electrode 12A has a contact surface 12a with the body surface as a curved surface that curves in a central convex shape. As described above, the contact electrode 12A having the contact surface 12a curved in the center convex shape has a feature that it can always contact the body surface over a wide area even if the angle with respect to the body surface changes. However, even if the curvature radius of the contact surface 12a is too small, the area which contacts a body surface becomes small. In the illustrated contact electrode 12A, the radius of curvature is increased at the center of the contact surface 12a, and the radius of curvature is decreased toward the peripheral portion. The contact electrode 12A has a curvature radius of the central portion of the contact surface 12a of 10 to 100 mm, preferably 12 to 50 mm, and a curvature radius of the peripheral portion of 1 to 20 mm.
[0055]
Further, the radius of curvature of the contact surface 12a of the contact electrode 12A can be changed depending on the portion pressed against the body surface. For example, when the radius of curvature of the contact surface is increased, the contact area with the body surface is increased and the electrocardiogram can be detected stably, but this shape is pressed against the body surface and becomes slippery. The upper electrode tends to be slippery when the electrode is pressed against a portion close to the patient's body. This is because the body side is a nearly vertical surface. In order to avoid this adverse effect, for example, a contact electrode attached to an electrode close to the body side can be made harder to slide by making the radius of curvature of the contact surface smaller than that of a contact electrode contacting the central portion of the patient's chest. The contact electrode in the central portion of the chest increases the radius of curvature of the contact surface so that the cardiac potential can be detected stably. In particular, since the electrocardiogram is a high voltage in the central part of the chest, it is important to accurately detect the voltage in this part. Therefore, the contact electrode pressed against the central part of the chest increases the radius of curvature of the central part of the contact surface, and the contact electrode pressed against the part close to the body side decreases the radius of curvature of the central part to make it difficult to slip. be able to.
[0056]
The contact electrode 12A can be connected to the rod portion 12B so that it can be detached. The contact electrode 12A of FIG. 14 is provided with a connecting hole 12b for inserting the rod portion 12B so that it can be easily detached, and the tip of the rod portion 12B is inserted into this connecting hole 12b so that it can be detached. Yes. The contact electrode 12A of FIG. 14 is connected to the rod portion 12B via a set screw 17 so as to be detachable. The contact electrode 12A has a female screw hole 12c into which the set screw 17 is screwed in the radial direction. The contact electrode 12A is fixed to the rod portion 12B by loosening the set screw 17 and removing it from the rod portion 12B and tightening the set screw 17. In this way, the contact electrode 12A that can be detached can be replaced with a new one if the surface becomes dirty, or the metal on the contact surface 12a is oxidized and deteriorated, or if pathogens adhere to the surface and become unsanitary. There are features that can be done. However, the contact electrode 12A does not necessarily have to be connected to the rod portion 12B so that it can be detached, and can be fixed so as not to be detached by soldering or welding.
[0057]
In FIG. 14, the electrode body 13 includes a box-shaped case 50 that opens downward, and two insulating plates 51. The two plate members 51 are inserted through the rod portion 12B of the conductive rod 12 so as to be freely inserted and removed. The two plate members 51 are arranged in parallel with each other, open through holes 51A at opposing positions, and the rod portion 12B of the conductive rod 12 is inserted through these through holes 51A. The two plate members 51 are fixed to a plurality of support columns 52 disposed therebetween and held at a predetermined interval. The rod portion 12 </ b> B is an intermediate portion between the two plate members 51 and fixes the fixing ring 55. The fixing ring 55 has an outer shape larger than that of the insertion hole 51A, abuts on the peripheral edge of the insertion hole 51A, and prevents the conductive rod 12 from coming off from the electrode body 13, and at the same time specifies the protruding amount of the conductive rod 12 is doing.
[0058]
Further, a guide plate 53 is disposed on the two plate members 51 in order to reduce the sliding resistance of the rod portion 12B entering and exiting the electrode body 13. In the electrode main body 13 shown in FIG. 14, a guide plate 53 is laminated and fixed on the lower surface of the plate material 51 positioned below and the upper surface of the plate material 51 positioned above. The guide plate 53 has a guide hole 53A for allowing the conductive rod 12 to pass therethrough, and the conductive rod 12 is inserted into the guide hole 53A. The guide hole 53 </ b> A of the guide plate 53 is opened at a position facing the insertion hole 51 </ b> A opened in the plate material 51. The guide hole 53A is located in the center of the insertion hole 51A and opens smaller than the insertion hole 51A, so that the rod portion 12B can reciprocate without contacting the inner surface of the insertion hole 51A. The guide plate 53 may be made of a material that reduces the sliding resistance of the rod portion 12B that slides in the guide hole 53A, for example, Teflon (registered trademark) resin. As described above, the structure in which the conductive rod 12 is slid along the guide hole 53A of the guide plate 53 having a small sliding resistance can reduce the sliding resistance of the conductive rod 12 entering and exiting the electrode main body 13, thereby smoothing the conductive rod. Can reciprocate.
[0059]
Further, the electrode main body 13 of FIG. 14 has a weight 56 fixed to the lower plate member 51 in order to stably place the electrode unit 11 on the chest surface. The weight 56 is a metal plate, such as a lead plate or an iron plate. The weight 56, which is a metal plate, can be easily adjusted by changing the number of stacked layers. As described above, the structure in which the weight 56 is fixed to the lower portion of the electrode main body 13 can lower the position of the center of gravity of the electrode main body 13, so that the posture of the electrode unit 11 can be stabilized while the electrode unit 11 is placed on the chest surface. There is a feature that can be held. Furthermore, the electrode body 13 provided with the weight 56 also has a feature that the conductive rod 12 can be stably pressed against the body surface.
[0060]
The elastic pressing member 14 is a coil spring inserted through the rod portion 12 </ b> B and is disposed between the two plate members 51. This coil spring is a push spring, and has a lower end connected to the middle of the conductive rod 12 and an upper end connected to a conductive layer 54 such as a copper film printed on the upper plate 51. The coil spring elastically pushes the conductive rod 12 from the electrode body 13 and presses the contact electrode 12A against the body surface. However, the elastic pressing material that is a coil spring can be a tension spring. Although not shown, the elastic pressing material that is a tension spring can be inserted into the conductive rod above the upper plate and connected to the upper end of the conductive rod. This elastic pressing material has an upper end connected to the tip of a conductive rod protruding from the upper surface of the plate material, and a lower end connected to a conductive layer such as a copper film printed on the plate material.
[0061]
The elastic pressing member 14 that is a coil spring is used in combination with a lead wire that electrically connects the conductive rod 12 to the conductive layer 54. The elastic pressing member 14 that is a coil spring is made of spring steel, piano wire, stainless steel wire, brass wire, white wire, phosphor bronze wire, beryllium copper wire, or the like. In particular, a coil spring manufactured from a wire containing a large amount of copper is excellent in conductivity, and is therefore suitable for a coil spring used in combination with a lead wire. Further, the conductive rod 12 shown in the figure is connected to the conductive layer 54 of the plate material 51 by a lead wire 57 in addition to the coil spring. However, the conductive rod can be connected to the conductive layer via either the coil spring or the lead wire.
[0062]
In the conductive rod 12 shown in FIG. 14, the lower end of the elastic pressing member 14 that is a coil spring and the lower end of the lead wire 57 are soldered and connected to a fixing ring 55 that is fixed in the middle of the rod portion 12B. However, the lower ends of the coil spring and the lead wire 57 can be connected to the conductive rod 12 via the connecting cylinder 58 as shown in FIG. The connecting cylinder 58 has a through hole 58A through which the conductive rod 12 can be inserted at the center, and the lower end of the coil spring and the lead wire 57 is fixed to the upper surface by soldering or the like. The connecting cylinder 58 is connected to the conductive rod 12 by screwing a set screw 59 in a state where the rod portion 12B is inserted into the through hole 58A. As described above, the structure in which the coil spring or the lead wire 57 that is the elastic pressing member 14 is connected to the conductive rod 12 via the connecting cylinder 58 is such that the conductive rod 12 can be exchanged by detachably connecting the conductive rod 12. There is.
[0063]
FIG. 16 shows a bottom view of the upper plate member 51. A plate material 51 shown in this figure is printed by printing a conductive layer 54 such as a copper film. The conductive layer 54 connects the lead wire 60. The lead wire 60 connected to the conductive rod 12 is assembled into one lead wire 61 as shown in FIG. 8 and connected to the arithmetic circuit 2 by the lead wire 61.
[0064]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper electrode 1 </ b> A composed of a plurality of electrode units 11 is suspended by a suspension mechanism 4 and disposed at a predetermined position on the patient's chest. The suspension mechanism 4 shown in these drawings includes an upper and lower base 4A that suspends the plurality of electrode units 11 in a horizontal posture, and a support base 4B that moves the upper and lower base 4A up and down and left and right in a horizontal posture. The plurality of electrode units 11 are suspended from the upper and lower bases 4 </ b> A via suspension strings 18. In the upper electrode 1A, the upper and lower platforms 4A are moved in a horizontal posture, and the rod electrode 10 composed of a plurality of electrode units 11 is arranged at a predetermined position. The upper electrode 1A disposed on the chest surface of the patient is held at a predetermined position by its own weight.
[0065]
Furthermore, the upper electrode 1A can securely attach the rod electrode 10 composed of the plurality of electrode units 11 to the patient via the attachment band 40, as shown by the chain line in FIGS. In the rod electrode 10 shown in FIG. 11, a stretchable mounting band 40 is connected to the electrode unit 11 located on the outermost side of each row. The mounting band 40 is provided with a connecting tool 41 at the tip, and the tip can be connected to the bed 3 or the fixed case 31 of the body side electrode 1B via the connecting tool 41. For the connector 41, for example, a hook or the like can be used. The upper electrode 1A is attached to the patient by connecting the connecting tool 41 at the tip of the wearing band 40 to the side edge of the bed 3 or the fixed case 31 of the body side electrode 1B, as shown by the chain line in the figure. The mounting band 40 shown in FIG. 11 is provided with hooks as connecting tools 41 at the left and right ends in the drawing. However, the mounting band can also be connected by connecting the end portion in a cylindrical shape, inserting a connecting rod into the cylindrical portion, and hooking the connecting rod on a hooking portion provided on a bed or the like. Furthermore, a hook-and-loop fastener, a hook, etc. can be used for a connection tool, without necessarily using a hook and a rod. This mounting band is composed of a first mounting band having one end fixed to a bed or a body-side electrode fixing case, and a second mounting band connected to the outermost electrode unit in each row of upper electrodes. It can also be set as the structure which connects a mounting band with a hook-and-loop fastener, a hook, etc. FIG. This mounting band has the feature that the upper electrode can be mounted with an optimum pressing force because the length of the mounting band can be adjusted by changing the connecting position. Furthermore, the length of the mounting band to be mounted with a coupling tool such as a hook can be adjusted by dividing the middle part and connecting the divided part with a coupling member such as a hook-and-loop fastener or a hook.
[0066]
The rod electrode 10 described above includes a plurality of electrode units 11, but the rod electrode may have a structure in which a plurality of conductive rods protrude from a single electrode body. The rod electrode can have a shape in which the lower surface of the electrode body is along the chest surface of the patient. Furthermore, the conductive rods disposed on both the left and right side portions can be disposed in a posture that is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane.
[0067]
FIG. 4 shows a state where the electrode 1 is attached to the patient. The patient is placed on the lower electrode 1B, the body side electrode 1C is pressed against the body side of the patient's armpit, and the upper electrode 1A is placed on the body surface near the heart on the upper surface of the patient. Placed on the back, body side and chest. When the patient is placed on the lower electrode 1 </ b> B, which is the cushion electrode 20, the elastic pressing member 23 elastically presses each local electrode 22 against the body surface and detects the cardiac potential with the local electrode 22. The detected electrocardiogram is output to the arithmetic circuit. The body-side electrode 1 </ b> C that is the cushion electrode 20 also elastically presses each local electrode 22 against the body surface by the elastic pressing member 23. The upper electrode 1A that is the rod electrode 10 has an elastic push member 14 that elastically pushes the conductive rod 12 to press the contact electrode 12A against the body surface, detects the cardiac potential with the contact electrode 12A, and detects the detected cardiac potential. Is output to the arithmetic circuit.
[0068]
As shown in FIG. 2, the body surface electrocardiograph of the present invention displays a body surface potential distribution diagram that is induced on the body surface by the arithmetic display unit 2 calculating the heart voltage induced on the electrode 1. The calculation display unit 2 displays a calculation circuit 2A for calculating a body surface potential distribution diagram induced on the body surface from a cardiac potential induced by the electrode 1, and a body surface potential distribution map calculated by the calculation circuit 2A. An external output device 2B and an operation switch 2C connected to the arithmetic circuit 2A are provided. In the figure, a monitor television 2a and a printer 2b are used as the external output device 2B.
[0069]
The arithmetic circuit 2A performs arithmetic processing on the electrical signal sent from the electrode 1 according to a determined method. The electrode 1 detects cardiac potentials induced at a plurality of locations on the body surface, and sends the detected signal to the arithmetic circuit 2A. The potential is measured every predetermined time, and the user inputs the measurement time interval from the operation switch 2C to the arithmetic circuit 2A. Therefore, the electrode 1 measures the potential at each point based on a command from the arithmetic circuit 2A, and outputs the voltage value as data to the arithmetic circuit 2A. The arithmetic circuit 2A calculates an equipotential point from the measured potential of each electrode 1 at regular intervals, and calculates the position of the equipotential line therefrom. The obtained output signal is sent to the external output device 2B, and an equipotential line is drawn by the external output device 2B to create a potential distribution diagram on the body surface.
[0070]
The arithmetic circuit 2A can use any device capable of calculating an input potential signal, calculating an equipotential point, and determining an equipotential line. As the arithmetic circuit 2A, a computer using a general-purpose MPU or CPU, a so-called microcomputer, personal computer, workstation, or the like can be used in addition to an IC and a computer customized to enable these processes.
[0071]
Further, the arithmetic circuit 2A has a storage medium (not shown) for holding and storing the value of the electrocardiogram sent from the electrode 1 every time. The storage medium can be a storage element such as a random access memory (RAM) or a register, a fixed storage device such as a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-R, a DVD, or a flexible disk. However, in order to improve the processing speed, it is preferable to use a memory element having a high access speed. Based on the data stored in the storage medium or the voltage value sent from the electrode 1, the arithmetic circuit 2A calculates an equipotential point and calculates line data for drawing an equipotential line. The calculated data is sent to the external output device 2B.
[0072]
The external output device 2B displays a body surface potential distribution map based on the given equipotential line data. A plurality of monitor televisions, printers, plotters and the like can be used for the external output device 2B. In the figure, a monitor television 2a and a printer 2b are used as the external output device 2B. The user can observe the body surface potential distribution map at any time using the monitor TV 2a, while printing the potential distribution map at predetermined intervals with the printer 2b or printing the potential distribution map at a desired time. can do.
[0073]
The data held in the storage medium need not be at each potential on the body surface. A body surface potential distribution map at an arbitrary time can also be stored. For example, the equipotential line data calculated by the arithmetic circuit 2A can be held and the body surface potential distribution map for each time can be switched and displayed by calling this data. In particular, storing post-computation data instead of pre-computation data eliminates the time required for computation, shortening the time required for display on an external output device and increasing the speed of the body surface. A potential distribution diagram can be displayed. However, it goes without saying that the data of both the potential value of each point and the equipotential line can be stored, and data in the middle of calculation can be held in the arithmetic circuit 2A.
[0074]
The accuracy of the display of the body surface potential distribution diagram can be improved by adjusting the interval for sampling the cardiac potential, the time for switching the display of the potential distribution at each time point, and the like. For faster and more detailed display, a high-speed computer with high processing capability, a computer with high-speed drawing using a so-called graphic accelerator equipped with a screen display chip, RAM, or the like is used for the arithmetic circuit 2A. Can be improved.
[0075]
【The invention's effect】
The body surface electrocardiograph according to the present invention is capable of accurately and stably detecting a cardiac potential from a large number of sites on the body surface, and has an advantage that electrodes can be mass-produced at a low cost with an extremely simple structure. This is because the electrode of the body surface electrocardiograph of the present invention has a simple structure in which a plurality of local electrodes are arranged at predetermined intervals on the surface layer, and an elastic pressing material is arranged on the back surface of the surface layer. . This electrode detects the cardiac potential by elastically pressing each local electrode against the body surface with an elastic pressing material. Therefore, when the patient's body surface is pressed with this electrode, the elastic pressing material is crushed, and the crushed elastic pressing material presses each local electrode against the body surface.
[0076]
Further, the body surface electrocardiograph of the present invention has a feature that it can accurately detect the cardiac potential in a comfortable environment. This is because a plurality of local electrodes are provided on the surface layer and pressed against the body surface with an elastic pressing material provided on the back surface of the surface layer. Since the electrode having this structure detects the cardiac potential in a state where the body surface is covered with the surface layer, the surface layer prevents the body surface from drying. For this reason, the local electrode arrange | positioned at the surface layer contacts a body surface with low contact resistance, and detects a cardiac potential correctly. Therefore, a body surface potential distribution map can be created with extremely high accuracy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[Fig. 1] Potential distribution on the body surface near the heart
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a body surface electrocardiograph according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a body surface electrocardiograph according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing how the body surface electrocardiograph shown in FIG. 3 is used.
5 is a perspective view of a cushion electrode which is a lower electrode of the body surface electrocardiograph shown in FIG. 3. FIG.
6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the lower electrode shown in FIG.
7 is a vertical sectional view of a cushion electrode which is a body side electrode of the body surface electrocardiograph shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a local electrode
FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view showing another example of the cushion electrode.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the lower electrode
11 is a front view of a rod electrode that is an upper electrode of the body surface electrocardiograph shown in FIG. 3;
12 is a bottom view of the rod electrode shown in FIG.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an electrode unit of a rod electrode.
14 is a cross-sectional view of the electrode unit shown in FIG.
FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view showing an example of connecting a conductive rod to a coil spring and a lead wire.
16 is a bottom view of the plate material above the electrode unit shown in FIG. 14;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrode 1A ... Upper electrode 1B ... Lower electrode
1C ... Body side electrode
2 ... Calculation display unit 2A ... Calculation circuit 2B ... External output device
2C: Operation switch
2a ... Monitor TV 2b ... Printer
3 ... Bed
4 ... Hanging mechanism 4A ... Upper / lower base 4B ... Support base
10 ... Rod electrode
11 ... Electrode unit
12 ... Conductive rod 12A ... Contact electrode 12B ... Rod part
12a ... contact surface 12b ... connection hole
12c ... female screw hole
13 ... Electrode body
14 ... Elastic extruded material
15 ... movable member
16 ... Elastic deformation plate
17 ... Set screw
18 ... Hanging string
20 ... Cushion electrode
21 ... surface layer 21A ... flexible sheet
22 ... Local electrode 22A ... Contact electrode 22B ... Fixed part
23 ... Elastic pressing material 23A ... Elastic deformation plate
24 ... Contact surface
25 ... Connecting convex part 25A ... Cylinder part 25B ... 鍔
26 ... through hole
27 ... Lead wire
28 ... Adhesive
29 ... Projection
30 ... Extrusion spring
31 ... Fixed case
32 ... Surrounding wall
33 ... Support plate
34 ... Elevating mechanism 34A ... Support arm 34B ... Guide rod
34C ... Fixing screw
35 ... Slide mechanism 35A ... Slide table 35B ... Guide rail
35C ... Fixing screw
36 ... Position line
40 ... Wearing band
41 ... Connector
50 ... Case
51 ... Plate material 51A ... Insertion hole
52 ... post
53 ... Guide plate 53A ... Guide hole
54. Conductive layer
55 ... Fixing ring
56 ... Weight
57 ... Lead wire
58 ... Connecting cylinder 58A ... Through hole
59 ... Set screw
60 ... leader
61 ... Lead wire

Claims (7)

An electrode (1) that detects the cardiac potential induced by multiple treatments on the patient's body surface, and a body surface potential distribution map that is induced on the body surface by calculating the cardiac voltage induced on the electrode (1) A body surface electrocardiograph comprising a calculation display unit for
The electrode (1) includes a lower electrode (1B) disposed on the upper surface of the bed (3) and contacting the lower surface of the patient's body surface, and an upper electrode (1A) contacting the patient's upper surface,
The lower electrode (1B) has at least a surface as an insulating material, and has a flexible surface layer (21), and the surface layer (21) at an interval with a center interval (d) of 10 to 60 mm. 20 to 500 local electrodes (22) having electrical conductivity on the surface and disposed on the back surface of the surface layer (21) and elastically pressing each local electrode (22) against the body surface The elastic pressing material (23) includes a cushion electrode (20), and the elastic pressing material (23) integrally presses the plurality of local electrodes (22), and the cushion electrode (20) includes a bed (3 )
When the cushion electrode (20) is pressed by the patient, the elastic pressing member (23) elastically presses each local electrode (22) against the body surface and is guided to the body surface by the local electrode (22). A body surface electrocardiograph configured to detect an electrocardiogram.   The body surface electrocardiograph according to claim 1, wherein the local electrode (22) is made of metal.   The body surface electrocardiograph according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the local electrode (22) is made of a metal provided with a metal plating layer on a surface thereof.   The surface layer (21) of the cushion electrode (20) is a flexible sheet (21A), and a plurality of local electrodes (22) are fixed to the flexible sheet (21A) at predetermined intervals. 2. The body surface electrocardiograph described in 2.   The body surface electrocardiograph according to claim 1, wherein the elastic pressing member (23) is an elastically deformable plastic foam.   The body surface electrocardiograph according to claim 1 or 5, wherein the elastic pressing member (23) is formed by laminating a plurality of elastic deformation plates (23A) having different elastic coefficients.   The body surface electrocardiograph according to claim 1, wherein the elastic pressing member (23) is a hermetically closed air cushion filled with air.

Images