JP5094131B2 - Clip-type electrode - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a clip-type electrode, and more particularly to a clip-type electrode that is worn on a subject and measures biological information such as an electrocardiogram.

  In general, an electrocardiogram is performed to examine an electrocardiogram abnormality such as arrhythmia or ischemic heart disease. In the electrocardiogram, electrodes are attached to the wrist, both ankles, and the chest of the subject, the minute electromotive force generated by the activity of the heart is detected with these electrodes, and the electrocardiogram waveform is detected using the potential difference of the detected electromotive force. To get.

  On the other hand, a blood pressure pulse wave test is performed in order to evaluate the degree of arteriosclerosis, which is the basis of heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. In the blood pressure pulse wave test, the blood pressure ratio between the upper arm and ankle is shown, and the ABI (Ankle Brachial Index), which serves as an index for judging the degree of blood flow disturbance due to stenosis or occlusion of the lower limb blood vessels, and when ejecting from the heart to the aorta PWV (Pulse Wave Velocity), which indicates the velocity of the generated pressure wave (pulse wave) propagating in the blood vessel and measures the degree of arterial extensibility (arterial stiffness), is measured. Assess the degree of arteriosclerosis.

  ABI is obtained by wrapping cuffs (armbands) around the upper arm and ankle limbs of a subject, measuring the blood pressure of these limbs, and dividing the measured ankle systolic blood pressure by the upper arm systolic blood pressure.

  Although PWV is calculated | required by the technique represented by the Frank method and the Yoshimura-Hasegawa method, baPWV (brachial-ankle PWV) is spreading rapidly as a simple PWV measuring method in recent years. In this method, a cuff used for blood pressure measurement is wound around the upper arm and ankle limbs of a subject and used as a pulse wave sensor, and an air volume pulse wave that is inflated with a pressure of about 60 mmHg is used.

Furthermore, as an improved version of baPWV, CAVI (Cardio Ankle Vascular Index) which is an arteriosclerosis index based on PWV measured between the heart and ankle is introduced (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). In this method, cuffs used for blood pressure measurement are wrapped around the upper arm and ankle limbs of the subject, electrocardiogram electrodes for acquiring ECG I are attached to the back and front of both wrists, and a heart sound microphone is placed on the sternum. deep. PWV is a value obtained by multiplying the linear distance from the right intercostal space of the sternum with the heartbeat microphone to the femoral artery by an anatomical correction value of 1.3, the linear distance from the femoral artery to the center of the knee joint, and the knee. The sum of the linear distance from the center of the joint to the center of the ankle cuff, the time from the start of the heart II sound, which is the aortic valve closure time, to the notch of the brachial pulse wave, the brachial pulse wave and the ankle pulse wave It is obtained by dividing by the sum of the time difference of the rising part. CAVI is obtained from the PWV, the brachial systolic blood pressure, and the brachial diastolic blood pressure. Since CAVI is derived from the theory of stiffness parameter β, which is an index of hardness inherent to blood vessels, CAVI is useful as an arteriosclerosis index that has very little blood pressure dependency.
JP 2004-236730 A

  However, the electrocardiogram is generally measured using the potential difference of the electromotive force detected by the electrocardiogram electrodes attached to both the wrist and the ankle of the subject. If an electrocardiogram is measured together, the cuff wrapped around the subject's ankle hinders the electrocardiogram electrode from being stably attached to the subject's ankle, and the electrocardiogram measurement accuracy decreases. End up.

  Although an idea such as attaching an electrocardiogram electrode to the inside of the ankle cuff has been proposed, the position of the electrocardiogram electrode fluctuates due to repeated expansion and contraction of the cuff, so the contact area between the electrocardiogram electrode and the subject's ankle May not be sufficiently secured, or contact may be interrupted.

  The present invention has been made in view of such points, and a clip-type electrode capable of measuring an electrocardiogram with high accuracy and stability even when the cuff is wound around the ankle of a subject. The purpose is to provide.

The clip-type electrode according to the present invention includes a first plate-like member having a first surface, a second plate-like member having a second surface opposite to the first surface, and both ends of the first electrode. And a spring attached to the second plate-like member, and using the return force due to the elasticity of the deformed spring, the measurement target part of the subject is sandwiched between the first and second surfaces. A clip portion, which protrudes from the first surface to the second surface side, contacts the subject 's depression when the measurement target region is sandwiched between the first and second surfaces 1 One of the ridges have, have a, an adjustment unit for adjusting an electrode portion for detecting the intensity sandwiching the measurement target site by the first and second surfaces of the biological information of the subject by the ridges And the adjusting portion is configured to insert the end of the spring into the first and second portions. It has a mounting groove consisting of a plurality of grooves provided respectively on the plate-like member, by either inserting the spring into which of the plurality of grooves can be changed the strength, a configuration.

  According to the present invention, an electrocardiogram can be measured with high accuracy and stability even when a cuff is wound around the ankle of a subject.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1A to 1C are diagrams showing a clip-type electrode 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  1A to 1C, the clip-type electrode 100 includes curved plates 110 and 120, an acre clip spring (hereinafter simply referred to as “spring”) 130, and a white electrode 140.

  The curved plates 110 and 120 are made of various plastic materials such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polypropylene, or a mixture thereof, and have appropriate flexibility and bending strength.

  The curved plate 110 has a shape that extends while curving from the distal end portion 113 toward the hinge portion 150, and is connected to the curved plate 120 by the hinge portion 150. The curved plate 120 has a shape extending from the distal end portion 123 toward the hinge portion 150 while being curved, and is connected to the curved plate 110 by the hinge portion 150. The inner side surface of the curved plate 110 and the inner side surface of the curved plate 120 are opposed to each other, and form a pair of substantially cylindrical sandwiching parts that sandwich the measurement target portion of the subject. In addition, the curved plates 110 and 120 have knob portions 112 and 122 that extend outward beyond the hinge portion 150, respectively. When the knobs 112 and 122 are pinched, the curved plates 110 and 120 are opened, and the measurement target region of the subject can be sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the curved plates 110 and 120.

  The curved plates 110 and 120 have attachment grooves 111 and 121 for inserting the springs 130, respectively. The curved plates 110 and 120 are connected by a hinge portion 150 and supported by a spring 130 inserted into the mounting grooves 111 and 121. Each of the mounting grooves 111 and 121 includes three grooves, and the strength with which the inner surface of the curved plate 110 and the inner surface of the curved plate 120 sandwich the measurement target portion is changed depending on which of the grooves 130 the spring 130 is inserted into. be able to. For example, the pinching strength can be increased as the spring 130 is inserted into the groove far from the hinge portion 150, and the pinching strength can be decreased as the spring 130 is inserted into the groove closer to the hinge portion 150. As described above, the attachment grooves 111 and 121 function as an adjustment unit that adjusts the strength with which the measurement target region is sandwiched between the inner surface of the curved plate 110 and the inner surface of the curved plate 120.

  The knobs 112 and 122 are levers that open between the curved plates 110 and 120 against the elastic force of the spring 130. When a person in charge of measurement (for example, an inspection engineer) holds the ends of the knobs 112 and 122 by applying force to bring them close to each other, the spring 130 is bent against the elastic force and the curved plates 110 and 120 are bent. Is opened around the hinge 150. When the force for pinching the knobs 112 and 122 is weakened or made zero, the curved plates 110 and 120 are closed by the restoring force due to the elasticity of the spring 130.

  The curved plate 120 has a pair of protrusions 124 on its inner surface. The pair of protrusions 124 protrude from the inner surface of the curved plate 120 toward the inner surface of the curved plate 110, and come into contact with the measurement target region when the measurement target region is sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the curved plates 110 and 120. . That is, when the measurement target part is sandwiched between the curved plates 110 and 120, the measurement target part is supported at three points by the pair of protrusions 124 and the white electrode 140.

  The spring 130 is formed by bending a plate-like body (plate spring) having elasticity, and has flexibility. One end of the spring 130 is inserted into the mounting groove 111 of the curved plate 110, and the other end is inserted into the mounting groove 121 of the curved plate 120.

  When a force is not applied to the knob portions 112 and 122 and they are separated from each other, the spring 130 urges the elastic plates to close the space between the curved plates 110 and 120. On the other hand, when a force is applied to the knob portions 112 and 122 and the springs 130 approach each other, the spring 130 is deformed so that the curved plates 110 and 120 are opened against the elastic force.

  The white electrode 140 is an alloy that includes copper, zinc, and nickel and is rich in flexibility, bending workability, and corrosion resistance. As the white electrode 140, for example, a Cu-27Zn-18Ni alloy composed of 55% copper, 27% zinc, and 18% nickel can be used.

  The structure of the white electrode 140 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2A to 2C are diagrams showing a white electrode 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  2A to 2C, the white electrode 140 includes a claw portion 141, sliding protrusions 142a, 142b, 142c, a raised portion 143, and a lead wire insertion portion 144. The entire surface of the white electrode 140 including these parts is deburred. Further, the raised portion 143 has a smooth surface finish (gloss finish) having a high reflectivity and no directivity.

  The claw portion 141 and the sliding protrusion portions 142a, 142b, 142c form an attachment portion for attaching the white electrode 140 to the curved plate 110. More specifically, the curved plate 110 is fitted into the groove between the claw portion 141 and the sliding protrusion 142a and the groove between the sliding protrusions 142b and 142c.

  In addition, the groove between the claw portion 141 and the sliding protrusion 142a and the groove between the sliding protrusions 142b and 142c form a slight gap between the bending plate 110 and the bending plate 110 even if the bending plate 110 is fitted. Have. That is, the white electrode 140 is slidably provided along the inner surface of the curved plate 110.

  The raised portion 143 protrudes from the inner surface of the curved plate 110 toward the inner surface of the curved plate 120, and comes into contact with the measurement target region when the measurement target region is sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the curved plates 110 and 120.

  The raised portion 143 has a curved shape that rises smoothly, for example, a raised hemispherical surface. The curved surface shape of the raised portion 143 is substantially uniform when viewed from any angle, and is particularly adapted to follow the inclined surface from the lower portion of the subject's heel or from the heel to the lower portion of the heel. Yes.

  The raised portion 143 is an electrocardiogram signal (a cardiac electromotive force signal) which is a minute electromotive force generated by the subject's biological information, here, the activity of the subject's heart, from the contact portion (contact portion) with the subject's ankle. Detect excitement).

  The lead wire insertion portion 144 is a substantially annular groove for inserting a lead wire of an electrocardiogram cable (not shown). An electrocardiogram signal detected at the contact portion between the raised portion 143 and the subject and transmitted through the electrode is transmitted to an external device such as a bedside monitor by the lead wire of the electrocardiogram cable inserted into the lead wire insertion portion 144 and amplified. It is converted into an electrocardiogram waveform by performing processing such as analog / digital conversion.

  It should be noted that a Karaya rubber electrode, a silver-silver chloride electrode, a platinum electrode, a carbon electrode, or the like can be used in place of the white electrode 140 depending on the usage status and setting environment of the clip electrode 100.

  The curved plates 110 and 120, the spring 130, and the hinge portion 150 have first and second surfaces facing each other, and function as a clip portion that sandwiches the measurement target site of the subject by the first and second surfaces. To do.

  The white electrode 140 is raised from the first surface to the second surface, and has a raised portion that comes into contact with the measurement target region when the measurement target region is sandwiched between the first and second surfaces. It has and functions as an electrode part which detects a subject's living body information by this protruding part.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the clip-type electrode 100 configured as described above will be described. Here, a case where the person in charge of measurement measures the electrocardiogram by attaching the clip-type electrode 100 to the ankle of the subject while the cuff is wound around the upper arm and ankle of the subject is described as an example.

  When nothing is inserted between the curved plates 110 and 120 and no force is applied to the knob portions 112 and 122 and they are separated (when not in use), the curved plates 110 and 120 are elastic of the spring 130. Closed by.

  When the person in charge of measurement grasps the knobs 112 and 122 and applies them when using them, the spring 130 is deformed against the elastic force, and the hinge 150 is formed between the curved plates 110 and 120. Opened at the center.

  When the ankle of the subject is inserted between the open curved plates 110 and 120 and the force to pinch the knobs 112 and 122 is weakened or zero, the curved plates 110 and 120 are restored by the elasticity of the spring 130. Closed. As a result, the inserted ankle of the subject is sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the curved plates 110 and 120 and fixed by the restoring force of the spring 130. At this time, the ankle of the subject is pressed by the raised portion 143 of the white electrode 140 attached to the curved plate 110 and the pair of protrusions 124 arranged in parallel on the inner side surface of the curved plate 120 (three-point support). . As a result, the inner surfaces of the curved plates 110 and 120 press the subject's ankle, and the curved plates 110 and 120 are less likely to slip on the subject's ankle.

  Attention is now paid to the raised portion 143 of the white electrode 140. The raised portion 143 contacts the ankle of the subject in a state where the ankle of the subject is sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the curved plates 110 and 120.

  Preferably, the most raised portion of the raised portion 143 comes into contact with a depression at the lower part of the subject's heel, and a smooth curved surface shape (for example, a hemispherical surface) centered on the most raised portion is the subject's heel. Abuts along the inclined surface from the bottom to the depression below. In this case, the raised portions 143 having a curved shape are in contact with each other, and a good contact area of the electrodes can be maintained as compared with other electrodes such as plate electrodes.

  Even in other contact positions, the raised portion 143 has a smooth curved surface, so that it can contact the subject's ankle while maintaining a constant contact area (contact area) rather than locally. it can. Further, since the curved surface shape of the raised portion 143 is substantially uniform from any angle, a constant contact area can be maintained regardless of the contact angle of the raised portion 143 with the ankle.

  Further, since the ankle of the subject is sandwiched and fixed between the inner surfaces of the curved plates 110 and 120 at any contact position, the test piece is tested with the white electrode 140 attached to the curved plate 110 and the subject. The relative position of the person's ankle does not change. Therefore, contact between the white electrode 140 and the ankle of the subject is not interrupted, and stable contact can be realized while maintaining the original contact area.

  The raised portion 143 detects an electrocardiogram signal, which is a minute electromotive force generated by the activity of the subject's heart, from the contact portion (contact portion) with the subject's ankle. The detected electrocardiogram signal is transmitted from the lead wire of the electrocardiogram cable inserted into the lead wire insertion section 144 to an external device such as a bedside monitor, and is converted into an electrocardiogram waveform by performing processing such as amplification and analog-digital conversion. The

  Thus, even when the cuff is wrapped around the subject's ankle, the electrode is stably brought into contact with the subject's ankle (preferably, a depression at the bottom of the heel) without being affected by the cuff. A constant contact area can be maintained. Therefore, the electrocardiogram signal can be detected stably without interruption, and the accuracy of the electrocardiogram measurement can be improved.

  In addition, since the raised portion 143 is optimally designed to have a raised curved surface shape, for example, a hemispherical shape, a white electrode without causing an uncomfortable feeling such as poor contact or excessive compression to a subject with a different ankle shape. 140 can be brought into contact with the ankle of the subject.

  Further, by changing the attachment position of the spring 130 to the attachment grooves 111 and 121, the strength with which the curved plates 110 and 120 pinch the ankle of the subject can be adjusted. The intensity can be selected.

  Further, since the white electrode 140 is slidably provided along the inner surface of the curved plate 110, the raised portion 143 of the white electrode 140 can be positioned according to the shape of the ankle of the subject.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the curved plates 110 and 120 having the first and second surfaces facing each other, the spring 130, and the hinge portion 150 are included, and the subject is formed by the first and second surfaces. And a raised portion that protrudes from the first surface to the second surface and contacts the measurement target portion when the measurement target portion is sandwiched between the first and second surfaces. And a white electrode 140 for detecting biological information of the subject by the raised portion 143. Thereby, even when the cuff is wound around the ankle of the subject, the electrode can be stably brought into contact with the ankle of the subject, and the electrocardiogram can be measured with high accuracy.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the clip-type electrode 100 is applied to an electrocardiogram measurement electrode has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the clip-type electrode 100 can be applied to uses other than the electrocardiogram measurement such as cardiac ultrasonography.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the subject's ankle is sandwiched between the clip-type electrodes 100 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the clip-type electrode 100 can also sandwich another measurement target site such as a subject's calf, wrist, or upper arm. In particular, the clip-type electrode 100 of the present invention can be advantageously applied when the exposed area of the measurement target region is small due to an attachment such as a bandage or a cast, or when it is difficult to reach the measurement target region.

(A) The perspective view which shows the clip type electrode which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, (B) The front view which shows the clip type electrode which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, (C) One embodiment of this invention The side view which shows the clip type electrode concerning (A) The perspective view which shows the white electrode which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, (B) The front view which shows the white electrode which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, (C) One embodiment of this invention Side view showing a white electrode according to

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Clip type electrode 110,120 Curved plate 111,121 Mounting groove 112,122 Knob part 113,123 Tip part 124 Projection part 130 Acre clip spring 140 White electrode 141 Claw part 142a, 142b, 142c Sliding projection part 143 Raised part 144 Lead wire insertion part 150 Hinge part

Claims (4)

A first plate member having a first surface, a second plate member having a second surface opposite to the first surface, and both end portions of the first and second plate members An attached spring, and using a return force due to the elasticity of the deformed spring, a clip portion that sandwiches the measurement target site of the subject by the first and second surfaces;
It was raised to the side of the second face from the first face, the one raised portion which abuts against the recess of said subject when sandwiching the measurement target site by the first and second surfaces An electrode part for detecting biological information of the subject by the raised part;
An adjustment unit that adjusts the strength with which the measurement target part is sandwiched between the first and second surfaces;
Have
The adjusting portion has a mounting groove formed of a plurality of grooves respectively provided in the first and second plate-like members for inserting an end portion of the spring, and any of the plurality of grooves includes the spring. The strength can be changed by inserting
A clip-type electrode characterized by that. The raised portion has a raised curved shape,
The clip-type electrode according to claim 1. The clip portion further includes a pair of protrusions arranged side by side on the second surface,
The pair of protrusions protrude from the second surface toward the first surface, and come into contact with the measurement target region when the measurement target region is sandwiched between the first and second surfaces. ,
The clip-type electrode according to claim 1. The electrode portion is slidably provided along the first surface.
The clip-type electrode according to claim 1.

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