JP6306889B2 - Bioelectrode adapter and bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bioelectrode adapter for connecting a bioelectrode to a bioelectric signal acquisition device and a bioelectric signal acquisition device using the same.

  Conventionally, bioelectric signals typified by an electrocardiogram have been widely used as information useful for diagnosis. In order to acquire a bioelectric signal, a bioelectrode attached to the body surface is required. There are various types of bioelectrodes depending on the type of bioelectric signal to be acquired, the acquisition environment, the acquisition period, and the like.

  For example, there are various types of bioelectrodes for acquiring an electrocardiogram depending on the types and number of leads to be acquired. For example, 10 electrodes are required for measurement of standard 12 leads, but the number of electrodes is reduced in an electrode that obtains 2ch induction obtained by a general Holter electrocardiograph. In addition, there may be cases where the number of electrodes is different even when the number of inductions is the same, such as when acquiring a plurality of inductions by using one electrode.

  In addition to the number of electrodes, there are differences in functionality such as the presence or absence of waterproofing and whether it is a disposable type, the shape of the connector part for attaching the electrode to the device, There are also differences.

  On the other hand, the bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus is generally compatible with various types of bioelectric signal acquisition with one apparatus. However, in order to connect bioelectrodes having various connector shapes, providing all possible connectors in the apparatus increases the cost and hinders downsizing of the apparatus. Therefore, the bioelectric signal acquisition device is provided with a small number (for example, one) of connectors, and the bioelectric signal acquisition device has physical and electrical differences in the physical shape of the connection portion of the bioelectrode. A bioelectrode adapter (also referred to as an intermediate cable or a relay cord) for conversion into specifications is used (Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-44208 A

  By using the bioelectrode adapter, various types of electrodes can be connected to the bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus. However, the bioelectric signal may not be correctly acquired unless the operation mode suitable for the connected electrode is set in the bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus.

  For example, when at least one of the electrode portions of the bioelectrode is also used, a necessary bioelectric signal cannot be acquired unless the bioelectric signal acquisition device recognizes it and operates. For example, electrocardiographic examination electrodes used for a Holter electrocardiograph to obtain a 2ch bipolar induction waveform include five electrodes (5-electrode type) and four electrodes (4-electrode type). is there.

  In the five-electrode type, five bioelectric signals of 1ch +, 1ch−, 2ch +, 2ch−, and N can be obtained from five electrodes. On the other hand, in the four-electrode type, for example, four bioelectric signals of 1ch +, 1ch− / 2ch−, 2ch +, and N can be obtained from the four electrodes. In this case, the electrode for acquiring the 1ch− / 2ch− bioelectric signal is a dual-purpose electrode that is also used for generating the induction waveforms of the two channels. The 4-electrode type is advantageous in terms of cost because it requires one less electrode than the 5-electrode type, and is also advantageous in that the burden on the subject can be reduced because the number of electrodes attached to the subject is small. is there. On the other hand, since the dual-purpose electrode exists, the direction of the heart that can be observed in each channel is more limited than the five-electrode type.

  Conventionally, a bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus corresponding to a bioelectrode having a dual-purpose electrode such as a four-electrode type has an operation mode for a bioelectrode having a dual-purpose electrode and an operation mode for a bioelectrode having no dual-purpose electrode. Therefore, it is necessary to set the operation mode according to the connected bioelectrode. And since this operation mode setting had to be performed manually by the user, the setting may be forgotten or wrong. If the correct operation mode is not set, a correct bioelectric signal cannot be acquired. Therefore, it is necessary to set the correct operation mode and perform measurement again, and there is room for improvement in terms of usability.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and uses a bioelectrode adapter that enables a bioelectric signal acquisition device to automatically set an operation mode corresponding to a bioelectrode, and the same. An object of the present invention is to provide a bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus.

The above-mentioned object is a bioelectrode adapter for connecting a bioelectrode for acquiring a predetermined bioelectric signal to a bioelectric signal acquisition device, and a first connection unit to which the bioelectrode is connected; A second connection unit connected to the bioelectric signal acquisition device, wherein the second connection unit provides identification information of the bioelectrode adapter to the bioelectric signal acquisition device, and the identification information is stored in the bioelectrode adapter. This is achieved by a bioelectrode adapter characterized in that it is information that can specify the number of bioelectric signal outputs supplied to the bioelectric signal acquisition device through the second connection unit .

  With such a configuration, according to the present invention, there is provided a bioelectrode adapter that enables the bioelectric signal acquisition device to automatically set an operation mode corresponding to the bioelectrode, and a bioelectric signal acquisition device using the same. be able to.

It is a figure which shows typically the example of an external appearance of the bioelectrode adapter and bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus which concern on embodiment of this invention, and the example of a bioelectrode. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of the Holter electrocardiograph as an example of the bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the example of the electrical connection relationship of the electrode for an electrocardiogram examination which concerns on embodiment, a bioelectrode adapter, and a Holter electrocardiograph. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation mode setting process operation | movement of the Holter electrocardiograph which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the example of the electrical connection relationship of the bioelectrode which concerns on another embodiment, a bioelectrode adapter, and a bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, an electrocardiogram examination electrode, which is a bioelectrode for obtaining an electrocardiogram (electrocardiogram waveform) as an example of a predetermined bioelectric signal, is used as a Holter electrocardiograph as an example of a bioelectric signal acquisition device. An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a bioelectrode adapter for connection to a wire will be described. The present invention is particularly useful in a bioelectrode adapter for connecting a bioelectrode having a different number of electrodes and the number of signals obtained, such as an electrocardiogram examination electrode, to a bioelectric signal acquisition device, but acquires other bioelectric signals. The present invention can also be applied to a bioelectrode adapter or a bioelectric signal acquisition device for connecting a bioelectrode for performing a bioelectric signal acquisition device.

  FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a Holter electrocardiograph 100 equipped with the bioelectrode adapter 11, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the bioelectrode adapter 11 on the Holter electrocardiograph 100 side. FIG. 1 and FIG. 1C are side views showing a configuration example of a bioelectrode adapter mounting portion of the Holter electrocardiograph 100. Further, FIG. 1A shows a five-electrode type (first type) bioelectrode 12A and a four-electrode type (second type) as examples of a plurality of types of electrocardiographic examination electrodes that can be used in this embodiment. The structure of the bioelectrode 12B of type) is schematically shown.

  The bioelectrode adapter 11 includes a connector 110 (first connection portion) that can connect the connector 121 included in the bioelectrodes 12A and 12B, and a connector 10a included in the sensor I / F 10 (FIG. 2) of the Holter electrocardiograph 100. And a connectable connector 112 (second connection portion). The connector 112 is a male connector corresponding to the female connector 10a, and has ten pins 116 corresponding to the terminals 10c and a lock pin 117 having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the lock hole 10b at the tip portion. The lock pin 117 is rotated by the operation of the lock lever 115, and in the locked position, the lock hole 10b and the direction are orthogonal to those at the time of insertion, thereby preventing the bioelectrode adapter 11 from being accidentally dropped.

  The biological electrode 12A has five electrode parts 122, and the biological electrode 12B has four electrode parts 123. Each electrode part 122,123 is electrically and mechanically connected through the connector 121 and the lead wire part. The connector 121 outputs bioelectric signals obtained at least by the electrode parts 122 and 123.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the Holter electrocardiograph 100.
In FIG. 2, the CPU 1 controls the entire Holter electrocardiograph by reading the control program stored in the ROM 2 into the RAM 3 and executing it. The ROM 2 is a non-volatile memory that stores parameters necessary for processing such as GUI data for displaying programs executed by the CPU 1, menu screens, user setting data, initial setting data, and the like, and at least a part thereof can be rewritten. It may be. The RAM 3 is used as an area for developing a program executed by the CPU 1 and a temporary storage area for variables, data, and the like. The memory card 4 is a storage device that stores the bioelectric signal itself input from the bioelectrode or another bioelectric signal or data obtained by processing the bioelectric signal in the form of digital data. The memory card 4 is detachably attached to the card slot 5.

  The display unit 6 is a liquid crystal display device, for example. The operation unit 8 includes switches, buttons, and the like for turning on / off the power, starting / stopping measurement, inputting various events, and performing various settings. The operation unit 8 may include a touch panel provided on the display unit 6.

An analog-digital converter (A / D converter) 9 converts an analog bioelectric signal input from the bioelectrode into a digital bioelectric signal. The sensor I / F 10 is an interface for connecting the bioelectrode adapter 11 and acquiring a bioelectric signal from the bioelectrode, and includes the connector 10a shown in FIG. In addition to the bioelectrode adapter 11, the sensor I / F 10 may include a connector to which an SpO ₂ (arterial blood oxygen saturation) sensor, a cuff for measuring blood pressure / pulse wave, and the like can be connected.
The communication interface 20 is a communication interface for communicating with an external device 40 such as a host computer or a printer, and has a configuration conforming to a wired and / or wireless communication standard.

  For example, when acquiring and recording an electrocardiogram (inductive waveform) using a Holter electrocardiograph having such a configuration, the electrode portions 122 and 123 of the biological electrode 12 are attached to predetermined positions on the body surface of the subject, The connector 121 is connected to the connector 110 of the bioelectrode adapter 11. Further, the connector 112 of the bioelectrode adapter 11 is connected to the connector 10a of the sensor I / F 10.

  For example, when the power is turned on by operating the operation unit 8, the CPU 1 performs an operation mode setting process for acquiring an electrocardiographic waveform at a timing before starting the acquisition of a bioelectric signal, such as an initialization process. Can do. In the present embodiment, a corresponding operation based on information obtained from the bioelectrode adapter 11 connected to the sensor I / F 10 and indicating the number of bioelectric signals output from the bioelectrode adapter 11. The mode is set automatically. Details of the operation mode setting process will be described later with reference to FIG.

Further, the CPU 1 displays an input screen or the like for allowing the user to set the date and time and information (for example, patient ID, etc.) that can specify the subject before starting the recording operation of the bioelectric signal, if necessary. May be. Then, for example, the CPU 1 starts the recording operation of the bioelectric signal in response to an input of a recording start instruction from the operation unit 8 or the elapse of a predetermined time after the power is turned on. The bioelectric signal acquisition itself may be executed before the start of the recording process. For example, by performing a waveform display corresponding to the current operation mode on the display unit 6, it is possible for the user to confirm from the waveform display whether the operation mode is set correctly.
Note that the bioelectric signal recording operation is not directly related to the present invention and may be the same as the conventional one, so that further explanation is omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an electrical connection relationship among the electrocardiogram examination electrode, the bioelectrode adapter, and the Holter electrocardiograph according to the embodiment. The bioelectrode adapter 11 of this embodiment enables the connected Holter electrocardiograph 100 to recognize the type of the bioelectrode adapter 11 or the number of bioelectric signals that the bioelectrode adapter 11 supplies through the connector 112. Identification information is supplied to the Holter electrocardiograph 100. This identification information can have any form and value that can be recognized by the Holter electrocardiograph 100. In this embodiment, the voltage value between two predetermined pins among the pins of the connector 112 is used. Provide as identification information.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, two pins that are not used for supplying a bioelectric signal are short-circuited by a resistor 111 having a specific value. In the Holter electrocardiograph 100, these two pins are connected to a detection terminal (DETECT) connected to a predetermined voltage (+ V) via a pull-up resistor 101 and a ground terminal. Therefore, in the Holter electrocardiograph 100, the bioelectrode adapter is detected by detecting whether the voltage at the detection terminal is a predetermined value (value obtained by dividing + V by the ratio of the pull-up resistors 101 and 111). It can be recognized whether 11 is a bioelectrode adapter that supplies bioelectric signals for five electrodes. Therefore, if a plurality of values of the resistance 111 are set in advance, a plurality of types of bioelectrode adapters can be identified by the Holter electrocardiograph 100.

  In the present embodiment, the bioelectrode adapter 11 has an equal number of bioelectric signal outputs, for example, dual-purpose electrodes, regardless of which of the five-electrode type bioelectrode 12A and the four-electrode type bioelectrode 12B is connected to the connector 110. The bioelectric signal output is supplied to the Holter electrocardiograph 100 as many as the number of electrode portions (5 in this case) of the bioelectrode not having the. Therefore, the value of the resistor 111 is a value corresponding to identification information (voltage) which means that five bioelectric signals are supplied (or a bioelectrode adapter of a type that supplies five bioelectric signals).

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the four-electrode type bioelectrode 12B divides the bioelectric signal obtained from the dual-purpose electrode (here, the single-channel and dual-channel electrodes) inside the connector 121. Suppose that it is comprised so that it may output as two bioelectric signals (1ch- and 2ch-). Therefore, the adapter 11 may be configured to supply the signal of each channel received from the bioelectrode 12A or 12B to the Holter electrocardiograph 100 as it is.

  Next, the operation mode setting process in the Holter electrocardiograph 100 in the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. This process is executed mainly by the CPU 1.

  First, the CPU 1 determines the type of the bioelectrode adapter 11 or the number of bioelectric signals supplied by the bioelectrode adapter 11 based on the identification information of the bioelectrode adapter 11 connected to the sensor I / F 10. As described above, in the present embodiment, the CPU 1 acquires the voltage value of the detection terminal in the connector 10 c as identification information of the bioelectrode adapter 11.

  Here, for ease of explanation and understanding, the operation mode for the Holter electrocardiograph 100 to acquire and record the electrocardiogram waveform is a five-electrode mode (a mode in which five bioelectric signals are acquired and operated). A four-electrode mode (a mode in which four bioelectric signals are acquired and operated) is assumed. Accordingly, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the bioelectrode adapter 11 is a 5-electrode output type based on the identification information acquired from the bioelectrode adapter 11 (S401).

  If the voltage at the detection terminal indicates a 5-electrode output type (or the number of output bioelectric signals is 5), the CPU 1 automatically sets the operation mode of the Holter electrocardiograph 100 to the 5-electrode mode (S403). The operation mode setting process ends.

  On the other hand, when the voltage of the detection terminal is not a value indicating the 5-electrode output type (or the number of output bioelectric signals is 5), the CPU 1 displays a setting screen for allowing the user to specify the operation mode on the display unit 6. (S405). Here, the reason why the 4-electrode mode is not automatically set is that the possibility that the connected bioelectrode adapter 11 is a specification that does not provide identification information even when the connected bioelectrode adapter 11 is a 5-electrode output type is considered. . For example, if the voltage at the detection terminal indicates a four-electrode output type (or the number of output bioelectric signals is four), the CPU 1 automatically sets the operation mode of the Holter electrocardiograph 100 to the four-electrode mode and operates. The mode setting process may be terminated.

  When the 5-electrode mode or the 4-electrode mode is designated by the user through the setting screen, the CPU 1 sets the designated operation mode (S407) and ends the operation mode setting process.

  The Holter electrocardiograph 100 operates to separate and use bioelectric signals corresponding to the dual-purpose electrodes when the four-electrode mode is set. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a bioelectric signal supplied from the dual-purpose electrode as a 1ch- and 2ch- bioelectric signal (here, assumed to be supplied to a 1ch- terminal) in the 4-electrode mode. The internal operation (inductive waveform generation processing, etc.) is changed so as to be used as a 2ch- bioelectric signal. In FIG. 3, for the sake of easy understanding, the mechanical switch 102 is switched between ON and OFF in the five-electrode mode and the four-electrode mode. However, the mechanical switch need not be used. That is, in the case of the 4-electrode mode, the induction waveform of the second channel may be generated by using the signal obtained from the 1ch− terminal instead of the signal obtained from the 2ch− terminal with the signal obtained from the 2ch + terminal.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the bioelectrode adapter is provided so as to provide the bioelectric signal acquisition device with identification information that can identify the type of bioelectrode adapter or the number of bioelectric signals supplied by the bioelectrode adapter. Configured. Therefore, in the bioelectric signal acquisition device, it is possible to automatically set an appropriate operation mode corresponding to the bioelectrode used, and the type of bioelectrode used and the bioelectric signal acquisition device set It is possible to avoid a problem caused by a difference in the operation mode.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the 4-electrode type bioelectrode 12B is a 4-electrode / 5-output type configured to supply five bioelectric signal outputs. Therefore, the bioelectrode adapter 11 has the same configuration regardless of whether the bioelectrode connected to the connector 110 is a 5-electrode type or a 4-electrode type. However, when the 4-electrode / 4-output type bioelectrode 12B ′ is connected, the bioelectrode adapter 11 can convert the output to 5 outputs.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the bioelectric signal corresponding to the dual-purpose electrode (here, the signal supplied as 1ch−) is divided into two (1ch−, 2ch−) inside the bioelectrode adapter 11 ′. What is necessary is just to comprise so that it may branch and output. However, in this case, it is necessary to use the bioelectrode adapter 11 separately for the 4-electrode / 4-output type, the 5-electrode type, and the 4-electrode / 5-output type. It is desirable to configure so that the connection between the bioelectrode and the bioelectrode adapter 11 is not mistakenly performed, for example, by changing between the 4-output type, the 5-electrode type, and the 4-electrode / 5-output type. Since the shapes of the connectors 110 and 121 are different from the shape of the connector 10a of the bioelectric signal acquisition device and need not be shared, such measures can be easily taken.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the operation mode corresponding to the type of bioelectrode having five (first plurality) electrode portions and the type of bioelectrode having four (second plurality) electrode portions. The bioelectric signal acquisition device in which the bioelectric signal is present and the bioelectrode adapter used in combination with the bioelectric signal acquisition device have been described. However, for example, in a bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus that acquires a 3ch bipolar induction waveform, six or five bioelectrodes having seven electrode portions (no dual-purpose electrode) and one or two dual-purpose electrodes The present invention can be similarly applied to other combinations such as a combination of a bioelectric signal acquisition device having an operation mode corresponding to a bioelectrode having an electrode portion and a bioelectrode adapter. Identification information representing the number of signals supplied from the bioelectrode adapter is provided from the bioelectrode adapter to the bioelectric signal acquisition device, and the bioelectric signal acquisition device automatically sets an operation mode corresponding to the number of bioelectric signals corresponding to the identification information. can do.

Claims (10)

A bioelectrode adapter for connecting a bioelectric electrode for acquiring a predetermined bioelectric signal to a bioelectric signal acquisition device,
A first connection to which the bioelectrode is connected;
A second connection unit connected to the bioelectric signal acquisition device,
The second connection unit provides identification information of the bioelectrode adapter to the bioelectric signal acquisition device ,
The bioelectrode adapter, wherein the identification information is information that can specify the number of bioelectric signal outputs that the bioelectrode adapter supplies to the bioelectric signal acquisition device through the second connection unit . A bioelectrode adapter for connecting a bioelectric electrode for acquiring a predetermined bioelectric signal to a bioelectric signal acquisition device,
A first connection to which the bioelectrode is connected;
A second connection unit connected to the bioelectric signal acquisition device,
The second connection unit provides identification information of the bioelectrode adapter to the bioelectric signal acquisition device,
The identification information is represented by a specific voltage;
Wherein the biological electrode adapter, BIOLOGICAL electrode adapter you further comprising a voltage generating means for outputting said specific voltage to the bioelectrical signal acquisition device through the second connecting portion. Wherein the voltage generating means, the second bioelectrode adapter of claim 2, wherein the connecting portion is for connecting a resistor between the two pins with the. A bioelectrode adapter for connecting a bioelectric electrode for acquiring a predetermined bioelectric signal to a bioelectric signal acquisition device,
A first connection to which the bioelectrode is connected;
A second connection unit connected to the bioelectric signal acquisition device,
The second connection unit provides identification information of the bioelectrode adapter to the bioelectric signal acquisition device,
The first connection unit includes a first type of bioelectrode having a plurality of first electrodes as a bioelectrode for acquiring the predetermined bioelectric signal, and the first plurality of bioelectric signals. Any one of the second type bioelectrodes having a few second plurality of electrodes is connected;
The bioelectric electrode adapter has the same number of bioelectrics as the first plurality, regardless of which of the first type of bioelectrode and the second type of bioelectrode is connected to the first connection portion. Configured to supply a signal output to the bioelectric signal acquisition device through the second connection,
BIOLOGICAL electrode adapter you characterized in that said identification information is information capable of specifying the first plurality. The second-type bioelectrode divides a bioelectric signal obtained from at least one predetermined electrode into a plurality of parts, and outputs a plurality of bioelectric signals equal to the first plurality. The bioelectrode adapter according to claim 4 , wherein the bioelectrode adapter is configured to output. A second type of bioelectrode having a second plurality of electrodes less than the first plurality is connected to the first connection portion,
The bioelectrode adapter divides a predetermined bioelectric signal into a plurality of the plurality of second bioelectric signals output from the second type bioelectrode, and outputs the first bioelectric signal. 5. The bioelectrode adapter according to claim 4 , wherein the bioelectric adapter is configured to output a number of bioelectric signals equal to a plurality of the bioelectric signals through the second connection portion. The first is a combination of a plurality and said second plurality, 7 and 5 or 5 and 4 of claims 4 to 6 bioelectrode adapter according to any one of to, characterized in that either. A bioelectric signal acquisition device comprising:
A third connection part capable of connecting the second connection part of the bioelectrode adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The bioelectric signal acquisition device automatically selects an operation mode for acquiring the predetermined bioelectric signal in accordance with the identification information obtained from the bioelectrode adapter connected to the third connection unit. A bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus characterized by comprising setting means for setting. An operation for obtaining the predetermined bioelectric signal, comprising: a third connecting portion connectable to the second connecting portion of the bioelectrode adapter according to any one of claims 4 to 7. A bioelectric signal acquisition device having, as modes, a first operation mode corresponding to the first type of bioelectrode and a second operation mode corresponding to the second type of bioelectrode,
Based on the information obtained from the bioelectrode adapter connected to the third connection unit, setting means for automatically setting the operation mode of the bioelectric signal acquisition device to the first operation mode is provided. A bioelectric signal acquisition device characterized by the above. The setting means includes
When the identification information cannot be obtained from the bioelectrode adapter connected to the third connection unit, a setting screen for allowing the user to specify an operation mode of the bioelectric signal acquisition device is displayed on the bioelectric signal acquisition device. Display on the means,
The bioelectric signal acquisition apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 , wherein an operation mode specified through the setting screen is set as an operation mode for acquiring the predetermined bioelectric signal.

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