RU2647140C2 - Device for transmission of biophysiological signals - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medical equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of electrical equipment used in medicine and can be used to transmit electrical signals taken from the body of a biological object (human or animal), to the recording device. Device for the transmission of biophysiological signals contains cable (1) and contacts connected to it (2). Cable includes a shell inside which conductors are located, and on its outer side at a distance from each other there are contacts to be placed on the body surface of a biological object. Each contact is electrically connected to the corresponding conductor. Also, the device comprises at least one digital signal channel configured to be connected to at least one digital unit and disposed in a sheath along with the conductors.

EFFECT: increase in functionality is achieved by providing the possibility of connection with auxiliary devices equipped with a digital output.

8 cl, 5 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to the field of electrical engineering used in medicine, and can be used to transmit electrical signals taken from the body of a biological object (human or animal) to a recording device.

Known conductor ECG system [US 6891379 B2, "EKG WIRING SYSTEM", G01R 27/04, publ. May 10, 2005], in essence, a device for transmitting biophysiological signals, such as an electrocardiological signal, consisting of a cable and a connector for connecting to a recording device. The cable contains a sheath, inside of which are many coaxial conductors that are electrically connected to the connector. On the outer side of the shell at a distance from each other there are many contacts made with the possibility of placing on the surface of the body of a biological object. The contacts on the body are placed by connecting with electrodes that are attached directly to the skin. Each contact is electrically connected to a corresponding conductor.

This known device is selected as a prototype, since it has the largest number of essential features that match the essential features of the claimed invention.

A disadvantage of the known cable is its low functionality, since it provides only the removal of analog electrocardiograms, while for the doctor there are a number of other diagnostically significant physiological signals that also need to be transmitted to the recording device, for example, temperature, movement and body position, myogram, oculogram, pneumogram and others. In various design implementations, some signals can be recorded in analog form, but can be converted into digital form using digital sensors directly on the body and then transmitted to the recording device using a digital cable channel.

Digital signal transmission is preferred because the digital signal is more resistant to interference and less likely to lose some of the information. The digital memory unit can store and transmit service information to the recording device, for example, the number of cable settings, cable serial number, and more. The inside information is then used, for example, to assess the remaining cable life in order to replace it in a timely manner in order to prevent its sudden failure and loss of examination results.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a new device for transmitting biophysiological signal channels with the achievement of the following technical result: increasing functionality by providing connectivity to auxiliary devices equipped with a digital output.

The problem is solved due to the fact that in the known device for transmitting biophysiological signals containing a cable and contacts connected to it, the cable includes a sheath, inside which the conductors are located, and on its outer side, contacts made with with the possibility of placing a biological object on the body surface, each contact is electrically connected to a corresponding conductor, at least one digital signal channel is introduced according to the present invention al made with the possibility of connection with at least one digital unit and located in the shell together with the conductors.

There are options for the development of the main technical solution, which consists in the fact that:

- the digital signal channel has an individual screen;

- introduced at least one digital unit, electrically connected to a digital signal channel;

- a physiological signal sensor is used as a digital unit, for example, a motion / body position sensor, temperature sensor, myographic sensor, oculographic sensor, pneumographic sensor;

- a storage unit is used as a digital unit;

- the cable on one side is electrically connected to the connector for its connection with the recording device;

- the contacts are made in the form of electrodes for removing electrical potentials from the surface of the body of a biological object;

- the contacts are made in the form of attachment devices and electrical connections with electrodes for removing electrical potentials from the body surface of a biological object and external sensors of physiological signals.

Thus, using the totality of the claimed features, it is possible to increase the functionality of the device for transmitting biophysiological signals by providing the ability to connect with auxiliary devices equipped with a digital output, due to the introduction of a digital signal channel. This is due to the fact that the digital channel provides the ability to connect a cable to at least one digital unit intended for digitalization of physiological signals of a biological object, such as temperature, movement and body position, myogram, oculogram, pneumogram, and others, as well as recording, storing and transmitting service information to the recording device, for example, the number of cable settings, cable serial number, and more. The inside information is then used, for example, to assess the remaining cable life in order to replace it in a timely manner in order to prevent its sudden failure and loss of examination results.

In fact, each digital unit is a source of a digital signal and, for example, a temperature sensor, a motion / body position sensor, a myographic sensor, an oculographic sensor, a storage unit, etc. can be used as such. In addition, the presence of sensors improves the diagnostic accuracy for by adding additional information parameters for assessing the state of a biological object. The storage unit can further improve the reliability of the cable, since the storage unit can contain an individual cable number, which allows the recording device to automatically place this number in the resulting record of monitoring results. When processing a record, the presence of an individual number will allow the automated system to analyze the quality of the cable, determine the need for repair or replacement. Also, the storage unit may contain information about the number of monitoring cycles that have been performed by this cable. This number is automatically modified by the recording device at each subsequent cycle. The number of cycles allows you to assess the condition of the cable and the degree of its wear, and also to make a forecast of the remaining resource of its work. Since cable wear and, consequently, signal quality deterioration occurs gradually, this process may not always be obvious to the doctor. The forecast of the cable resource by the number of settings allows you to avoid situations of critical cable failure during monitoring and, thereby, the loss of a long (daily, multi-day) recording. The presence of such information in the storage unit makes it possible to automatically transfer it to the resulting monitorogram and subsequently automatically process this data in information systems.

The essence of the claimed invention and the possibility of its practical implementation is illustrated by the description and drawings below.

In FIG. 1 shows a device for transmitting biophysiological signals, cable sections of which are made in the form of a “snake”.

In FIG. 2 shows a device for transmitting biophysiological signals, cable sections of which are made in the form of rings offset from each other.

In FIG. 3 shows a device for transmitting biophysiological signals, cable sections of which are made in the form of a spiral.

In FIG. 4 shows a cross section.

In FIG. 5 shows a device for transmitting biophysiological signals with a digital unit.

The device (Fig. 1-5) for transmitting biophysiological signals contains a cable 1 and contacts 2 connected to it. Cable 1 includes a sheath 3, inside which conductors 4 are located, and on its outer side at a distance from each other there are contacts 2 made with the possibility of placement on the surface of the body of a biological object (not shown in the drawing), each contact 2 is electrically connected to a corresponding conductor 4. The contacts on the body are placed using a connection with electrodes (not shown in the drawing), which are fixed directly to the skin.

A device for transmitting biophysiological signals can be connected to a recording device (not shown in the drawing) via cable 1 directly or using connector 5, to which cable 1 is electrically connected on one side.

In this case, the cable portions 1 located between the contacts 2 are made elastically deformed and can be a "snake" (Fig. 1), many rings displaced from each other (Fig. 2) or spiral (Fig. 3). The magnitude of this elastic deformation of cable portions 1 is determined depending on the location parameters of the contacts on the body of the biological object (not shown in the drawing), namely, the distance between the points on the body on which contacts 2 should be fixed for correct removal and transmission of biophysiological signals. The length of the conductors 4 is made so that the necessary elastic deformation of the cable 1 does not lead to excessive tearing forces on the electrodes.

In the case where the sections of the cable 1 between the contacts (electrodes) 2 are made in the form of a “snake”, the manufacturing process includes laying the cable 1 in a shape that has grooves corresponding to the final shape of the “snake”, heating the cable 1, for example, using a hairdryer, to the thermoplastic state of the sheath, and the cooling of the cable 1. After cooling, the sections of cable 1 retain the shape of a “snake”. The number of “snake” waves and their height in the area between the contacts 2 is determined by the diameter of the cable 1 and the nominal distance between the contacts 2. For example, for the cable section 1 with a diameter of 3 mm and the nominal distance between the contacts 2 30 cm, the number of snake waves can be 7-8 pcs ., the wave height of the snake can be 4-5 cm.

In the case where the sections of the cable 1 between the contacts (electrodes) 2 are made in the form of a flexible spiral, the manufacturing process of the spiral includes winding the cable 1 onto the rod with grooves, heating, for example, a hairdryer, to the state of thermoplasticity, cooling the cable 1, after which the sections of the cable 1 retain their shape spirals. The diameter of the spiral and the number of rings are selected depending on the diameter of the cable 1 and the nominal distance between the contacts 2. For example, for cable 1 with a diameter of 3 mm and the nominal distance between the contacts 2 30 cm, the diameter of the spiral can be 2 cm, the number of turns is 15 pcs.

In the case where the sections of the cable 1 between the contacts (electrodes) 2 are made in the form of one or more rings, located approximately in the same plane parallel to each other with a shift, the manufacturing process is similar to manufacturing a "snake", and the shape has grooves in the form of rings. The diameter of the rings and their number are selected depending on the diameter of the cable 1 and the nominal distance between the contacts 2. For example, for the cable section 1 with a diameter of 3 mm and a nominal distance between the contacts of 30 cm, the diameter of the rings can be 5-8 cm, the number of rings is 1-3 pcs . Such “flat” rings less interfere with the patient under clothes and can be attached to the body at individual points with a patch.

Example. When moving, the human body changes its geometric dimensions. For example, when inhaling, the volume of the chest increases. On exhalation, it decreases. When performing various physical exercises, individual muscles become tense and, accordingly, thicken, while relaxing, they decrease in volume. Part of contacts 2 is established on the chest, which, when inhaling / exhaling, significantly changes linear dimensions. If the length of cable 1 between the contacts is exactly equal to the distance between the installation points on the body, then when these body sizes are changed, excessive voltage can lead to the breakdown of contacts 2, which can make a long (daily) recording defective. The cable 1, made in the form of a “snake”, allows the distance between the established contacts to be changed, and due to the elasticity of the “snake”, there are no strong forces at the contact attachment points. By decreasing the distance (for example, when exhaling), due to the springy properties, the “snake” reduces the length of the cable section 1, thereby preventing the cable 1 from sagging between the contacts 2 and the “bounce” of the signal resulting from this, which leads to an increase in the measurement accuracy.

Contacts 2 can be made in the form of electrodes for removing electrical potentials from the surface of the body of a biological object (not shown in the drawing) or in the form of contact attachment devices and electrical connections to electrodes for removing electrical potentials from the surface of the body of a biological object (not shown), as well as for mounting physiological signals to external sensors (not shown in the drawing). The electrodes and external sensors can be mounted on pneumatic suction cups (not shown in the drawing), using a self-adhesive layer (not shown in the drawing), using an adhesive plaster (not shown in the drawing). Contact fastening devices have spring elements (not shown in the drawing) that are worn on the metal part of the electrode and on the output contacts of the external sensor.

Between the sheath 3 and the conductors 4, a common screen 6 can be placed, and each conductor 4 can be placed in an individual screen 7. Moreover, part or all of the screens 7 can be made of conductive plastic material, for example, carbon-containing polypropylene, carbon-containing polyethylene, carbon-containing polyurethane . An individual screen 7 shunts currents from electrification arising from mechanical stresses on cable 1. In contrast to the used metal screens, a conductive plastic screen 7 reduces the weight of cable 1 and metal consumption, increases flexibility, and reduces the minimum bending radius of the cable. Metal screens are made on top of the insulation of the conductor, usually in the form of a spiral tape winding or in the form of a woven mesh of non-ferrous metals (for example, tinned copper). The use of conductive plastic eliminates the need for non-ferrous metals, thereby reducing the metal consumption of the cable. Having a comparable thickness, the weight of the plastic screen is also less than metal, which reduces the total weight of the cable. A plastic screen made in the form of a tube has less bending stiffness than spiral and wicker screens made of metal, which provides increased flexibility of the cable as a whole and, accordingly, the ability of the cable to bend without damage with a smaller radius, i.e. the minimum allowable bending radius of the cable is reduced.

At the time of defibrillator discharge, different electrodes located at different points in the patient’s body can have different potentials, which creates an electric current through the cable and through the recording device (recorder). And since the voltage and current strength of the defibrillator discharge are large, the discharge current can lead to the failure of the recording device. Therefore, overvoltage protection elements 8 can be introduced, for example, against a defibrillator discharge, each of which is electrically located between the corresponding conductor 4 and the common shield 6 or between the corresponding conductor 4 and its individual shield 7. As overvoltage protection elements 8 can be applied varistors, suppressors, arresters, zener diodes, etc. The connection of the wires of all ECG channels with one common screen 6 or with individual screens 7 protects the ECG recorder from defibrillator discharges as follows. When a defibrillator is discharged, the current path between electrodes with different potentials passes from one electrode through the protection element 8 to the screen 6 of cable 1, then a limited section of the screen 6 passes away from the recorder to another electrode and closes to another electrode through another protection element 8. In this case, the current does not pass through the recording device. High voltage is also not supplied to the input of the recording device. There is an increase in the reliability of the measuring device due to the fact that when a defibrillator is discharged, the recorder connected to it is not exposed to high voltage, which can lead to failure of the recorder.

The inventive cable contains at least one digital signal channel 9 (Fig. 4) located in the sheath 3 together with conductors 4 and connected to the connector 5 for data transmission, which allows you to connect at least one external digital unit to the cable 1 (in the drawing not shown) or the built-in digital unit 10 (Fig. 5) connected to the digital signal channel 9. The external digital unit and the built-in digital unit 10 represent a digital signal source, and a motion / position sensor, a temperature sensor can be used as it eratury, myographic, okulografichesky, pnevmografichesky sensor storage unit. In this case, the built-in digital unit 10 can be located in the connector 5, in the contact housing 2, separately on the conductor connected to the cable 1. Moreover, several digital units can be connected to one digital signal channel 9.

The inventive cable is used as follows.

Electrodes and sensors are placed on the patient’s body for the collection of biophysiological signals. These can be ECG electrodes, rheographic, myographic, oculographic and other electrodes, as well as holders of a motion / body position sensor, temperature sensor, digital myographic, oculographic, rheographic sensors, etc. The layout of the electrodes and sensors can be different depending on the purpose examination (monitoring), as a rule, the layout is determined by the applied medical technique. Placed electrodes and sensors through contacts 2 are connected to each other by cable 1, cable 1 is connected to the recorder input through connectors or through connector 5, thereby the electrodes and sensors placed on the body are electrically connected to the recorder. Analog signals from the electrodes are transmitted through conductors 4, digital signals from digital blocks 10 are transmitted through a digital signal channel 9, while the analog and digital channels are electrically isolated from each other, which ensures minimal mutual influence of the signals. After the start of registration, the patient can remain in a medical institution or conduct normal activities in normal living conditions for a given monitoring period (from several hours to several days). At the end of monitoring, the electrodes and sensors are removed from the patient's body. The information accumulated during the monitoring from analog and digital channels (recorded biophysiological signals, cable number 1, the number of cycles of its use) is transmitted to the information system for further processing in order to obtain diagnostically significant signs.

Claims (8)

1. A device for transmitting biophysiological signals containing a cable and contacts connected to it, and the cable includes a sheath, inside which the conductors are located, and on its outer side at a distance from each other, contacts are made that can be placed on the surface of the body of a biological object, each contact is electrically connected to a corresponding conductor, characterized in that at least one digital signal channel is introduced, configured to connect to at least one The digital block and disposed in the sheath together with the conductors. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the digital signal channel has an individual screen. 3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one digital unit is introduced, electrically connected to a digital signal channel. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that a physiological signal sensor, for example a motion / body position sensor, a temperature sensor, a myographic sensor, an oculographic sensor, a pneumographic sensor, is used as a digital unit. 5. The device according to p. 3, characterized in that the storage unit is used as a digital unit. 6. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that the cable on one side is electrically connected to the connector for its connection with the recording device. 7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the contacts are made in the form of electrodes for removing electrical potentials from the body surface of a biological object. 8. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that the contacts are made in the form of attachment devices and electrical connections with electrodes for removing electrical potentials from the body surface of a biological object and external sensors of physiological signals.

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