TW201626938A - Cardiovascular health monitoring device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a cardiovascular health monitoring device and method. The cardiovascular health monitoring device comprises a housing, a control circuit, an inflatable blood pressure cuff for winding around an upper limb of a user, a pump received within the housing, at least a first electrode and a second electrode, and an ear wearable structure having the first electrode disposed thereon. In which, during blood pressure measurement, the processor controls the pump to inflate and deflate the blood pressure cuff to detect the user's blood pressure; and, during electrocardiography signal measurement, the ear wearable structure is worn on the user's ear such that the first electrode is in contact with the ear skin or the skin near the ear, and the blood pressure cuff is wound around on the upper limb to make the second electrode in contact with the skin of upper limb skin, such that the processor can capture the electrocardiography signals via the first and second electrode.

Description

Cardiovascular health monitoring device and method

The present invention relates to a cardiovascular health monitoring device and method, and more particularly to a cardiovascular health monitoring device having blood pressure and electrocardiographic signal measuring functions, and a method of monitoring cardiovascular health through the device.

Modern people are paying more and more attention to their health, especially cardiovascular health, and sphygmomanometer is one of the most commonly used monitoring devices for monitoring cardiovascular health in daily life, not only because of its ease of use, but also because Hypertension is one of the risk factors associated with various chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

One of the most common sphygmomanometers at home is the electronic sphygmomanometer. The operation procedure is to first fix the pressure belt, then press the start button and wait for the blood pressure measurement to be completed automatically. This simple operation process allows the user to conveniently Regularly record changes in blood pressure values to effectively control your cardiovascular health.

Recently, due to user needs and technological developments, in addition to the function of measuring blood pressure, some sphygmomanometers have begun to provide more information about the cardiovascular system, for example, information related to arrhythmia derived from arterial pulse. A sphygmomanometer that provides information about atrial fibrillation (AF) is proposed, for example, in US702514.

In general, the basis for judging arrhythmia is the electrocardiogram, and the electrocardiogram is currently the most accurate response to cardiac activity. In the normal ECG waveform shown in Figure 1, The P wave represents the process of atrial depolarization, the QRS wave reflects the rapid depolarization process of the left and right ventricles, the T wave represents the rapid repolarization process of the ventricle, and the PR interval refers to the time from the start of the P wave to the start of the QRS wave. Responding to the time required for the heart's electrical signal to pass through the ventricular node and passing through the atrioventricular node, the ST segment represents the process of slow repolarization of the ventricle. Therefore, by observing the shape change of the waveform, it is known. Information about the activities of various parts of the heart, and to distinguish the symptoms caused by that part of the heart.

For example, a common symptom of arrhythmia, Premature Beats, is divided into premature atrial contractions (PAC) that occur in the atria, and early onset ventricles that occur in the ventricles. Premature ventricular contractions (PVC). When distinguishing between the two, it is usually possible to determine whether the contraction is from the atria or the ventricle by observing whether the shape of the P wave and/or the QRS wave is abnormal. In the case of these two types of early-onset contractions, since the ventricular contraction is responsible for driving the blood out of the heart and transporting it to the body, when the ventricular contraction is abnormal, the blood will not be able to be played normally, resulting in the body not being able to obtain normal. Blood supply, therefore, abnormalities in ventricular contraction compared to atrial contraction are more serious symptoms.

However, when the sphygmomanometer provides information on arrhythmia, the heart rate is determined based on the arterial pulse, and then the arrhythmia is determined. Generally, when the heart rate is abnormal, the waveform of the arterial pulse is often difficult to distinguish. The occurrence of early-onset contractions originates from the atrium or ventricle, and does not correctly inform the user of the severity of the detected symptoms. In addition, because the arterial pulse is the heartbeat, the blood is transmitted through the bloodstream and then to the limb. As a result of the above measurement, there is also a problem that the accuracy cannot be compared with the electrocardiogram. Therefore, even if the sphygmomanometer can easily screen out a part of the arrhythmia symptoms, it is inevitable that the heart rhythm is not The final final judgment still needs to be confirmed by observing the electrocardiogram.

In addition, during the measurement of blood pressure, during the process of filling and deflation of the cuff, different pressures will be exerted on the blood vessels of the arm. When the pressure is too high, the amplitude of the arterial pulse may become smaller due to compression to the blood vessel. The pulse measurement performed may cause omissions and cause misjudgment. Therefore, when using the pulsatometer to obtain the arterial pulse, there are more restrictions on the use, and the pressure change of the cuff must be considered. For the effects of blood vessels, and when used to determine arrhythmia, it is also necessary to consider whether to cause an incorrect diagnosis.

Therefore, according to the foregoing, in discussing cardiovascular health, it is preferable to take blood pressure measurement and electrocardiogram detection into consideration at the same time.

Therefore, if there is a device that can provide both blood pressure measurement and ECG measurement, it is believed that it will bring great improvements to the field of cardiovascular health monitoring, especially the screening and judgment of arrhythmia. Provides considerable convenience for clinical diagnosis.

The sphygmomanometer is one of the most common and highly popular cardiovascular health monitoring devices in the family. Compared with the sphygmomanometer, the ECG measuring device used at home is less familiar, so if you can The combination of ECG measurement and sphygmomanometer allows the ECG measurement to go deeper into daily life through the familiarity of the general user with the blood pressure measurement operation process, which helps home users understand and master their own cardiovascular system. Health also allows these two physiological signals that are related to each other to be used more effectively.

Commonly used home-use ECG signal measuring devices are mostly hand-held ECG detecting devices, which allow the user to measure by hand holding the detecting device, using no conductive paste and direct contact with the skin. A dry electrode that can be measured and reusable, so it is quite convenient for home use.

One of the common methods of operation is when the user is holding the device in one hand and simultaneously touching the electrode on the surface of the device, and then touching the other electrode to the other hand or the torso, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. To get an electrocardiogram.

However, the biggest problem faced by such a method is also caused by the use of hands. When using the form of contact hands, as shown in Fig. 2, the problem that is faced is that the operation stability is low, and the measurement by the two hands is easy to cause unstable phenomena such as hand shaking during measurement, resulting in instability. The measured ECG has a baseline drift, waveform distortion, etc., as indicated in Figure 4A. Therefore, compared to the normal ECG waveform, it will result in incorrect analysis results. In addition, when the user I hope that when the hand is stable and the muscles are tight, or if you want to use force to ensure contact with the electrodes, it is easy to generate myoelectric signals by force. As shown in Figure 4B, the signal quality will also be degraded, which will lead to incorrectness. The results of ECG analysis.

When using the one hand holding device on the other side to touch the chest, as shown in Figure 3, compared with the two-hand operation, it can be more stable, and the obtained signal is stronger, but this operation mode has one of the biggest disadvantages. It is necessary to open the clothes to touch the chest to measure, which will make the user feel scrupulous. In addition, the fluctuation of the chest cavity caused by the breathing will also cause relative movement between the electrode contacting the chest and the electrode of the contact hand, which is also easy to cause. The baseline drift affects the measured ECG.

Therefore, when combining ECG measurement with a sphygmomanometer, the type and arrangement of the electrodes must be considered to provide a natural and easy-to-achieve operation for the user, and further help to obtain good signal quality, which affects signal quality. The factors mainly include external environmental interference, skin-to-electrode contact, and user operation. For example, electromagnetic waves in the measurement environment may generate noises and measurements in the acquired ECG signals. period Unstable contact movements and excessive muscle tone may result in myoelectric signals, which may become artifacts, etc., which will affect the quality of the signal. Furthermore, it is also necessary to consider whether the action of the contact electrode can naturally be integrated into the blood pressure. In the operation process, this can avoid the trouble of re-learning, improve the smoothness of the operation, and further increase the willingness to use.

Therefore, when considering the combination of ECG measurement and sphygmomanometer, it is indeed necessary to take all of these factors into consideration to arrive at a cardiovascular health monitoring device that is most suitable for home use.

In addition, another advantage of combining blood pressure measurement and ECG measurement is that when a stable and clear ECG signal is obtained, information about the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) can be obtained, and then the autonomic nerve can be learned. Activity, therefore, based on the autonomic nervous system is also one of the factors affecting blood pressure, by observing the relationship between autonomic nerve activity and changes in blood pressure values, it is known whether the cause of hypertension is related to autonomic nerves.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cardiovascular health monitoring device that provides both blood pressure measurement and electrocardiographic measurement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cardiovascular health monitoring device that naturally takes into account the electrode contact behavior required for ECG measurement in a well-known blood pressure measurement operation flow, thereby improving use by reducing the complexity of use. Acceptance.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cardiovascular health monitoring apparatus which can efficiently and accurately provide information on the determination of arrhythmia.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cardiovascular health monitoring device for detecting an arterial pulse through an inflatable cuff to determine whether there is a possible arrhythmia event, and In order to inform the user to perform ECG measurement, the user can obtain the ECG immediately, which is helpful to further confirm the occurrence and type of arrhythmia.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cardiovascular health monitoring device that employs an ear-wearing structure that actively applies force to the skin of the user's ears and the vicinity of the ear to provide stable contact between the electrodes and the skin thereon.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cardiovascular health monitoring device that employs a finger-wearing structure that actively applies force to the skin of a user's fingers to provide stable contact between the electrodes and the skin thereon.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cardiovascular health monitoring device that combines an electrode with a cuff that is required for blood pressure measurement to complete contact between the electrode and the skin while the cuff is wrapped around the arm.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cardiovascular health monitoring device that has electrodes disposed on a surface of a housing to allow a user to complete contact between the electrodes and the skin while surrounding the cuff.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cardiovascular health monitoring device that has electrodes disposed on a surface of a housing to allow a user to complete contact between the electrodes and the skin while pressing the operating device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cardiovascular health monitoring device that achieves contact between the electrodes and the skin through the wearing structure, and is suitable for obtaining high-quality measuring ECG signals for a long time, which is advantageous for performing HRV analysis and thereby understanding autonomic nervous activity. The relationship with blood pressure.

10‧‧‧Control circuit

12‧‧‧Curve belt

113, 14, 202, 90‧‧‧ electrodes

100, 201‧‧‧ start button

101, 20‧‧‧ another housing

111‧‧‧ surface

112‧‧‧bearing structure

113‧‧‧Electrode

114‧‧‧ openings

115‧‧‧ Groove structure

116‧‧‧Other electrode

Figure 1 shows a standard ECG waveform; Figure 2 shows an operational mode of a conventional handheld ECG detection device; Figure 3 shows another mode of operation of a conventional handheld ECG detection device; Figure 4A shows the appearance of a baseline Drifting ECG waveform; Figure 4B shows the electrocardiogram waveform affected by the myoelectric signal; Figure 5 shows a block diagram of the cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention; and Figs. 6A-6C show the ear worn structure according to the present invention Illustrative example; Figure 7 shows a schematic view of the skin near the ear that is accessible to the ear-worn structure in accordance with the present invention; Figures 8A-8B show an exemplary embodiment of the finger-wearing structure in accordance with the present invention; An exemplary example of the combination of an electrode and a cuff; FIG. 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cardiovascular health device having another housing for carrying a start button in accordance with the present invention; and FIGS. 11A-11H show the electrode of the present invention Illustrative example of housing combination; Figures 12-15 show an exemplary embodiment of an electrode implemented in an ear-wearing structure and in combination with a cuff, in accordance with the cardiovascular health monitoring device of the present invention; Shown in accordance with the cardiovascular health monitoring device of the present invention, the electrodes are embodied as exemplary examples of the ear-worn structure and the wrist-worn structure; Figures 17-19 show the cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention, the electrodes being implemented in the ear Illustrative example of wearing structure and finger-wearing structure; Figure 20 shows an exemplary embodiment of an electrode according to the present invention, the electrode being embodied in a finger-wearing structure and in combination with a venous band; Figure 21 shows According to the cardiovascular health monitoring device of the present invention, the electrode is implemented in a finger-worn manner Exemplary examples of structural and combined with the surface of the housing; Figure 22 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the electrodes are implemented on two finger-worn structures, respectively, according to the cardiovascular health monitoring device of the present invention; Figures 23-24 show According to the cardiovascular health monitoring device of the present invention, the electrodes are embodied as an exemplary example of being placed on the ear-wearing structure and in combination with the surface of the casing; Figures 25-27 show the cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention, the electrode being implemented as a shell An exemplary embodiment of a body surface combined electrode and a combination with a venous band; Figure 28 shows an exemplary embodiment of an electrode embodied in an ear worn structure and in combination with a surface of a housing in accordance with the cardiovascular health monitoring device of the present invention. Example; Figure 29A shows an exemplary embodiment of a cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention, the electrodes are all located on the surface of the housing; Figures 30A-30B show a cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention, an electrode is located on the surface of the housing, and another An exemplary embodiment of an electrode on an ear-worn structure or on a finger-worn structure; Figure 31 shows an operational flow of a cardiovascular health monitoring device in accordance with the present invention FIG.; And FIGS. 32-34 show an exemplary example of a notification of the health monitoring device according to the present invention is a cardiovascular information.

The invention relates to a cardiovascular health monitoring device with two functions of blood pressure measurement and electrocardiogram measurement, which allows a user to naturally record an electrocardiogram under the condition of observing the operation habit of blood pressure measurement, and therefore, through the operation list A device can get a variety of important information about cardiovascular health.

First, please refer to FIG. 5, which is a cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the cardiovascular health monitoring device includes a control circuit 10, a vascular belt 12, a pump, a gas valve, a pressure sensor, and at least two electrodes 14, where the control circuit 10 is implemented to perform blood pressure measurement and ECG measurement via the connected cuff 12 and electrode 14. Therefore, the control circuit 10 may also include, but is not limited to, some common electronic components used to achieve measurement, such as The processor, at least one A/D converter, filter, amplifier, etc., are common to those of ordinary skill in the art and will not be described again.

The cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention also has a housing for housing the control circuit and the pump, etc., wherein the housing can be implemented in combination with a cuff for setting during measurement Alternatively, it can be implemented to be separated from the cuff without being placed on the user during measurement. In addition, the surface of the housing can be implemented with an operation interface, for example, a display element, a start button, an input button. Wait.

Since the cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention adds the function of measuring the electrocardiogram by using the electrocardiographic electrode on the basis of measuring the blood pressure, the device of the present invention has no specific limitation on the overall appearance structure, as long as it is A common electronic sphygmomanometer is a structure that can be used as a basis of the present invention. For example, an arm sphygmomanometer as shown in Fig. 12 and a wrist sphygmomanometer as shown in Fig. 13 are applicable, and such a method is also applicable. It is to enable the user to perform ECG measurement according to the inventive concept in a familiar operational behavior.

In the present invention, the measurement of the electrocardiogram signal mainly adopts a dry electrode which can obtain an electrocardiographic signal by directly contacting the skin. When using the dry electrode, the user can use the dry electrode compared with the conventional reusable wet electrode. In the case where the conductive paste is not required, the electrocardiographic signal measurement is performed by directly contacting the electrodes with the skin, so the measurement can be easily and conveniently performed at any time, and the dry electrode is not easy compared to the disposable electrode patch. Damaged and maintenance Easy to use, it also reduces the inconvenience of replacing the electrode and the added cost. In the present invention, the dry electrode can be implemented as, but not limited to, an electrode made of stainless steel, an electrode made of a conductive fiber cloth, a conductive rubber electrode, or the like without any limitation. In addition, alternatively, it can also be implemented as an electrode that does not need to directly contact the skin, for example, an electrode that obtains an electrocardiogram by capacitive, inductive, or electromagnetic means, and does not need to pass through a medium such as a conductive paste. Electrical signal measurement, easy to use.

As for how to integrate the electrodes into the sphygmomanometer, the present invention starts with the operation flow of the blood pressure measurement, thereby improving the convenience of use, and further considering how to achieve a simple and ergonomic operation when setting the electrocardiographic electrodes. To ensure stable contact between the electrode and the user's skin.

The operation procedure of the general electronic sphygmomanometer is: after the pressure pulse band surrounds the arm or the wrist, in the case where the horizontal position is kept at the same height as the heart, the start button is pressed and the posture is stabilized, and the machine automatically completes the measurement.

It can be seen from the above that the setting of the cuff and the pressing of the start button is an indispensable operation flow, and the concept of the present invention is to integrate the action of contacting the electrocardiographic electrode necessary for measuring the electrocardiogram signal into the blood pressure measurement. In the operation actions that will be performed, the operation steps are avoided as much as possible, so that the user does not need to relearn the operation flow.

Furthermore, another consideration is the location of the electrodes on the sphygmomanometer. In order to obtain good signal quality, the present invention mainly adopts two concepts in the selection of the electrode placement position and the contact mode. First, the electrode is actively applied to contact the user's skin by selecting the contact position and designing the electrode structure. In this way, the contact between the electrode and the skin is no longer dependent on the user's force, which not only improves the stability of the contact, but also avoids the myoelectric signal and human interference. Artifact; secondly, when the user is required to apply the force to the contact electrode, the user can make the electrode contact in an easy posture by setting the electrode at a position where the contact can be easily and naturally achieved, thereby increasing the contact time. The stability of the device minimizes the effects of interference sources, reduces muscle tone and reduces the generation of myoelectric signals. In addition, if the electrode contact surface is implemented as an ergonomic surface, the contact stability is also improved. It can be further ensured to improve signal quality more effectively.

Therefore, the present invention is based on the above concept in determining the position and embodiment of the electrode. One of the possibilities that has been proposed is the idea of placing the electrodes on the ears.

Although the ear is not the part of the body that will be involved in the measurement of blood pressure, the advantage of using the ear as the position of the contact electrode is that the ear and its vicinity are areas where the myoelectric signal is extremely small, plus it is equivalent to the head. A stable relative positional relationship, so even if the user moves during the measurement, for example, slightly turning the body or turning the neck, the contact between the electrodes and the skin can be maintained stably without causing too much interference affecting the measurement results.

In addition, in general daily life, compared with other body parts, the ear is a part that is less covered by clothing, and can be easily contacted directly when needed, to avoid the trouble of measuring the clothes, and the ear and its The surrounding skin also has less hair characteristics, and the contact between the electrodes and the skin can be easily achieved without barriers, and is therefore a convenient choice for the user.

In addition, various fixing methods that can be provided due to the ear structure, such as earplugs, ear clips, ear hooks, etc., as shown in Figures 6A-6C, are common fixing methods in daily life, and the user does not need to relearn. It can be configured naturally. Therefore, the user can simply complete the electrode setting by simply wearing the earphone or clamping the electrode on the earlobe. Moreover, the electrode is set by the above fixed manner. Contact of the electrode with the skin on the ear It can be achieved without the user's exertion, so there is almost no muscle tension, the interference of the EMG signal can be minimized, and good signal quality can be obtained.

As for the position on the ear to obtain the ECG signal, there is no limit, and it can be any position of the ear itself, for example, in the ear canal, the earlobe, the inner surface of the auricle, for example, the ear cavity, the area near the ear canal, etc. The ear wheel, as well as the back of the auricle, and as shown in Fig. 7, the area near the ear, for example, the skin near the junction of the ear and the head shell, these positions are the locations where the electrodes can be contacted and the ECG signal is obtained.

Therefore, it is only necessary to extend the electrode that can be in contact with the ear from the host or through the structure of the cuff, so that the user can naturally complete the electrode setting after wearing the pressure band and obtain the electrode setting. Good ECG signal.

Here, both ears are selectable wearing positions. However, after the experiment, it is known that the position of the other electrode has a considerable influence on the signal quality, wherein when the other electrode is disposed on the left upper limb, The quality of the obtained ECG signal is much better than that obtained by the right upper limb. Therefore, when the ECG measurement is performed in contact with the ear, it is preferable to contact the other electrode to the skin of the left upper limb to avoid The signal quality is poor due to contact with the right upper limb, which leads to misjudgment in the analysis.

In actual implementation, the contact between the electrode and the ear is achieved through an ear-wearing structure that can be combined with the ear, wherein the electrode is placed in contact with the skin when the ear-wearing structure is combined with the ear, therefore, When the ear-wearing structure is fixed to the ear, the contact of the electrode with the skin of the ear or its vicinity is completed simultaneously.

The ear-wearing structure can have various forms. For example, when the ear-wearing structure is implemented in the form of an earplug, the electrode can be disposed on the earplug to naturally achieve contact with the skin in the ear canal. As shown in Fig. 6A, in addition, if specially designed, the structure of the earplug can also be extended to further conform to the curve of the inner surface of the auricle, providing another electrode contact position selection; when implemented in the form of an ear clip, for example, a clip Set on the auricle or on the earlobe (Fig. 6B), the electrode can be placed on the inner side of the ear clip to complete the contact with the auricle or earlobe while being clamped; when implemented as an ear hook form, such as 6C As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the electrode can be implemented on a hook member that extends to the back of the ear to contact the skin on the back of the auricle or the skin at the junction of the back of the ear and the head, where the hook For example, the elastic force of the material itself or the structural design may have a force applied to the skin direction and a stable contact with the skin.

Alternatively, it may be implemented to be attached to the ear by means of a magnetic force. For example, two members magnetically attracted to each other across the ear may be used, and the electrodes may be disposed on the two members or one of the members. In this case, the two components can be embodied as magnetic, for example, by means of a magnetic substance inside, or a magnetic substance itself, or by a material that can be magnetically attracted, or internally. The magnetically attractable substance may be, for example, one member implemented to have a magnetic force, and the other member may be magnetically attracted, or both members may be embodied to have a magnetic force, which may be variously implemented without limitation.

Here, it should be noted that the above description of the ear-wearing structure is for example only, and is not intended to be limiting. For example, it may be implemented to combine two forms of structure, for example, the earplug is implemented in combination with the ear-hook form, and therefore, It can be changed according to actual needs, and there is no limit.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the ear-worn structure and the electrodes thereon can also be implemented to be connected to the cuff or the housing through the connection port, so that when the user does not need to perform electrocardiographic measurement The earwear structure can be removed.

Here, in order to avoid the ECG signal obtained by the connection line sensing environment The signal can be processed first in the vicinity of the electrode when the signal is obtained, for example, circuit processing such as amplification, buffering, filtering, digitization, etc., to ensure the clarity of the signal, and the required circuit can be further implemented to be accommodated in There is no limit to this ear-wearing structure.

Furthermore, in accordance with the teachings of another aspect of the invention, the electrode can also be embodied as being carried by a finger-wearing structure, such as a ring-like structure, or a band around a finger. The wearing structure has the same advantages as the ear-wearing structure, because the finger-wearing form is familiar to the average user and does not need to be re-learned. It is only necessary to directly attach the finger-wearing structure to the finger when the measurement is to be performed. The contact between the electrode and the skin can be completed, and the operation process is natural and convenient. Moreover, the contact force between the electrode and the skin is achieved by applying a force to the finger by the finger-wearing structure, as long as the user relaxes the hand with the electrode, the muscle tension The impact can also be minimized.

Here, the position of the finger-wearing structure according to the present invention on the finger is preferably a knuckle in which the proximal phalanx or the middle phalanx is located to avoid the situation in which the hand movement is detached due to the position approaching the end of the finger. In actual implementation, the finger-wearing structure may be in the form of a general ring as shown in FIG. 8A, or as a flexible band around the finger as shown in FIG. 8B, without limitation; In any form, the structure may further have an adjustable wrap diameter to further ensure contact stability between the electrode and the skin. For example, the ring may be implemented as a mechanism with a variable ring to accommodate different wearer's fingers. And the belt body can be implemented to have an adjustable fixed position, for example, by setting a devil's felt, so that the user can select the tightness when wrapping, etc., and the embodiment can be changed according to the actual situation, without limitation. In addition, the form of a clip can also be used. For example, the structure of the clip can be designed to clamp the fingertip or other knuckles, such as the proximal phalanx or the middle phalanx, so that the elasticity of the clip itself can be fixed. The effect is also a good choice.

Here, as with the contact ear, when the ECG signal is extracted by touching the finger, the signal can be processed in the vicinity of the position where the signal is obtained to ensure the quality of the signal, and, similarly, the circuit can be further The ground content is placed in the finger-wearing structure.

Further, according to the concept of still another aspect of the present invention, the position of the other set electrode is selected as the cuff. Since the installation of the cuff is a necessary behavior for measuring blood pressure, when the electrode is placed on the cuff, the action of contacting the electrode to the skin can be accomplished by installing the cuff, simplifying the procedure. Here, the electrode can be bonded to any part of the cuff, and the position where the electrode is in contact with the skin can be achieved only when the cuff is wrapped around the arm or wrist. For example, the electrode can be coupled to the cuff. There is no limit to the inside, or the edge of the cuff.

When the electrode is bonded to the inside of the cuff, in addition to the usual metal electrode sheets, in a preferred embodiment, in order to improve the contact with the skin, the electrode may also be made of a flexible material, such as , conductive fiber cloth, conductive rubber, etc., or can also be implemented as a layer of conductive coating on the inner surface of the cuff, so that the electrode can be bent with the cuff, thereby achieving contact with the skin.

In order to ensure the contact between the electrode and the skin, the ECG signal can be set to be measured when the inflation of the cuff is above a certain pressure value (that is, after the contact force with the skin reaches a certain level), so that The contact between the electrode and the skin is more stable.

Herein, further, it is also possible to ensure the contact between the electrode and the skin by providing an additional structure to avoid unstable contact between the electrode and the skin caused by the inflation and deflation of the cuff during the blood pressure measurement. For example, a support structure can be provided at the position of the corresponding electrode on the cuff, so that the volume can be expanded by the surrounding force or by inflation when the cuff is wrapped around the arm or wrist. And exerting a force on the support structure, resulting in The support structure applies a force to the skin to the electrode, thereby ensuring contact between the electrode and the skin. For example, the support structure can be implemented to have a certain thickness and hardness to achieve the transmission of the force of the cuff or the inflation of the cuff to the electrode. The effect, and further, the support structure may have compressive elasticity so that the force application is achieved without causing an uncomfortable feeling of pressure to the user; in addition, in a preferred embodiment, the support structure is implemented to comply with The ergonomics of the skin location in contact, for example, the curvature of the arm, further ensures the stability of the contact.

In another preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the electrode 90 can also be implemented to be bonded to the edge of the cuff, sandwiched between the upper edge of the cuff, and the contact between the electrode and the skin is also There are many options. For example, the electrode can be biased toward the skin by selecting an elastic electrode material, so that the electrode can naturally adhere to the skin after wrapping the upper venous band, or can be structurally designed. The shape of the electrode conforms to the ergonomics of the arm or wrist, thereby ensuring contact between the electrode and the skin. Therefore, there is no limitation and it can be changed according to actual needs.

Here, it should be noted that when the electrodes are implemented in combination with the cuff, the electrocardiographic measurement can be performed simultaneously during the blood pressure measurement, or alternatively, separately from the blood pressure measurement, the user can Choose the actual situation.

Furthermore, in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the position of the other set electrode is selected to be the surface of the housing for the user to make contact with the finger.

When blood pressure measurement is performed, pressing the start button on the housing is an indispensable step in order to initiate the inflation and measurement procedure after the cuff is installed. Therefore, if the electrode can be placed on the start button, this way As long as the user does not move after pressing the start button, the electrode contact can be completed at the same time, simplifying the operation steps of the electrocardiogram measurement.

Moreover, further, the action of pressing the start button by the finger can also be implemented as the same At the beginning of the ECG measurement and blood pressure measurement, so that a single press can complete three procedures at the same time, contact ECG electrodes, start blood pressure measurement, and start ECG measurement, the complexity of the operation can be reduced lowest.

Herein, the start button can be implemented as a button with a pressing stroke or a touch button, and the like, and the surface shape of the start button can be further implemented to conform to the ergonomics of the finger. The curvature of the finger makes the contact more stable.

In addition, the user may choose to perform blood pressure measurement or ECG measurement separately, or both, for example, by pressing the start button to achieve different pressing strokes or different pressing times, for example, When short pressing, it means that no electrode contact is required, that is, only the blood pressure measurement is started. When the long press is pressed, the ECG signal measurement is started, and when the short press is followed by the long press, both measurements are started at the same time, so There are no restrictions depending on the actual implementation.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the activation key 100 is further implemented to be carried by another housing 101 other than the housing, for example, a pressing activation structure. In this manner, the activation key is It can be moved to different positions according to the user's operating habits, so that the user can make electrode contact in a more relaxed posture, which also helps to obtain good quality signals.

In addition, according to a further aspect of the present invention, when the housing is carried by the cuff, the position of the electrode on the housing may be selected differently, and may be implemented when the cuff is wrapped around the limb. The housing can be in contact with the skin.

When the housing is carried by the cuff and surrounds the upper arm or the forearm (as in the case of the operations shown in Figures 13 and 14), there may be further provided a load-bearing structure 112 disposed on the housing, for example , located on the surface 111, as shown in Figures 11A-11C, to surround the cuff When the limb is in contact with the skin of the upper arm or the forearm, when the electrode 113 is placed on the carrying structure 112, the electrode contact can also be completed in the action of mounting the cuff.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the load-bearing structure 112 can be implemented to be located near the edge of the cuff, and the cuff is implemented to have an opening 114 at a position corresponding to the load-bearing structure, and therefore, The contact of the electrode 113 between the skin can be simultaneously achieved by the action of the cuff around the upper arm or the forearm, or as shown in Fig. 11B, the opening 114 can also be implemented in the cuff, and the support structure 112 is located Corresponding to the position, further, as shown in FIG. 11C, the bearing structure 112 can also be implemented on the outer edges of both sides of the cuff, so that the structure of the cuff can be changed without changing the structure of the cuff. The contact with the skin is achieved. Here, although the outer edges of both sides have the load-bearing structure, it is not limited to be provided only on the one-side outer edge.

In addition, further, the load-bearing structure can be implemented to be elastic to accommodate changes that may occur during inflation, and also to ensure stability of contact between the electrodes and the skin, for example, a resilient material such as rubber, Silicone rubber or the like; or a retractable mechanism, for example, a button structure that can be pressed to generate a moving stroke, and thus, various possibilities are possible.

Here, it should be noted that although the bearing structure can be implemented as a convex form as shown, it is not limited thereto, and the combination of the visible housing and the cuff is changed. For example, it may be a load-bearing structure of the same height as the surface of the casing, and it is only necessary to achieve contact between the electrode and the skin when the cuff is wrapped around the arm, and there is no limitation.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 11D, the carrying structure 112 can also be implemented to be placed on a further housing 20 and disposed through the mechanical coupling between the other housing and the housing. The housing in turn allows the electrode 113 to contact the skin thereon when the cuff is wrapped around the upper arm or forearm.

Here, in addition to the mechanical coupling between the other housing and the housing, it is important that an electrical connection is also made, so that the electrode 113 can cooperate with the other electrode to perform ECG measurement. Wherein, the electrical connection can be implemented by a pair of connectors respectively located on the other housing and the housing, for example, a USB connector, a mini USB connector, etc., and in this case, the machine The bonding can be achieved directly by the pair of electrical connectors; or alternatively, the mechanical coupling can be achieved by the hardware structure of the other housing and the housing corresponding to each other, and thus, without limitation.

The other electrode may be any of the above-mentioned types of electrodes, and it is only necessary to confirm that the contact position is the skin other than the limb surrounded by the cuff, for example, an ear-worn electrode or a finger-worn electrode. Or an electrode located on the start button.

In particular, the other electrode may be connected to the housing or to the other housing directly through the connecting line, in addition to being connectable to the housing or located on the housing. Above, that is, the two electrodes for performing ECG measurement are provided by the other housing. For example, in addition to the electrode 113 on the carrying structure, the other housing can be connected to one ear. The wearable electrode (as shown in FIG. 11E) is connected to a finger-worn electrode, and the other electrode may be disposed on the other surface of the other casing other than the surface on which the electrode 113 is located, such as As shown in Fig. 11F, the electrocardiographic signal measurement is performed by pressing the other hand, and further, the position at which the other electrode is located can also be implemented as the start key as described above to facilitate the user's operation.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11G-11H, the other housing 20 can also be implemented to have a groove structure 115, for example, in the form of a ring or a recess for the fingers to protrude into contact with The other electrode 116 on the inner surface, wherein the inner surface is configured to conform to the surface of the finger to achieve contact between the electrode and the skin of the finger when the finger is extended, wherein the groove structure can be Made of elastic material, such as rubber or silicone, to achieve contact between the electrode and the skin, or it can be formed with a plastic case, and an elastic material is placed inside to cover the finger, or can be provided The structural design of the internal force is used to ensure good contact between the internal electrode and the skin of the fingertip, so there is no limit.

Preferably, at least a portion of the circuitry for extracting the electrocardiographic signal is implemented to be received in the other housing, such as an amplification, buffering, filtering, and/or digitizing circuit. Moreover, since the other housing and the housing can be separated from each other by the mechanical coupling, when the two electrocardiographic electrodes are disposed through the other housing, the user only needs to pass through the coupling. The other housing can increase the function of the electrocardiogram detection on the original blood pressure detecting device, which is quite convenient.

In addition to the position and manner of electrode arrangement mentioned above, the cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention may also employ other forms of electrodes, with an emphasis on reducing the generation of myoelectric signals and increasing the stability at the time of contact, for example, It is also an ideal choice to contact the wrist through the wrist-worn structure carrying electrode. It also does not require the user to apply force to maintain contact with the wrist skin. Therefore, the user only needs to relax the surrounded limb during the measurement. You can get good quality signals.

The above various electrode arrangement methods are not limited in implementation, and may be selectively applied to any of the electrocardiographic electrodes depending on the requirements. The following is explained using some embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, two electrodes for ECG measurement are respectively disposed on the inner side of the cuff and on the ear wearing structure, and therefore, when performing blood pressure measurement, use After wrapping around the cuff, simply put the ear-worn structure on, and complete all the installation procedures for obtaining blood pressure readings and ECG, which is almost the same as the general blood pressure measurement flow. The process is the same, only adding the same ear-wearing action as the general way of wearing headphones, so the user can complete the operation easily and without burden. Here, the ear-wearing structure can be connected to the cuff or the housing without limitation.

In addition, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show the configuration using an external device as an information display interface, for example, a smart phone, a tablet computer, or a smart watch can be displayed externally, so that it is carried on the cuff. The volume of the housing can be minimized to provide a more comfortable user experience, where the connection between the housing on the cuff and the external device can be implemented as a wired or wireless connection, such as USB or blue. Bud, WIFI connection, etc., no restrictions.

Here, FIG. 14 shows an example in which the external device is a wirelessly connected smart phone, and FIG. 15 shows an example in which the external device is a wired smart watch, in which the external device receives data, display, etc. in real time. Functions, for example, guiding the operational flow and displaying the measurement results, can be further implemented to have other functions, such as controlling the operation of the device, initiating blood pressure and/or ECG measurement, analyzing the received data, storing, and outputting the data to another A device or the like can provide further convenience. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous in the case where the housing is carried by the cuff, and the user can easily initiate measurement, understand the operation flow, and view the measurement result through the external device, which is quite convenient.

Figure 16 is an example showing the use of an ear-worn structure and a wrist-worn structure carrying electrode, respectively, as shown, the wrist-worn structure may be implemented in the form of a bracelet, or may be implemented in the form of a belt, or The electrode can also be implemented inside the wristband of the smart watch as shown in Fig. 15, so there is no limitation, and in this case, the user only needs to wear the ear wearing structure and the wrist wearing structure and achieve electrode contact. The ECG signal can be measured, and the operation is simple and the signal with good quality can be obtained.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, it is advantageous that the contact between the electrodes and the skin is not involved in the active application of the force during the whole ECG measurement process, and the interference of the EMG signal can be avoided, which is quite helpful. Get a good quality signal. Here, it should be noted that in such a configuration, the ear-worn electrode can be selectively worn on the left or right ear, without limitation, but as described above, the position of the other electrode is quite similar to the signal quality. The effect, therefore, the cuff should be chosen to surround the left upper limb for better signal strength.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 17-19, the two electrodes may be respectively carried by the ear-wearing structure and the finger-wearing structure, and the user only needs to perform the ECG signal measurement separately. Wearing the ear and the finger, the contact between the electrode and the skin can be easily accomplished, and the contact between the ear-wearing structure and the finger-wearing structure and the skin does not involve the user's force, which can reduce the interference of the myoelectric signal. To the lowest, in addition, because the wearing action is very convenient, plus the need to use the cuff, it is also quite suitable for ECG only measurement.

In addition, in the case of using the finger-bearing structure carrying electrode, it can also be used together with electrodes at other positions, for example, with electrodes in the cuff (Fig. 20), or with the electrode 201 on the surface of the casing (Fig. 21) The ECG signal measurement is performed together, so the user only needs to increase the action of wearing the finger-wearing structure on the finger in the operation process of measuring blood pressure, which is quite convenient. In addition, the two electrodes can also be implemented to be carried by the finger-wearing structure. As shown in Fig. 22, it is also a very convenient way for the user to use, and since it is not necessary to use a cuff, it is also suitable for heart-only. Electrical signal measurement.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 23, the two electrodes for electrocardiographic signal measurement are respectively implemented as electrodes 201 combined with the activation key on the surface of the operation interface of the housing and with the ear Structure-bonded electrodes, and in this way, the user is surrounded by pressure After the pulse band, just wear the ear wearing structure, press the start button, and maintain the contact between the finger and the start button, you can get the blood pressure reading and ECG.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 24, even if the data is transmitted to the external device through the wireless connection, the electrode 201 combined with the activation key may be disposed on the housing of the upper arm to be pressed by The method achieves contact and initiates the electrocardiographic measurement, or, alternatively, the operation of initiating the measurement can also be implemented by the external device, such as a smart phone, while the electrodes on the surface of the housing are only implemented for the heart. Electrical measurements, therefore, are not limited.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the two electrodes for electrocardiographic signal measurement are respectively implemented as an electrode combined with a start button and an electrode combined with a cuff, as shown in FIG. The arm sphygmomanometer performs the same measurement, sitting at the table, the left hand arm is wrapped around the cuff and placed on the table to relax, and then the right hand presses the sphygmomanometer start button 201 to start blood pressure measurement, and through the design of the present invention, in such blood pressure In the measurement operation, at least two electrodes required for measuring the electrocardiogram (that is, the electrodes in the cuff and the electrodes on the activation keys on the surface of the housing) are simultaneously in contact with different parts of the skin, and no additional need is required. Action, one measurement can obtain two physiological signals at the same time; or, as shown in Fig. 26, when the sphygmomanometer is implemented as a wrist blood pressure chronograph, the housing is carried by the venous belt and is located above the wrist. The user can also contact the electrode located on the surface of the casing while pressing the start button 201, and cooperate with the electrode inside the embossed belt to obtain two at the same time in one measurement. The physiological signal; or, as shown in FIG. 27, in the case of transmitting the data to the external device through the wireless connection, the electrode 201 combined with the activation key may be disposed on the casing carried by the strap. Then, in combination with the electrode bonded to the inner side of the strap, the contact can be achieved by pressing and the electrocardiographic measurement can be started.

In such a manner, the user is compared to a program that simply performs blood pressure measurement. Just increase the contact time between the finger and the start button when you want to measure the ECG signal. It can be done easily and without burden without additional action.

Here, it should be noted that although the action of contacting the start button contacts the electrode at the same time, the user can choose to perform only blood pressure measurement or ECG measurement, for example, determining the measurement to be performed through the length of the contact time. Therefore, there is no limit.

Further, the electrode may be implemented on the surface of the casing other than the start key, in addition to being placed on the start key as described above. As shown in Fig. 28, the housing has a structure as shown in Fig. 11C, and the electrode is located on the bearing structure of the surface of the housing combined with the cuff, so that the action of the strap can achieve the upper electrode of the housing. The contact with the upper arm skin, coupled with the wearing of the ear wearing structure, can also complete all electrode contact without the user's force, and, compared with the general blood pressure measurement operation process, only wear more The action of the ear-wearing structure is therefore quite convenient.

In addition, the two electrodes can also be positioned on the same housing at the same time, as shown in Fig. 29, wherein the housing adopts the structure as shown in Fig. 11B, so that when the cuff is wrapped around the upper arm, the upper arm is faced. The electrode can naturally pass through the cuff belt to contact the skin of the upper arm, and the other electrode 202 located on the surface of the housing can contact the other hand to achieve the measurement of the electrocardiogram signal. Yes, although the electrode 202 is shown in the figure as being opposite to the surface facing the upper arm, in practice, it can be positioned on any surface as long as it is different from the surface facing the upper arm and is convenient for the user. The other hand can be brought into contact, for example, a side adjacent to the surface facing the upper arm, and therefore, there is no limitation.

Furthermore, it can also be implemented to allow the user to select the electrode to be used, for example, the electrode facing the upper arm can be switched by a switch (not shown) or connected to other electrodes. Replaced, for example, an ear-worn structure having an electrode (as shown in FIG. 30A) or a finger-wearing structure having an electrode (as shown in FIG. 30B), so that in this way, the user can The choice is suitable for your own use, which increases the ease of use.

Further, when more than two electrodes are required, for example, the third electrode is used as a ground or reference electrode to suppress common mode noise, for example, noise from a power source, which can be implemented by the above various electrode designs. Choose a variety of suitable methods.

In addition, in the present invention, in order to assist the electrocardiogram measurement, (partial or all) electrodes may be implemented to be connected to a sensor to detect and notify the user whether the contact with the electrodes is appropriate, for example, a stress detection The detector can be used to detect the magnitude of the force applied to the electrode, or to know whether the electrode has been touched and the contact condition is good through an impedance check, or alternatively, a switch can be simply used. To sense the force applied to the electrode, according to which, further, when the control circuit senses that the contact on the electrode reaches a preset condition, for example, the force is large enough, has been contacted, and/or contacted When the condition is good, the electrocardiogram measurement is automatically started, or even implemented as the device is thus activated.

On the other hand, in order to provide a smoother and more convenient operation procedure for the user, it is also possible to detect whether the electrode has been set at a preset position by means of a sensor disposed near the electrode, for example, whether the earwear structure has been worn. On the ear, whether the wearing structure has been worn on the finger, whether the electrode on the bearing structure has been placed on the arm, and whether the pressure pulse band has been wrapped around the arm or the like, wherein the sensor can be capacitive, resistive, The form of light sensing or the like is not limited, and can be further implemented to notify the user that the electrode has been set at the preset position by means such as sound or screen display, and also helps the user to operate more easily.

In this way, the above sensing or detecting for detecting whether the electrode contact is good, It can be further implemented to perform after the sensing electrode has been set at the preset position, and can also notify the user that the electrode contact has been completed again by means of sound or screen display, so that the overall operation flow is smoother.

Therefore, through the above-mentioned electrode position combined with the sphygmomanometer of the present invention, the user can easily and conveniently perform the electrode setting required for the electrocardiographic signal measurement in the process of using the sphygmomanometer, thereby naturally recording the electrocardiogram, and Also, since the electrocardiogram can provide detailed cardiac electrical activity, the information related to cardiovascular health that the device of the present invention can provide can be more detailed and precise, for example, by performing a preload on the processor in the control circuit. The calculus, or the transmission of an electrocardiogram to an external device, can be performed by performing a formula that can determine the type of arrhythmia, for example, distinguishing between PAC and PVC, and other symptoms of arrhythmia, such as AF (atrial fibrillation) , Atrial Fibrillation), slow heartbeat, fast heartbeat, heartbeat pause, etc., also know whether there are symptoms other than arrhythmia, for example, by observing the ST value (ST level) to know whether there is myocardial infarction, or observation The amplitude of the QRS wave is used to determine whether there is ventricular hypertrophy or the like.

Further, through the correlation between the blood pressure reading and the electrocardiogram, the two signals can be cross-referenced to obtain information representing other physiological conditions, for example, PTT (pulse transit time, pulse wave propagation through a segment of the artery) In addition, the comparison between arterial pulse and ECG signal also helps to remove noise/human interference sources to obtain correct interpretation of various cardiovascular information.

In addition, the cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention can also provide information about the heart rate variability (HRV) according to the obtained electrocardiogram signal, so that the user can understand the autonomic nerve activity. This is because the autonomic nervous system It is one of the factors that affect blood pressure. When the activity of sympathetic nerves increases, vasoconstriction causes blood pressure to rise, while the increase in parasympathetic activity decreases blood pressure.

Therefore, based on the ECG signal measurement function provided, the device according to the present invention can calculate and obtain the HRV by obtaining a precise RRI (RR Interval, RR interval) sequence, that is, a heart rate change, and perform HRV analysis to Provides information about the autonomic nervous activity, so that when combined with blood pressure measurements, the user can instantly understand the relationship between blood pressure and autonomic nerves. For example, let the user know if the cause of hypertension is self-disciplined. Nervous, and if known, can understand physiological and psychological adjustments, such as relaxation, breathing guidance training, etc., whether it correctly affects the autonomic nerves, and thus achieves an impact on blood pressure.

The HRV analysis performed may be selected according to requirements. For example, a frequency domain may be performed to obtain total power (TP) that can be used to evaluate the overall heart rate variability, and the reaction may be reflected in the parasympathetic sense. High-frequency power (HF), which can reflect sympathetic nerve activity, or low-frequency power (LF) of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, and the balance of reactive sympathetic/parasympathetic nerves. LF/HF (low-frequency power ratio), etc. In addition, after performing frequency analysis, the degree of harmony of the operation of the autonomous nerve can be known by observing the state of the frequency distribution; or, time domain analysis can also be performed (Time Domain), which obtains an SDNN that can be used as an indicator of overall heart rate variability, can be used as an indicator of long-term overall heart rate variability, SDANN, as an indicator of short-term overall heart rate variability, and can be used to estimate high frequency in heart rate variability. Variant R-MSSD, NN50, and PNN50.

Here, it should be noted that the procedure for obtaining the RRI sequence through the ECG signal can be performed before or after the blood pressure measurement, and it is only necessary to immediately respond to the current blood pressure value and the autonomic nerve. The relationship between the two is OK, and there is no limitation; in addition, since the sampling time required for the HRV analysis is long, for example, it takes about 5 minutes in general, and the user is required to be in a relaxed state, it is further possible to select The contact between the electrode and the skin is performed without the user's own force, for example, when the electrode is carried by the ear-wearing structure or the finger-wearing structure, or when the electrode is in contact with the skin through the surrounding venous belt, , can also be selected according to user habits, no restrictions.

After performing the measurement, the cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention can let the user know the measurement result through the display element, for example, blood pressure reading, average heart rate, arrhythmia indication, heart rate variability parameter, etc.; The device according to the present invention may also include a memory for storing signals, analysis results, and/or related information. In a preferred embodiment, the memory is implemented as a removable memory. The form of the body is such that the user can conveniently carry out data transmission, or can bring the removable memory storing the measurement/analysis result to the clinic consultation doctor; furthermore, the device according to the invention can further comprise a communication module Grouping to perform a wired communication, such as a USB connection, or wireless communication, such as Bluetooth or WIFI, to transmit the acquired signals, measurement/analysis results, etc. to an external device, such as a personal computer, smart Mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, etc. for display and/or further calculations and analysis, where transmissions to and from the external device are also possible Step by step for the immediate transmission, there is no limit.

Therefore, it can be seen from the above that through the design of the electrode position of the present invention, the user can naturally and conveniently record the electrocardiogram while measuring the blood pressure. However, since the arrhythmia is not always generated every time the blood pressure is measured, the blood pressure value is required. Physiological signals recorded on a regular and long-term basis, therefore, in the concept of another aspect of the present invention, blood pressure is also provided only In the case of measurement, the mechanism for screening for arrhythmia event is first screened, so that the user can select the ECG signal after screening for a possible arrhythmia event.

The basis for such an advance screening is that during the measurement of blood pressure, the inflation of the cuff can detect the arterial pulse in addition to the blood pressure value. Therefore, it can be known by analyzing the continuous arterial pulse. The heartbeat situation corresponding to the pulse, and then screen for possible arrhythmia possible events, such as Premature Beats, Atrial Fibrillation, Tachycardia, Slow Heartbeat Bradycardia), Pause and other symptoms.

Therefore, in order to achieve the above object, the cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention is further implemented to have a cardiac arrhythmia detecting unit, a notification information generating unit, and an electrocardiogram analyzing unit.

Wherein, the arrhythmia detecting unit can determine whether there is a cardiac arrhythmia possible event according to the continuous arterial pulse obtained through the cuff during the blood pressure measurement; the notification information generating unit can be used to generate during and/or after the blood pressure measurement Notification information for users to understand the possible occurrence of arrhythmia and remind the user to perform ECG measurement; the ECG analysis unit can provide more information about the heart by analyzing the obtained ECG, for example, By analyzing the waveform, you can find out the type of arrhythmia and whether there are other heart symptoms.

Therefore, as shown in Fig. 31, when the user performs blood pressure measurement, the inflatable strap can be placed on the limb, for example, the upper arm or the wrist, as in the general blood pressure measurement, and the inflation procedure is started. In addition to obtaining the blood pressure reading value, the arterial pulse is also acquired. Therefore, the arrhythmia detecting unit can use the obtained pulse to determine whether arrhythmia may occur. After the judgment, it is found that there is no arrhythmia. Event, as usual Like the blood pressure measurement, the user can know the measured blood pressure value and the average heart rate, and if the judgment result shows that there is a possible event of arrhythmia, in addition to the information available when blood pressure is measured, such as blood pressure reading and average heart rate, The notification information generating unit causes the user to immediately know that the arrhythmia possible event has been detected by generating the notification information, and reminds the user that the ECG signal measurement is required, and at the same time, the cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention Entering a state in which the ECG signal can be measured, so that the user can record the electrocardiogram, and then the ECG analysis unit can further provide the user with more information about the heart by analyzing the electrocardiogram.

Therefore, in this way, the user does not need to change the usage habits, and the blood pressure measurement can be performed by the same operation method as the blood pressure measurement, and the electrocardiogram can be performed by contacting the electrode integrated with the sphygmomanometer in the event of arrhythmia possible event. When the electrocardiogram is recorded and the electrocardiogram is recorded, the analysis result according to the electrocardiogram can be immediately known, so that it is not only convenient to use, but also helps to obtain more correct information about the irregular heart rhythm.

Here, it should be noted that since the basis of the determination of the arrhythmia may be based on the analysis of the arterial pulse, it is also possible to obtain the arterial pulse only by inflation of the cuff without measuring the blood pressure. The effect can be changed according to the actual needs of the user, and there is no limit.

In addition, it should be noted that when the arterial pulse is obtained during the blood pressure measurement and the inflated state of the cuff, the pulse may not be measured when the inflation is insufficient, and the pressure may be impaired when the inflation pressure is too large. The correctness, therefore, in actual implementation, the detection of arterial pulse can be carried out only under a specific cuff inflation condition, for example, can be controlled by program control and set under the condition of fixed inflation pressure Or, it can be set to perform a pulse test after the inflation reaches a certain pressure value (that is, the contact force reaches a certain level). the amount.

After obtaining the continuous arterial pulse, the arrhythmia detecting unit analyzes the continuous arterial pulse by first calculating the time interval between each pulse to obtain the time series characteristic of the pulse, and then This time series feature is compared with the time series features of various types of arrhythmia, such as early-onset contraction, AF, slow heartbeat, fast heartbeat, heartbeat pause, etc., and when there is a coincidence It is judged to have a possible event of arrhythmia.

Advantageously, the present invention can appropriately improve the sensitivity of the detection by adjusting the parameter values of the calculus when detecting whether there is a possible event of arrhythmia, because only the subsequent ECG measurement is performed through analysis. The obtained electrocardiogram can immediately confirm the correctness of the possible event of the arrhythmia, so that even if the sensitivity is improved, it is not easy to cause misjudgment. Therefore, the concept of the present invention can naturally achieve the high-accuracy judgment result. And effectively improve the judgment errors that may occur in the prior art.

When the arrhythmia detecting unit determines that there is a possible arrhythmia event, the notification information generating unit generates a notification information to let the user know that the arrhythmia event has been detected, and reminds the user to perform the ECG measurement. Here, the notification information may be generated during the pulse measurement period and/or after the measurement is completed, and there is no limitation, and the content of the notification information and the notification manner may also be changed according to actual implementation manners, for example, in a preferred implementation. In the example, after the blood pressure measurement is completed, as shown in Fig. 32, the ECG measurement prompt symbol is illuminated on the screen to let the user know that further ECG measurement is needed, and further, the ECG measurement prompt symbol In addition to being lit, it can also flash at the same time and is extinguished after the user starts measuring the ECG signal to enhance the effect of reminding the user; in another preferred embodiment, the other can be Symbols to indicate the detection of arrhythmia possible events, and let the user know that there is a possible arrhythmia event, ECG measurement is required. For example, Figure 33 shows the use of RHYTHM to detect problems related to heart rate, such as , AF, fast heartbeat, slow heartbeat, heartbeat pause, etc. Further, in still another preferred embodiment, the method of simultaneously displaying the ECG measurement prompt symbol and the RHYTHM symbol can be performed, as shown in FIG. The user is reminded to perform ECG measurement. Therefore, there is no limit, and there are various possibilities. It is only necessary to clearly let the user know that the arrhythmia has been detected, and to remind the user to measure the ECG signal. The effect is fine.

Here, the notification information may be presented through an audible signal, a visual signal, and/or a haptic signal without limitation. For example, the display may be performed as described above, for example, by a symbol or a text change. In addition, it can be presented to the user in other ways, for example, by changing the signal, voice or sound, or vibrating, etc., without limitation, mainly to enable the user to clearly know the content of the information; It can also be presented through an external device, for example, wirelessly transmitted to a smart phone, tablet, smart watch, etc. for display to further facilitate the user to know the information.

After the notification information is generated, the cardiovascular health monitoring device according to the present invention then enters a state in which the ECG signal can be measured, so that the user can perform ECG measurement by contacting the electrodes. Here, depending on the position of the electrodes, the operating procedure may be slightly different. For example, if an existing electrode is attached to the strap, the user only needs to touch another electrode, for example, wearing an ear. a structure, a finger-wearing structure, a wrist-worn structure, an electrode pressed against a surface of the casing, or an electrode pressed on the outside of the strap; or alternatively, when the strap is not bonded to the strap, the other two are Electrocardiographic measurement with electrodes, for example, wearing an ear-worn structure and Refers to the wearing structure, wearing the finger-wearing structure on both hands, pressing the electrode on the surface of the casing after wearing the ear-wearing structure, or pressing the electrode on the surface of the casing with the other hand after wearing the finger-wearing structure; or alternatively, when When the electrode is simultaneously positioned on the surface of the casing, the electrocardiographic signal can also be measured by directly contacting the one of the electrodes by touching the one of the electrodes, and then contacting the other electrode with the other hand or the torso; or alternatively, when When the two electrodes are simultaneously positioned on the other of the holdable housings connected to the housing, the other electrode or the torso can also be contacted by holding the handleable housing and contacting one of the electrodes The ECG measurement is performed in a manner such that different electrode designs and configurations can be selected depending on the actual implementation, without limitation.

In addition, the start of the ECG signal measurement may also have different options. For example, the start time may be pressed by the user to determine the start time, or the contact between the electrode and the skin may be known by impedance detection, and After determining that the electrode contact has been measured, the measurement is automatically started. For example, when the device enters the measurable ECG state, the impedance detection is started, waiting for the user to wear and/or contact the electrode, and in the impedance detection. The result shows that when the electrode contact is ready for ECG measurement, the measurement is automatically started. For example, by the screen display or sound to inform the user that the electrode contact has been reached, the ECG signal measurement is about to start; or, the device can enter the measurable heart. After the state of the electrical signal, as described above, it is first sensed by the sensor whether the electrode is in the proper contact position, and then the impedance detection is started, and when the impedance detection result indicates that the contact between the electrode and the skin has been completed, The measurement starts automatically. Therefore, there is no limit and there are various options.

After obtaining the electrocardiogram, the electrocardiogram analysis unit analyzes the acquired electrocardiogram to provide further information about the relevant heart. Since the electrocardiogram can provide detailed cardiac electrical activity, by analyzing the electrocardiogram, firstly, the accuracy of the arrhythmia possible event measured by the arrhythmia detecting unit can be confirmed, and then the type of arrhythmia can be known. For example, distinguishing between PAC and PVC, and accurately determining symptoms such as slow heartbeat, fast heartbeat, AF, and heartbeat pause, and further, whether there are other heart diseases, for example, by observing the ST value, it is known whether With the symptoms of myocardial infarction, and observing the amplitude of the QRS wave, it can be known whether there is ventricular hypertrophy, etc., so that the user can immediately obtain further complete information from the electrocardiogram when screening for the possibility of arrhythmia. Immediately grasp the condition of the heart as a reference for the need to consult a doctor.

In summary, the present invention provides a cardiovascular health monitoring device having two functions of blood pressure measurement and electrocardiographic measurement, and is required for ECG measurement under the principle of obeying the operational behavior of a conventional sphygmomanometer. The ECG electrode installation step is integrated into the blood pressure measurement process to achieve the effect of not increasing the complexity of the operation. Furthermore, the popularity of the sphygmomanometer in the general household can make the ECG signal measurement more acceptable at home. Moreover, based on the correlation between blood pressure and electrocardiogram, the present invention can also provide more relevant cardiovascular information as a reference for home health management and clinical judgment.

Furthermore, the present invention further provides a special electrocardiographic electrode structure design and setting position selection to improve the quality of the obtained electrocardiogram signal, and is more conducive to obtaining more accurate analysis results, wherein the active force is applied to the skin. Wearing structure, for example, an ear-wearing structure, a finger-wearing structure, a wrist-worn structure, and a structural design that can be simultaneously achieved by wrapping around the cuff, for example, a bearing structure on the surface of the casing, and an electrode combined with the cuff The structure according to the present invention provides stable electrode-to-skin contact and minimizes the effects of myoelectric signals and sources of human interference.

In addition, the present invention also provides a mechanism for screening whether the electrocardiogram is confirmed after having a possible arrhythmia event. Therefore, the user can naturally know whether there is arrhythmia without changing the operation procedure of the blood pressure measurement. Possible event, and as long as When you look at the measurement results and find that there is a signal to remind you that ECG measurement is needed, you can immediately know the correct related arrhythmia information by further performing the ECG measurement. Moreover, since the electrodes required for ECG measurement have been Integrated into the sphygmomanometer, it can be measured with direct contact, avoiding the inconvenience of using other devices, saving the cost of purchase, and providing a more natural and convenient choice for users who care about their cardiovascular health.

10‧‧‧Control circuit

12‧‧‧Inflatable cuff

14‧‧‧ shop

Claims (10)

A cardiovascular health monitoring device includes: a housing; a control circuit comprising a processor and housed in the housing; an inflatable cuff for surrounding an upper limb of a user; a chamber disposed in the housing; at least a first electrode and a second electrode; an ear-worn structure having the first electrode disposed thereon, wherein the processor controls the pump when performing blood pressure measurement Inflating and deflation of the cuff to detect a user's blood pressure; and when performing electrocardiographic measurement, the first electrode is worn by attaching the earwear to an ear of the user Contacting the skin of the ear or the skin near the ear, and by surrounding the cuff with the cuff to contact the skin of the upper limb, the processor can be coupled to the first electrode and the first The second electrode draws the ECG signal. The device of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is disposed on an inner side surface of the cuff to contact the skin surrounding the upper limb; or the second electrode is implemented as An edge of the cuff is combined to contact the skin surrounding the upper limb. The device of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is disposed on a surface of the housing, and the housing is carried by the cuff. The device of claim 3, wherein the second electrode is disposed on a carrying structure, and the supporting structure is located on the housing such that the second electrode is in the cuff ring The skin of the upper limb is contacted when the upper limb is wound. The device of claim 3, wherein the second electrode is disposed on a load bearing structure, and the load bearing structure is located on a further housing coupled to the housing to enable the The second electrode contacts the skin of the upper limb when the cuff is wrapped around the upper limb. A cardiovascular health monitoring device includes: a housing; a control circuit comprising a processor and housed in the housing; an inflatable cuff for surrounding an upper limb of a user; a chamber disposed in the housing; at least a first electrode and a second electrode; a finger wearing structure having the first electrode disposed thereon, wherein the processor controls the pump when performing blood pressure measurement Inflating and deflation of the cuff to detect a user's blood pressure; and when performing an electrocardiographic measurement, by fitting the finger-wearing structure to a finger of another upper limb of the user, so that The first electrode contacts the skin of the finger, and the second electrode is in contact with the upper limb by contacting the cuff tape to the skin of the upper limb, the processor being connectable to the first electrode and the second electrode And take the ECG signal. The device of claim 6, wherein the second electrode is disposed on an inner side surface of the cuff to contact the skin surrounding the upper limb; or the second electrode is implemented as An edge of the cuff is combined to contact the skin surrounding the upper limb. The device of claim 6, wherein the second electrode is implemented in the shell a surface of the body, and the housing is carried by the cuff. The device of claim 8, wherein the second electrode is disposed on a carrying structure, and the supporting structure is located on the housing such that the second electrode surrounds the cuff The skin of the upper limb is contacted with the upper limb. The device of claim 8, wherein the housing is carried by the cuff, and the second electrode is disposed on a load bearing structure, and the load bearing structure is located in the housing The other housing is coupled such that the second electrode contacts the skin of the upper limb when the cuff is wrapped around the upper limb.