Electrode structure

• US 20020026114A1
• Filed: 08/24/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Nissila, Seppo
• Granted Patent: US 6,754,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/384
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/251 Means for maintaining electrode contact with the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]

Abstract

An electrode structure for measuring an ECG signal on a person'"'"'s skin. The electrode structure (100) to be arranged on the person'"'"'s finger (102) comprises an inner surface (116) residing against the finger (102), which inner surface (1 16) of the electrode structure (100) comprises an inner surface electrode (118), the electrode structure (100) further comprising an outer surface (120) opposite to the inner surface (116), which outer surface (120) of the electrode structure (100) comprises an outer surface electrode (122) to be arranged against a point on the person'"'"'s skin other than said finger (102) having the electrode structure (100) arranged thereon, the electrode structure being arranged to measure a potential difference caused by the ECG signal between a first electrode and a second electrode.

Claims

1. A method for measuring an ECG signal on a person'"'"'s skin, in which method a potential difference caused by the ECG signal is measured by means of a first electrode and a second electrode in an electrode structure that come into contact with the person'"'"'s skin, wherein the first electrode is at least partly located on an inner surface of the electrode structure to be arranged around a finger, the inner surface residing against the finger, and the second electrode is located on an outer surface of the electrode structure.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein during measurement, the second electrode is arranged against the skin on the person'"'"'s hand other than the hand having the electrode structure arranged on its finger for measuring the potential difference caused by the ECG signal between the electrodes.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode structure is cylindrically shaped in order to ensure a contact between the first electrode and the skin on the finger.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode structure is a cylindrical structure comprising two open ends in order to enable the electrode structure to be arranged around the finger.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically isolated from each other.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein heart rate information is produced by ECG processing means in the electrode structure on the basis of the ECG signal measured by the electrodes, and the produced heart rate information is displayed to the person.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the produced heart rate information is displayed on a display located on the outer surface of the electrode structure.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a point in time at which the electrodes in the electrode structure are brought into contact with the person'"'"'s skin is monitored.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein measurement of the ECG signal is started on the basis of the point in time at which the electrodes have been brought into contact with the skin.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein monitoring during skin contact is carried out by feeding electric current to the first electrode and the second electrode, monitoring impedance of a circuit formed by the electrodes, and when the impedance drops below a threshold value, inferring that the electrodes have been brought into contact with the skin.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein monitoring during skin contact is carried out by means of a pressure-sensitive film in the electrode structure.

13. An electrode structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second electrode is to be arranged against the skin on the person'"'"'s hand other than the hand having the electrode structure arranged around its finger for measuring the potential difference caused by the ECG signal between the electrodes.

14. An electrode structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electrode structure is cylindrically shaped in order to ensure a contact between the first electrode and the skin on the finger.

15. An electrode structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electrode structure is a cylindrical structure comprising two open ends in order to enable the electrode structure to be arranged around the finger.

16. An electrode structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electrode structure comprises a central processing unit connected to the electrodes for producing heart rate information on the basis of the ECG signal measured by the electrodes.

17. An electrode structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein on its outer surface the electrode structure comprises a display for displaying heart rate information.

18. An electrode structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electrode structure comprises a control unit for monitoring a point in time at which the electrodes in the electrode structure are brought into contact with the person'"'"'s skin.

19. An electrode structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electrode structure is arranged to start measuring the ECG signal on the basis of the point in time detected by the control unit at which the electrodes are brought into contact with the skin.

20. An electrode structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the control unit, while monitoring the point in time at which skin contact occurs, is arranged to feed electric current to the electrodes, monitor impedance of a circuit formed by the electrodes, and when the impedance drops below a threshold value, to infer that the electrodes have been brought into contact with the skin.

21. An electrode structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electrode structure comprises a pressure-sensitive film in connection with the electrodes for detecting skin contact of the electrodes.

12. An electrode structure for measuring an ECG signal on a person'"'"'s skin, wherein the electrode structure to be arranged on the person'"'"'s finger comprises an inner surface residing against the finger, which inner surface of the electrode structure comprises an inner surface electrode, the electrode structure further comprising an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, which outer surface of the electrode structure comprises an outer surface electrode to be arranged against a point on the person'"'"'s skin other than said finger having the electrode structure arranged thereon, the electrode structure being arranged to measure a potential difference caused by the ECG signal between a first electrode and a second electrode.

22. A heart rate measuring arrangement for measuring an ECG signal on a person'"'"'s skin, wherein the heart rate measuring arrangement comprises an electrode structure to be arranged on the person'"'"'s finger and a wrist receiver unit, which electrode structure comprises an inner surface residing against the skin on the finger, the inner surface of the electrode structure comprising an inner surface electrode, the electrode structure further comprising an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the outer surface of the electrode structure comprising an outer surface electrode to be arranged against a point on the person'"'"'s skin other than said finger having the electrode structure arranged thereon, the electrode structure comprising ECG processing means connected to the electrodes for measuring a potential difference caused by the ECG signal in a first electrode and a second electrode and for producing heart rate information on the basis of the measured potential difference, the electrode structure further comprising a transmitter for transmitting heart rate information to the wrist receiver comprising a receiver for receiving the heart rate information transmitted from the electrode structure, the wrist receiver further comprising a display for displaying the heart rate information.

23. A heart rate measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second electrode is to be arranged against the skin on the person'"'"'s hand other than the hand having the electrode structure arranged on its finger for measuring the potential difference caused by the ECG signal between the electrodes.

24. A heart rate measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 22, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface of the electrode structure are made of electrically isolating material in order to enable the inner surface electrode and the outer surface electrode to be electrically isolated from each other.

25. A heart rate measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 22, wherein the electrode structure is cylindrically shaped in order to ensure a contact between the first electrode and the skin on the finger.

26. A heart rate measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 22, wherein the electrode structure comprises a control unit for monitoring a point in time at which the electrodes in the electrode structure are brought into contact with the person'"'"'s skin.

27. A heart rate measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 26, wherein the heart rate measuring arrangement is arranged to start measuring the ECG signal on the basis of the point in time detected by the control unit at which the electrodes are brought into contact with the skin.

28. A heart rate measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 26, wherein the control unit, while monitoring the point in time at which skin contact occurs, is arranged to feed electric current to the electrodes, monitor impedance of a circuit formed by the electrodes, and when the impedance drops below a threshold value, to infer that the electrodes have been brought into contact with the skin.

29. A heart rate measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 26, wherein the electrode structure comprises a pressure-sensitive film in connection with the electrodes for detecting skin contact of the electrodes.