Portable electrocardiograph

• US 20050027203A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Norihito, Umeda, Masahiro, Moroki, Yoko, Tanabe, Kazuhisa, Ishida, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A portable electrocardiograph and method of use are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a portable electrocardiograph is provided which includes: a rectangular housing having at least a first outer surface and a second outer surface; a first electrode provided on the first outer surface of the housing; an electrode formation face provided on the second outer surface of the housing; and a second electrode provided within the electrode formation face; wherein the electrode formation face includes an electrode region in which the second electrode is positioned and a non-electrode region which is positioned so as to surround the electrode region.

Claims

1. A portable electrocardiograph for measuring electrocardiographic waveforms, the electrocardiograph comprising:

a rectangular housing having at least a first outer surface and a second outer surface;

a first electrode provided on the first outer surface of the housing;

an electrode formation face provided on the second outer surface of the housing; and

a second electrode provided within the electrode formation face;

wherein the electrode formation face includes an electrode region in which the second electrode is positioned and a non-electrode region which is positioned so as to surround the electrode region.

2. The portable electrocardiograph according to claim 1, wherein

the electrode region is substantially centered within the electrode formation face.

3. The portable electrocardiograph according to claim 1, wherein the electrode region includes a main face which is substantially flat.

4. The portable electrocardiograph according to claim 3, wherein

the main face of the electrode region is flush with a main face of the non-electrode region.

5. The portable electrocardiograph according to claim 1, wherein

the main face of the electrode region is positioned so as to be projected from the main face of the non-electrode region.

6. The portable electrocardiograph according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of projections are provided in the non-electrode region.

7. The portable electrocardiograph according to claim 1, wherein

the main face of the electrode region is positioned so as to be projected from that of the non-electrode region,

a plurality of projections are provided in the non-electrode region, and

a distance (H₂₁) between the apex of each of the plurality of projections and the main face of the non-electrode region is equal to or shorter than a distance (H₂₂) between the main face of the projected electrode region and the main face of the non-electrode region.

8. The portable electrocardiograph according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of recesses are provided in the non-electrode region.

9. The portable electrocardiograph according to claim 1, wherein

the housing includes a grip region projected from the surface of the housing.

10. The portable electrocardiograph according to claim 9, wherein

the first electrode is provided in the grip region.

11. A portable electrocardiograph comprising:

a housing having a first end face, a second end face, a front face and a back face, wherein the back face includes a grip region projected from the surface of the housing;

a first electrode provided in the grip region;

a second electrode provided on the second end face of the housing, wherein the second end face includes an electrode region on which the second electrode is positioned and a non-electrode region which is positioned so as to surround the electrode region and is formed to be flat; and

wherein a user measures electrocardiographic waves by holding the grip region of the electrocardiograph with a single hand, while simultaneously pressing the second electrode against the user'"'"'s body.

12. A method for measuring electrocardiographic waves using a portable electrocardiograph device, wherein the electrocardiograph device comprises a generally rectangular housing having at least a grip region and an end surface, wherein the electrocardiograph further comprises a first electrode provided in the grip region, and a second electrode provided on the end face, the method comprising the following steps:

holding the grip region by a single hand; and

simultaneously,

pressing the second electrode against the body of the user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the end face includes an electrode region on which the second electrode is positioned and a non-electrode region which is positioned so as to surround the electrode region and is formed to be flat.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electrode region includes a main face which is substantially flat.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the main face of the electrode region is flush with a main face of the non-electrode region.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the main face of the electrode region is positioned so as to be projected from the main face of the non-electrode region.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a plurality of projections are provided in the non-electrode region.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the main face of the electrode region is positioned so as to be projected from that of the non-electrode region,

a plurality of projections are provided in the non-electrode region, and

a distance (H₂₁) between the apex of each of the plurality of projections and the main face of the non-electrode region is equal to or shorter than a distance (H₂₂) between the main face of the projected electrode region and the main face of the non-electrode region.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a plurality of recesses are provided in the non-electrode region.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the housing has a substantially rectangular shape, and further wherein:

the first electrode is provided in a grip region positioned adjacent to a first end face positioned at an end in the longitudinal direction of the housing, and

the second electrode is provided on a second end face positioned at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the housing.