Method, medium, and apparatus measuring biological signals using multi-electrode module, with a lead search

• US 20060009691A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yeo, Hyung-sok, Hwang, Jin-sang, Song, Mi-jeong, Lee, Jeong-whan, Kim, Sung-Cheol
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/386
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/352 Detecting R peaks, e.g. for synchronising diagnostic apparatus; Estimating R-R interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3686 configured for selecting the electrode configuration on a lead A61N1/3688 takes precedence

Abstract

A method, medium, and apparatus measuring biological signals using a multi-electrode module, with a lead search method. An apparatus for measuring biological signals by using a multi-electrode module, includes a multi-electrode module having a non-conductive patch and a sensor array including a ground electrode and a plurality of individual electrodes, an electrode selection unit selecting a plurality of electrode pairs including a reference electrode and a measurement electrode from the plurality of individual electrodes depending on a type of the biological signal to be measured, and a signal processing unit for obtaining the biological signals from the plurality of electrode pairs.

Claims

1. A multi-electrode module for measuring biological signals, comprising:

a nonconductive patch attachable to a human skin; and

a sensor array arranged inside the nonconductive patch, the sensor array comprising a plurality of individual electrodes and a ground electrode, attachable to the human skin.

2. A multi-electrode module for measuring biological signals, comprising:

a nonconductive patch attachable to skin; and

a sensor array arranged inside the nonconductive patch, the sensor array comprising a plurality of individual electrodes and a ground electrode, attachable to the skin, wherein an individual electrode of the plurality of individual electrodes placed at a center of remaining individual electrodes, of the plurality of individual electrodes, disposed in a substantially circular arc, is a reference electrode, and the remaining individual electrodes are sequentially selectable as a measurement electrode.

3. A multi-electrode module for measuring biological signals, comprising:

a nonconductive patch attachable to a skin; and

a sensor array arranged inside the nonconductive patch, the sensor array comprising a plurality of individual electrodes and a ground electrode, attachable to the skin, wherein each of the individual electrodes, of the plurality of individual electrodes disposed in a substantially circular arc, are sequentially selectable as a reference electrode, and at least one of remaining individual electrodes, of the plurality of individual electrodes, excluding the selected reference electrode among the individual electrodes disposed in the substantially circular arc, are selectable as a measurement electrode.

4. A multi-electrode module for measuring biological signals, comprising:

a nonconductive patch attachable to skin; and

a sensor array arranged inside the nonconductive patch, the sensor array comprising a plurality of individual electrodes and a ground electrode, attachable to the skin, wherein an individual electrode placed at a center of the individual electrodes, of the plurality of individual electrodes, disposed in a substantially circular arc is selectable as a reference electrode, and the individual electrodes disposed in the substantially circular arc are shorted to provide a single measurement electrode.

5. A method of measuring biological signals, comprising:

attaching a multi-electrode module to skin, the multi-electrode module comprising a nonconductive patch and a sensor array including a plurality of individual electrodes and a ground electrode;

combining a plurality of electrode pairs, including a reference electrode and a measurement electrode, by selecting the reference electrode and the measurement electrode from the plurality of individual electrodes based on a type of biological signal measured; and

obtaining the biological signals from the plurality of electrode pairs.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising searching for at least one lead, represented by at least one of the electrode pairs, to obtain electrocardiograph data, by analyzing the biological signals.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether the ground electrode, the selected reference electrode, and the selected measurement electrode are electrically attached to the skin before obtaining the biological signals.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the searching for the at least one lead comprises:

storing information of electrode pairs, including measurement and reference electrodes, and corresponding electrocardiograph data;

comparing R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for an electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a highest positive R-peak; and

selecting the electrode pair corresponding to the electrocardiograph data having the highest positive R-peak as a heart axis direction lead.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the searching for the at least one lead comprises:

storing information of electrode pairs, including measurement and reference electrodes, and corresponding electrocardiograph data;

comparing R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for a first electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a highest positive R-peak;

comparing R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for a second electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a lowest positive R-peak;

selecting the first electrode pair as a lead II and setting a common electrode of the first and second electrode pairs as a negative electrode of the lead II and another electrode of the first electrode pair as a positive electrode of the lead II;

selecting the second electrode pair as a lead I and setting the common electrode of the first and second electrode pairs as a negative electrode of the lead I and another electrode of the first electrode pair as a positive electrode of the lead I; and

selecting a lead III by setting the positive electrode of the lead I as a negative electrode of the lead III and the positive electrode of the lead II as a positive electrode of the lead III.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising analyzing the biological signals to obtain a heart rate.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining whether the ground electrode, the selected reference electrode, and the selected measurement electrode are electrically attached to the skin before obtaining the biological signals.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein an individual electrode placed at a center of the plurality of individual electrodes, disposed in a substantially circular arc, is selected as a reference electrode, and the plurality of individual electrodes disposed in the substantially circular arc are sequentially selected as measurement electrodes.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of individual electrodes disposed in a substantially circular arc are sequentially selected as a reference electrode, and at least one of remaining individual electrodes, of the plurality of individual electrodes, excluding the reference electrode, is selected as a measurement electrode.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein an individual electrode placed at a center of the plurality of individual electrodes, disposed in a substantially circular arc, is selected as a reference electrode, and the plurality of individual electrodes disposed in the substantially circular arc are shorted to provide a single measurement electrode.

15. An apparatus for measuring biological signals, comprising:

a multi-electrode module comprising a non-conductive patch and a sensor array including a ground electrode and a plurality of individual electrodes;

an electrode selection unit to select a plurality of electrode pairs, including a reference electrode and a measurement electrode, from the plurality of individual electrodes based on a type of biological signal measured; and

a signal processing unit to obtain the biological signals from the plurality of electrode pairs.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electrode selection unit comprises:

an operation unit to generate a predetermined control signal based on the type of the biological signal measured based on a user'"'"'s input;

a measurement signal selection unit to select an individual electrode placed at a center of the plurality of individual electrodes, disposed in a substantially circular arc, as the reference electrode for a reference signal, and sequentially selecting from the plurality of individual electrodes as the measurement electrode for a measurement signal;

a measurement signal generating unit to select the individual electrode as the reference electrode for the reference signal and selecting the plurality of individual electrodes disposed on the substantially circular arc as the measurement electrode for the measurement signal; and

a switch unit, in response to the control signal, to selectively connect the multi-electrode module to the measurement signal selection unit or the measurement signal generating unit.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electrode selection unit comprises:

an operation unit to generate a predetermined control signal based on the type of the biological signal measured based on a user'"'"'s input;

a reference/measurement signal selection unit to sequentially select each of the plurality of individual electrodes, disposed in a substantially circular arc, as the reference electrode for a reference signal, and selecting at least one of remaining plurality of individual electrodes disposed in the substantially circular arc as the measurement electrode for a measurement signal;

a measurement signal generating unit to select an individual electrode placed at a center of the plurality of individual electrodes disposed in the substantially circular arc as the reference electrode for the reference signal and shorting output signals of the plurality of individual electrodes disposed in the substantially circular arc for a single measurement signal; and

a switch unit, in response to the control signal, to selectively connect the multi-electrode module to the reference/measurement signal selection unit or the measurement signal generating unit.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the reference/measurement signal selection unit adds or shorts output signals of the remaining individual electrodes to provide the measurement signal.

19. An apparatus for measuring biological signals, comprising:

a multi-electrode module comprising a non-conductive patch and a sensor array including a ground electrode and a plurality of individual electrodes, attachable to skin;

a measurement signal selection unit to select an individual electrode placed at a center of the plurality of individual electrodes, disposed in a substantially circular arc, as a reference electrode for a reference signal, and sequentially selecting the plurality of individual electrodes disposed in the substantially circular arc as a measurement electrode for a measurement signal; and

a signal processing unit to process the measurement and reference signals by using a differential amplification to search for at least one lead.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the signal processing unit further:

stores information of electrode pairs, including measurement and reference electrodes, and corresponding electrocardiograph data;

compares R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for an electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a highest positive R-peak; and

selects the electrode pair corresponding to the electrocardiograph data having the highest positive R-peak as a heart axis direction lead.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the signal processing unit further:

stores information of electrode pairs, including measurement and reference electrodes, and corresponding electrocardiograph data;

compares R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for a first electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a highest positive R-peak;

compares R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for a second electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a lowest positive R-peak;

selects the first electrode pair as a lead II and setting a common electrode of the first and second electrode pairs as a negative electrode of the lead II and another electrode of the first electrode pair as a positive electrode of the lead II;

selects the second electrode pair as a lead I and setting the common electrode of the first and second electrode pairs as a negative electrode of the lead I and another electrode of the second electrode pair as a positive electrode of the lead I; and

selects a lead III by setting the positive electrode of the lead I as a negative electrode of the lead III and the positive electrode of the lead II as a positive electrode of the lead III.

20. An apparatus for measuring biological signals, comprising:

a multi-electrode module comprising a non-conductive patch and a sensor array including a ground electrode and a plurality of individual electrodes, attachable to skin;

a reference/measurement signal selection unit to sequentially select each of the plurality of individual electrodes, disposed in a substantially circular arc, as a reference electrode for a reference signal, and at least one of remaining individual electrodes, of the plurality of individual electrodes excluding the reference electrode, as a measurement electrode for a measurement signal; and

a signal processing unit to process the measurement and reference signals by using a differential amplification to search for at least one lead.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the reference/measurement signal selection unit adds or shorts output signals of the remaining individual electrodes to provide the measurement signal.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the signal processing unit further:

stores information of electrode pairs, including measurement and reference electrodes, and corresponding electrocardiograph data;

compares R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for an electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a highest positive R-peak; and

selects the electrode pair corresponding to the electrocardiograph data having the highest positive R-peak as a heart axis direction lead.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the signal processing unit further:

stores information of electrode pairs, including measurement and reference electrodes, and corresponding electrocardiograph data;

compares R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for a first electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a highest positive R-peak;

compares R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for a second electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a lowest positive R-peak;

selects the first electrode pair as a lead II and sets a common electrode of the first and second electrode pairs as a negative electrode of the lead II and another electrode of the first electrode pair as a positive electrode of the lead II;

selects the second electrode pair as a lead I and sets the common electrode of the first and second electrode pairs as a negative electrode of the lead I and another electrode of the second electrode pair as a positive electrode of the lead I; and

selects a lead III by setting the positive electrode of the lead I as a negative electrode of the lead III and the positive electrode of the lead II as a positive electrode of the lead III.

26. An apparatus for measuring biological signals, comprising:

a multi-electrode module comprising a nonconductive patch and a sensor array including a ground electrode and a plurality of individual electrodes, attachable to skin;

a measurement signal generating unit to select an individual electrode placed at a center of the plurality of individual electrodes, disposed in a substantially circular arc, as a reference electrode for a reference signal, and shorting output signals of the plurality of individual electrodes disposed in the substantially circular arc to provide a single measurement signal for a measurement signal; and

a signal processing unit to process the measurement and reference signals by using a differential amplification to obtain a heart rate.

27. A lead search method for measuring biological signals, comprising:

attaching a multi-electrode module to skin, the multi-electrode module comprising a nonconductive patch and a sensor array including a plurality of individual electrodes and a ground electrode;

storing information of electrode pairs, including a measurement electrode selected from the plurality of individual electrodes and a reference electrode selected from the plurality of individual electrodes, and corresponding electrocardiograph data; and

comparing R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for electrocardiograph leads.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein an individual electrode, placed at a center of individual electrodes disposed in a substantially circular arc, is selected as a reference electrode, and the individual electrodes disposed in the substantially circular arc are sequentially selected as measurement electrodes.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein each of individual electrodes disposed in a substantially circular arc are sequentially selected as reference electrodes, and at least one of remaining individual electrodes, excluding the reference electrode among the individual electrodes disposed in the substantially circular arc, is selected as a measurement electrode.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the searching of the leads comprises:

comparing R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for an electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a highest positive R-peak; and

selecting the electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a highest positive R-peak as a heart axis direction lead.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the searching of the leads comprises:

comparing R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for a first electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a highest positive R-peak;

comparing R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for a second electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a lowest positive R-peak;

selecting the first electrode pair as a lead II and setting a common electrode of the first and second electrode pairs as a negative electrode of the lead II and another electrode of the first electrode pair as a positive electrode of the lead II;

selecting the second electrode pair as a lead I and setting the common electrode of the first and second electrode pairs as a negative electrode of the lead I and another electrode of the second electrode pair as a positive electrode of the lead I; and

selecting a lead III by setting the positive electrode of the lead I as a negative electrode of the lead III and the positive electrode of the lead II as a positive electrode of the lead III.

32. A medium comprising computer readable code implementing a method of measuring biological signals, the method comprising:

attaching a multi-electrode module to skin, the multi-electrode module comprising a nonconductive patch and a sensor array including a plurality of individual electrodes and a ground electrode;

combining a plurality of electrode pairs, including a reference electrode and a measurement electrode, by selecting the reference electrode and the measurement electrode from the plurality of individual electrodes based on a type of measured biological signal; and

obtaining the biological signals from the plurality of electrode pairs.

33. A medium comprising computer readable code implementing a lead search method for measuring biological signals, using a multi-electrode module comprising a nonconductive patch and a sensor array including a plurality of individual electrodes and a ground electrode, the method comprising:

storing information of electrode pairs, including a measurement electrode selected from the plurality of individual electrodes and a reference electrode selected from the plurality of individual electrodes, and corresponding electrocardiograph data;

comparing R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for an electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a highest positive R-peak; and

selecting the electrode pair corresponding to the electrocardiograph data having the highest positive R-peak as a heart axis direction lead.

34. A medium comprising computer readable code implementing a lead search method for measuring biological signals, using a multi-electrode module comprising a nonconductive patch and a sensor array including a plurality of individual electrodes and a ground electrode, the method comprising:

storing information of electrode pairs, including a measurement electrode selected from the plurality of individual electrodes and a reference electrode selected from the plurality of individual electrodes, and corresponding electrocardiograph data;

comparing R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for a first electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a highest positive R-peak;

comparing R-peaks of the stored electrocardiograph data to search for a second electrode pair corresponding to electrocardiograph data having a lowest positive R-peak;

selecting the first electrode pair as a lead II and setting a common electrode of the first and second electrode pairs as a negative electrode of the lead II and another electrode of the first electrode pair as a positive electrode of the lead II;

selecting the second electrode pair as a lead I and setting a common electrode of the first and second electrode pairs as a negative electrode of the lead I and another electrode of the second electrode pair as a positive electrode of the lead I; and

selecting a lead III by setting the positive electrode of the lead I as a negative electrode of the lead III and the positive electrode of the lead II as a positive electrode of the lead III.