HANDHELD ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC DEVICE

• US 20120116240A1
• Filed: 07/14/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chang-An Chou
• Original Assignee: Chang-An Chou
• Inventors: Chou, Chang-An
• Granted Patent: US 8,644,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A handheld electrocardiographic device for perform an ECG signal acquisition is provided. The ECG device includes at least two electrodes for obtaining ECG signals from a user'"'"'s skin, an analog signal processing module, an analog/digital converter for digitizing the ECG signals, a processor, which controls the ECG device and processes the ECG signals, a display unit for displaying a processed result of ECG signals and other related information, a memory for data storage, a battery for providing power, at least a contacting interface having at least one of the electrodes mounted thereon, and a detecting unit for sensing a physical condition of the contacting interface, wherein the processor compares the physical condition to a preset criterion, and takes the result as a reference for processing the ECG signals.

Claims

1. A handheld ECG (electrocardiographic) device for performing an ECG signal acquisition, comprising:

at least two electrodes, for obtaining ECG signals from a user'"'"'s skin;

an analog signal processing module;

an analog/digital converter, for digitizing the ECG signals;

a processor, which controls the ECG device and processes the ECG signals;

a display unit, for displaying a processed result of ECG signals and other related information;

a memory for data storage;

a battery, for providing power;

at least a contacting interface, having at least one of the electrodes mounted thereon; and

a detecting unit, sensing a physical condition of the contacting interface,

wherein the processor compares the physical condition with a preset criterion, and takes the result as a reference for processing the ECG signals.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the physical condition is a pressure, illumination and/or temperature.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contacting interface further comprises a structure surrounding the electrode mounted thereon.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the detecting unit senses the physical condition of the electrode and/or the surrounding structure.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is implemented to be a tact switch or a push button.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is implemented as a piezoelectric transducer for converting a pressure on the contacting interface into an electric signal so as to be the reference for the processor to process the ECG signals.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the physical condition matches the preset criterion, the processor starts the ECG signals acquisition.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the physical condition does not match the preset criterion, the processor stops the ECG signals acquisition.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the physical condition does not match the preset criterion, the processor receives and saves the obtained ECG signal without further processing.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the physical condition does not match the preset criterion, the processor executes an alternative process to the ECG signals.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the physical condition does not match the preset criterion, the processor marks the ECG signals for reminding the user and/or for further processing.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an impedance detecting unit, for sensing an impedance condition between the electrode and the user'"'"'s skin.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit for being driven by the processor to send out a notification signal.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the notification signal is an acoustic, a visual, and/or a tactile signal.

15. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrodes is implemented to be removable for being exchanged.

16. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrodes are implemented to be dry electrodes and/or wet gel electrodes.

17. A handheld ECG (electrocardiographic) device for performing an ECG signal acquisition, comprising:

at least two electrodes, for obtaining ECG signals from a user'"'"'s skin;

an analog signal processing module;

an analog signal /digital converter, for digitizing the ECG signals;

a processor, which controls the ECG device and processes the ECG signals;

a display unit, for displaying a processed result of ECG signals and other related information;

a memory, for data storage;

a battery, for providing power;

at least a contacting interface, having at least one of the electrodes mounted thereon; and

a detecting unit, connected to the contacting interface,

wherein the detecting unit detects a pressure for contacting said contacting interface to the user'"'"'s skin, and alters a physical condition thereof when the detected pressure matches a preset criterion, so as to conduct the circuitry for ECG signal acquisition.

18. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the contacting interface further comprises a structure surrounding the electrode mounted thereon.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the detecting unit is connected to the electrode and/or the surrounding structure.

20. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the detecting unit is implemented to be a tact switch or a push button.