Miniature ECG Data Acquisition Device

• US 20140163349A1
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ticker Medical, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ticker Medical, Ltd.
• Inventors: Amitai, David, Amitai, Assaf
• Granted Patent: US 10,092,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/393
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0418 Pen-shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0425 Ergonomically shaped housings A61B2560/0418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/327 Generation of artificial ECG signals based on measured signals, e.g. to compensate for missing leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/333 Recording apparatus specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An apparatus for generating ECG recordings and a method for using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a handheld device having four electrodes on an outer surface thereof, the handheld device having an extended configuration and a storage configuration. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to measure signals between the electrodes to provide signals that are used to generate an ECG recording selected from the group consisting of standard lead traces and precordial traces. When the handheld device is in the extended configuration and the first and second electrodes contact a first hand of a patient such that the first and second electrodes contact different locations on the first hand, the third electrode is in contact with a location on the patient'"'"'s other hand and the fourth electrode contacts a point on the patient'"'"'s body that depends on the particular trace being measured.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a handheld device having first, second, third, and fourth electrodes on an outer surface of said handheld device, said handheld device having an extended configuration and a storage configuration;

a controller that measures signals between said electrodes and provides said signals to another device to generate an ECG recording selected from the group consisting of standard lead traces and precordial traces when said handheld device is in said extended configuration and said first and second electrodes contact a first hand of a patient such that said first and second electrodes contact different locations on said first hand, said third electrode being in contact with a location on said patient'"'"'s other hand and said fourth electrode contacts a point on said patient'"'"'s body chosen from the group consisting of said patient'"'"'s lower abdomen, one of said patient'"'"'s legs, and a precordial measurement point on said patient, said point depending on said ECG recording; and

a circuit that generates a common mode cancellation signal from signals on said second, third, and fourth electrodes and couples said common mode cancellation signal to said first electrode during said signal measurements.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller measures one of said standard lead traces comprises measuring a difference between a sum of potentials on said second, third, and fourth electrodes and a potential on one of said second, third, and fourth electrodes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a wireless communication link that transmits said measured signals to a device that is external to said handheld device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said external device comprises a satellite communication system that is linked to a computer network.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said external device comprises a vehicle computer that is part of an automobile.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handheld device in said storage configuration is too small to allow said patient to contact said first, second, third, and fourth electrodes in a manner that allows said ECG recordings to be made.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handheld device is characterized by a maximum dimension and wherein said maximum dimension is less than 7 cm when said handheld device is in said storage configuration and greater than 12 cm when said handheld device is in said extended configuration.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handheld device comprising a first section and a second section that moves relative to said first section, said first, second, and third electrodes being on said first section and said fourth electrode being on said second section.

9. The apparatus to claim 8 wherein said first and second sections are connected by a hinge.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first and second section move relative to one another between said extended configuration and said storage configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handheld device comprises a compartment for storing medication.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said compartment opens in response to signals from said controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising an indicator that signals that a user should open said compartment and take said medication.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handheld device comprises a data input device for receiving input from a user thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said data input device comprises a plurality of buttons that allow a user to input information.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising an connector configured to receive a plurality of conventional ECG electrodes, said apparatus providing a conventional 12 lead ECG measurement when said ECG electrodes are connected to said connector.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said connector accepts a cable that connects said device to a charging device for charging batteries in said apparatus and that communicates control signals to said controller.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said control signals provide patient specific data to be stored in said apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said control signals provide software updates to said controller.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said second and said third electrodes comprises an electrically conducting region and an insulating finger support that engages one of said patient'"'"'s fingers when said patient presses on that electrode, said insulating finger support reducing variations in a contact area and a contact pressure between the patient'"'"'s finger and said electrically conducting region as a function of a force applied to that electrode by said patient.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said insulating finger support comprises an electrically insulating ridge attached to said electrically conducting region.